New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-15


Dreyfus referring to negotiations
AN EXPLANATION BY DEMANGE.
This caused NJ. Demange to explain how Drey-
fus came to say that NJ. Casimlr-Perier hau
promised him public trial After NJ Demange
had asked NJ Waldeck- Rousseau to intervene
with NJ Casimir- Perier. then President or
France to obtain publicity. NJ Waldeck-Rous-
seau reported that the President appeared favor
able TO the suggestion, and counsel therefore
thought he might communicate the fact to
Dreyfus.
NJ Demange added that IT must be remem-
bered that Dreyfus wrote the letter four years
after the occurrence. and his recollection or the
facts naturally lacked precision. NJ Demange
expressed regret that the letter had been pup
lished. and apologized to NJ. Casimir-Perier'
who thanked counsel for his expression OF regret
and explanation.
General Billot, ex-Mnster or war was the
r.xt witness. He was in uniform. sat with
crossed legs and gave his evidence In CONVEX
eationa, manner. He said that he would be sew
enty-one years of age tomorrow. Like every
body else he added, he had some knowledge OF
.ho Drovfrs affair before taking the war port
folio While feeling deeply on the subject, he
,o,red aloof from the matter until he re-
turned to the Cabinet In the early DAYS OF MS
ministry. the witness continued, NJ Scheurer-
-
Iastner an ex-vice-president OF the Senate
asked him whether he ought not to investigate
tho Drevfus affair NJ Scheurer- kestner, the
General pointed out, had made similar repre-
sensations to NJ de Freycinet, ana got the same
reply from both. that neither OF then was very
conversant with the affair
RIIJOT PRAISES PICQUART
r.uo, pmo, dve,t at length upon the action
Kacf
recommended prudence. NJ. Scheurer- kestner
a-o1,,. communicated to General Bot his con-
fiction Of the innocence OF Dreyfus' but the
General found the evidence insufhclent' ana
asked him to investigate the matter further
rho GENERAL then dwelt with the role OF Colo
ro1 Picnuart. whom he said, he hoids IN the
n,ahost asteom. "He is intelligent" said General
p;io+ Sand gave me valuable information about
tho organization of neighborng army and its
ortu,orv This information showed the neces-
s,tv ~ continuing the reforms in our artillery,
heeun nv that great initiator General Mercer'
81 who am neither an engineer nor an eX-
n.rt IN handwriting" added General Billot,
"sav in that direction the grand work he ac-
complished."
After this General Blllot referred to Colonel
Plcauarts proposition TO entrap Esterhazy'
whom he suspected, but General Billot forbade
tbis He added that Colonel Picquart always
acted without authorization. The eX-Minlster
next referred to the eminent services whlch
Colonel Picquart rendered to the army lead
ing to his being intrusted with confidential
mission to the East, and afterward to Tunis
He theoretically protested against the allegation
that he had desired 10 send Colonel Picquart 10
q Mace from which he would never return. He
explained his devotion to the country and army
and said that anxiety respecting the secrets or
tho national defence often entailed exceptional
measures. like resignation and going TO distant
points whence it was possible to return with
q superior rank and where heroism certainly
wiped out everything except treason. tSensa-
tion)
REGRETTED TINE DEVOTED TO DREYFuS
After tustifyng his course toward Colonel
pcnuart General Bllot explained what he had
done IN connection with Esterhazy, and then
renewed his protests against the attack OF the
defenders OF Dreyfus made upon him during
the trial Of NJ. lola, and concluded with eX-
pressing a regret that while In power he was
Obliged to devote most of his time TO the Drey-
fus affalr-which time, he added. ought to have
been given to the guardianship of the national
defence.
NJ Demange then invited General Billot 10 ex-
| plain the statements Of NM. Barthou and Poin-
| care ex-Mnsters, that the General was once 80
doubtful OF the guilt Of Dreyfus that he did
| not sleep for several nights. General Billot
| acknowledged that the statements were true.
| Colonel Picquart's revelations produced doubts
| in his mind, but, all the same, his conviction OF
the guilt of Dreyfus remained unchanged.
| There was a great sensation when NJ. De-
mango mentioned the opinion expressed by NJ.
| ~ had
in regard to the forgery of Lieutenant Colonel
Henry The General acknowledged that the
| Henry forgery was among the factors arousing
| his doubts. He was immensely surprised and
deeply affected by the revelation of the forgery.
| He said: Il never could have believed a SUI
perior officer could be guilty of forgery
CAvAIGNACs SAVAGE ATTACK
NJ. Cavaignac ex-Minlster Of War. was the
next witness called Replying to the president
| Of the court he said that he was the first Cab
| met Minister to assume responsibility as to
Dreyfus. He had closely followed the inquiry
| OF the Court of Cessation, and. he continued
! still desired to associate himself with the re-
sponsibility Of those who in 1894 protected the
country and the army against treason. (sensa-
tom
Among the principal points upon which he
based his convictions was the confession TO Cap
tain Lebrun- Renault in support of which con-
| tention he quoted passage from an alleged let
ter of Dreyfus, but which in reality was part of
| General Gonses report of the Minister of War
on Colonel Du Patty de CLAIMS report Of the al
legged confession.
NJ. Cavagnac admitted the possibility OF mis-
takes in human testimony, and said they ought
to be taken into account when condemnng a
fellow man. But, he asserted. he was convinced
Of the guilt of Dreyfus. because his accusers
were entirely In agreement in their testi-
mony. He found additional proofs OF the prs-
oners guilt in the technical character Of the
bordereau. and thought the bordereau alone es-
tablished the fact that treason had emanated