The San Francisco call., 1899-08-18
N9<-.%@%@-A@ Q


sumed his deposition on the opening of
the court, dealing with the theft of the
Esterhazy letters from Mile. Pays. a
number Of the counsels shots struck
the bullseye and made the general
squirm in his seat.
General Roget was unable to conceal
his annoyance and anger when NJ.
Demange scored. The witness fingers
twitched nervOusly and he frequently
turned for consolation toward Generals
Billot and Zurlinden, former Ministers
of War, who occupied the witness
seats behind him. The general also
threw glanceS OF savage resentment at
the audience when, as happened several
/ times, suppressed filters went around
the courtroom when NJ. Demange cor
nered him. Finally General Roget be-
( came quite red in the face and an
swered VI. Demange in hollow voice,
| contrasting strangely with his conf
dent tone of yesterday.
Then came a witness who proved to
| be a splendid reinforcement for Drey-
/ fus. 1t was NJ. Bertulus. the eXanin-
/ ing magistrate who received the late
! Lieutenant Colonel Henry's confession
of forgery. In almost inaudible tones,
owing TO hoarseness, NJ. Bertulus gave
/ his testimony, which was a veritable
! speech for the defense. Coming from
] a man Oh the UISu lGSdl IcpQldllOH VI
/ NJ. Bertulus, this evidence raised the
/ hopes of the Dreyfusards Immediately,
/ and il apparently made a deep impress
sion on the members Of the court.
NJ. Jaures, the Socialist leader. who
was among those present in court, re-
marked on the conclusion OF the mag
| istrate's testimony: This is the first
time the truth and the whole truth has
been told before the judges
! Dreyfus displayed the keenest inter-
! est in the statements of NJ. Bertulus.
/ seeming completely absorbed in his
words and straining forward to catch
every syllable.
! After a brief conformation Of NJ
BertuIus and Nine Henry, widow Of
Lieutenant Colonel Henry, Colonel Pic
| quart formerly Chief of the IntellI-
! gence Bureau, was called. He gave his
| evidence in a loud. resonant voice and
created a profound impression. The fol-
/ lowing is the testimony in detail:
! General Roget, on resuming his testi-
mony, criticized the surveillance .inaugu-
rated by Colonel Picquart over Lieuteu-
ant Colonel Henry. This surveillance. he
said, lasted several months and included
/ the interception of letters addressed to
/ EsterhaZy. There had also been searches
of Henry's house during his absence. All
| these measures, the witness asserted,
were carried out without the authorize
tion of the Minister of War, who was not
even informed of them. Moreover, he as.
serted the Investigations were carried on
! at the expense of the secret service fund.
| The witness also objected to Colonel Pic
| quarts methods of watching Mile Pays.
| In regard TO Esterhazy, General Roget ad-
mitted the former was gambler and an
| immoral character, but he asserted while
| l have acknowledged his little failings 1
| nevertheless maintain he has been the
victim of abominable persecution
! General Roget next spoke Of the arrest
| at Belfort of Quenelli, declaring that Pic
| quart cooked up the allegations of spying
/ against Quenelh in order TO attract TO
himself the approval of his superiors.
/ The witness then dwelt upon the alleged
| devices of DreyfuS to procure information
! from the various bureaus in regard to the
mobilization and concentration of the
| troops. pointing out that while intelligent
and INDUSTRIOUS Dreyfus was far too in
quisitive in matters which did not con-
cern him, to the detriment Of his proper
/ duties.
Replying to question of the court
| General Roget replied that so far as he
knew Dreyfus had only once been given
an imaginary task as test.
| The prisoner listened intently to the wit
ness, Dreyfus' self control contrasting
markedly with his excitement of yester-
| day.
president of the court-martial. to request
/ General Roget to repeat the explanations
which he had given before the Court of
| Cessation in regard TO the part played in
the affair by Major Du Patty de Clam,
whereupon the witness traversed the old
ground n regard TO De Clans steps
1
| to be organizing against him. The gen
/ eral said he believed the forged ''Sper-
| anZa' letters were either written by Du
! Patty de Clam or instigated by him. Wit
ness said he had not acted against De
| Clam because he saw nothing culpable in
what he had done to save EsterhaZy.
With reference to the document Liberia
teur a document forged in order TO
cure the release of EsterhaZy when he was
court-martialed. General Roget said he
| only knew how ii reached the Ministry Of
| War, adding that its disappearance from
| that Ministry was a mystery But. he
| said. doubtless De Clam could explain the
matter.
! Counsel for the defense here wanted TO
/ know how under such circumstances. De
! CLAIMS intervention in behalf of Ester
| hazy could be explained. But the wit
ness could only attribute IL 10 Du Patty
| de CLAIMS moral conviction OF Ester
| hazy's innocence.
! general staff must be entirely disassoci-
! ated with the part played by Du Patty de
| Clam in this matter
} Certainly" replied N. Demange.
| Il attach great Importance to this
| point" was the generals next remark.
| NJ Demange assented to this, but add
| ed: What l would like to know is how
| an innocent man like Esterhazy was
/ thought to need this kind of help
! daughter)
1T is certain should not have done it,"
! answered the witness, which caused re-
newed laughter.
General Roget then added that although
he would not have fntervened himseif t~