Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-05

4 4Ht 4kr%ktQA OF tho x6kQHt 81 = uP ~
Corarandant Cuisnet and Officer Wattines
| dealing exhaustiveiy win the secret dos
| sier. was then introduced, and Gen. Billot
arose to explain that the
STATEMENT WAS INExACT
| that he took this report away with him.
Il gave this report" he said" to NJ. Cav
aignac, the former minister of war;
Then" said NJ Labori, 'let us have M.
Cavaignac's explanation Of what became Of
| the report
Col. Jouaust called for M. Cavaignac but
/ the former minister of war was not in the
court room, and an officer was sent to seek
him.
Meanwhile the testimony Of couple of
minor witnesses was heard.
The proceedings described in the forego-
ing were exciting, as at one time, when
Gen Chanoine and NJ PaIeologue were
brought upon the stage to explain Com
mandant Cuignets statements there were
five witnesses at the bar all speaking at
once and interrupting one another. The
testimony throughout was interspersed
with heated scenes between NJ. Labor and
Col. Jouaust
NJ Cavagnac could not be found in the
precincts of the Lycee and 1t was decided
to hear him tomorrow.
A commissary of the secret police named
Temps was called by the defense. His
testimony concluded to-days proceedings.
The commissary proved indirectly strong
witness for Dreyfus and a corresponding
damaging witness for the general staff
His evidence brought out glazing instance
of duplicity on the part of the staff, office
in suppressing documents which must
weaken its own case. Commissary Temps
was called to the general staff office to in
vestigate case of espionage and naturally
had consultations and close relations with
officers of the bureau.
COMMISSARY TOMPS BEGAN
his testimony by paying high tribute to
Lieut. Col. Picquart's correct attitude and
uprightness in the Dreyfus inquiry while
other officers sought to undermine him by
insinuations Lieut.. Col Henry, the wit
ness asserted, tried to induce him to attrib-
ute to Picquart the communication of the
bordereau to the Matin, in which journal,
it will be remembered, the bordereau was
first published. Then commissary Temps
came to the most important portion of his
testimony, which led to restricting of his
revelations The witness WIS asked if he
had ever investigated the Paulmier affair,
which was as follows:
Paulmier was the valet of Col. Schwartz
koppen, the German military attache at
Paris, and it was alleged that. he saw on
Schwartzkoppen's desk documents signed
by Dreyfus. The general staff had de-
clared that an effort would be made to
get at the truth of this story, but Paul
mier disappeared, and therefore. although
the general staff could not prove the story
it could not be disproved.
To the question regarding this case Com
missary Temps replied that he had not
investigated the affair, whereupon nj. La
bori suggested that M. Hennion, sub-chief
of the political police who is now in
Rennes experimenting the precautions for
the safety of witnesses. may have been
entrusted with the inquiry into the case.
Col Jouaust called to Hennion, who was
present in the court room: Come here
and testify"
NJ Hennion assembled the platform and
took the oath. He declared he did inves-
tigate the case and actually found Paul
mier, who told him there was not word
of truth in the whole story. He had never
seen any paper bearing the name Of Drey-
fus
M. Labor Immediately called attention to
the fact that the general staff had sup
pressed
M. HENNION'S REPORT
in favor of Dreyfus. and only declared that
the report had been received represent
ing Paulmier as untraceable.
Commandment Cuignet and Captain Junck
then arose and insisted that only the report
that Paulmier could not be traced had
been received at the office of the general
staff.
NJ Hennion replied, reiterating that he
had forwarded report to the general staff
giving Paulmier's emphatic denial of the
whole story.
M. Labori asked Commandant Cuignet
and Capt Junck where the report was that
they said had been received by the gen.
eral staff, stating that Paulmier could not
be found The officers Intercepted were
obliged to admit that they were unable to
find the report.
This practically closed the matter.
The court adjourned after deciding to sit
with closed doors tomorrow to investigate
NJ. Cornusehi's testimony.