The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-23
Shows that Pages Were Torn from
Dreyfus's Papers with View to
B%oIsterfng False Suspicious.
LIEUT.. COL. BERTIN CORNERED
HE WAS CHIEF IN THE OFFICE
WHERE DREYFUS WORKED.
His Was Such that 1t Gave NJ
Labor His First Conviction of
D~reyfus's Innocence

RENNES. Aug. 22.-After the sensational
entrance OF NJ. Labor at $50 o'clock this
morning and his happy reception by specta-
| tors. principal witnesses and judges in the
Dreyfus court-martial the taking of evil
dence began, attended by more than ordi-
nary interest. The first witness was M.
Grenier, the former project of Belfort. His
testimony was favorable to Dreyfus and dis
tinctly hostile to Esterhazy.
Next came Major Rollin, of the intelli-
gence department. who was asked by NJ.
Labori, during the course of his testimony,
how a certain document of later date than
Mercier's Ministry came into General Mer-
cier's possession. Rollin said 1t was not his
business to explain, but counsel insisted,
asking whose business it was. Finally NJ.
| Labori asked Col. Jouaust TO request Gen.
MERCER to explain. The general rose and
said he declined to answer. NJ. Labori in
sisted but General MERCER still refused to
answer and Major Carriere, the government
commissary, supported him on the ground
that the examination was entering on a
matter which ought not, In the interest Of
the country, to be discussed publicly. NJ.
Labori then declared in a loud voice that
he would reserve to himself the right to
take the necessary measures to obtain the
desired information.
The next point was made by Dreyfus in
his reply to Major Rollin. The latter had
remarked that all the prisoners papers
were seized when his room was searched in
1894, and Col. Jouaust said that certain pa
pers from his text book, the cash book Of
war, were found to be missing. To this
the prisoner replied: mot in 1894, my
colonel" This caused some sensation, as the
obvious Interpretation was that pages were
torn out of the War Office book and that
then the fact was used against him as an
insinuation that he had communicated the
missing pages to foreign agents.
REPEATING ONLY LIES.
A former secretary of the War Office
named Ferret next testified to seeing Drey-
fus prying into other officers work duffng
their absence, and the prisoner replied ex-
citedly that Ferret's statements were con-
coctions by a former minister of war, which
caused a sensation. Then, in a cooler man.
ner, the prisoner made a statement explain
ing the difficulties in the way of a civilian,
such as Ferret, entering the offices of the
general staff. General Come thereupon pre-
sented two letters to the effect that the
writer's, both of whom were civilians, OBJ
tanned easy admittance to the offices.
Dreyfus retorted that the regulations were
very strict in this respect and that there
fore some persons were guilty of gross
breach of discipline, and NJ. Demange scored
by adding If the entry in these offices was
easy, why, anybody could procure the in
formation Dreyfus was alleged to have OBJ
tanned so surreptitiously.
The next witness, Lieutenant Colonel Ber-
tin, who was the head Of Dreyfus's Office in
1894, showed himself to be a most virulent
enemy of the prisoner. He had evidently
learned his testimony by heart and de-
claimed 1t in a strident, aggressive tone,
which grated on the ears Of the audience.
Some of his remarks, particularly his
declaration that he was convinced of Drey-
fuss guilt by NJ. Bertillon's chart and his
Introduction of Esterhazy's statements as
to Dreyfus, elected general smiles in court.
Lieutenant Colonel Bertin's testimony
was concluded with a passage at arms
between him and NJ. Labori. The latter de-
clared that Berth himself, by remarks
which he had made on a certain occasion,
convinced the lawyer of the innocence of
Dreyfus.
Counsel then recalled other words used by
Berth to the effect that NJ. Demange was
counsel for the German embassy because
he had defended others accused Of espion-
age. The witness admitted the correctness
of NJ. Labori's quotation, whereupon NJ.
Demange jumped up and protested against
Lieutenant Colonel Bertin's statement.
Sharp words were exchanged until Colonel
Jouaust interviewed and refused to allow
any further discussion of a matter outside
the case.
Several minor witnesses followed. Lieut..
-
had given before the Court of Cessation.
He was very hard on Dreyfus, but while
testifying he scarcely once looked the pris-
oner in the face.
Following are the proceedings in detail:
NJ. Grenier, former project of Belfort, the
first witness. said he considered Esterhazy
to be an irresponsible parsonage. Ester
hazy, he continued, was the orderly officer
OF the witnesses father. who always praised
his fidelity and devotion. but Esterhazy,
even then. was a disappointed man. He was
always complaining Of deception, grumbling
at fate and living in great style without
means TO uphold it. He squandered success
sive legacies.
ESTERHAZY WELL POSTED.
The witness, continuing. said he intro
duced Esterhazy to NJ. Jules Rocht. re-
porter OF the budget Of the minister of
war. who wanted an educated, intelligent
officer, capable OF explaining military tech
nicalities. No one. according 10 NJ. Grenier,
was better qualified for this than Ester.
hazy. who spoke every European language
and was thoroughly posted on military
science and the general and military history
OF Europe. At Esterhazy'g request. the wit
ness made numerous attempts TO get him
into the Ministry OF War. which Esterhazy
declared was necessary in order to enable
him 10 pass for lieutenant colonel.
= NJ. Gren.er continued that at times Ester