New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-14
rHE "FIGARO'S" CHG BEAT"
NJ RopAYs ON THE PUBLICATION OF
TUE DREYFUS COURT RECORD
GIVEN TO THE PAPER FROM
A SENSE OF DUTY.

,..,,v In securing and publishing the record, or
.s.ssier.'' of the investigation of the Criminal
..,mber of the Court of Cessation to determine
,,sther or not there is legal ground for new
-, Of Dreyfus has fairly taken away the
18th of the older order of French newspaper
-, and marks a further advance on the lines
:. American Journalistic enterprise. which. for
=. erst time obtained foothold In France in
'ssa when the Paris "Matin" was established
49,. its foundation in 1858 by villemessant
10 was a Partisan counterpart OF the elder
o.nnett, the Figaro" cannot boast of any
,r.vious victory over its rivals at once so de-
ss,ve and so profitable as it's present daily In
,.lments of the full official proceedings of the
n,evfus revision" TO maintain the absolute
ecrecy Of which every imaginable precaution
,oA been taken by the Court and by the Gov
unuAnt. NJ. Fernand de Rodays the managing
.5or OF the Figaro who began his career
, the business department of the paper under
,s immediate personal supervision Of Villemes-
,.r, himself. fully appreciates his masters IA
,or,te maxim that there is nothing so sensa-
.o,al and troublesome in journalism, and, of
,orrse nothing so salable. as the truth" And
!, This the "Figaro's' present achievement is
nriking example
e not very communicative about the means by
,bch he succeeded in getting possession Of the
,omous "dossier" but the following converse
,op with the Editor of the Figaro" during that
,,nicsI Partisan newspapers hospitable 70
,clock tea last Saturday may enable Ameri-
,.n readers better to appreciate the atmosphere
md surroundings in which the great cause
,lebrev Of the Third Republic is being proceed
ID with. The graceful hotel" of the Figaro
rith It's Spanish Renaissance architecture. was
iblaze with electric lights. and in the salon des
Ytes" select and fashionable gathering was
,pplaudng an Andausan dancing girl. who
vss executing the difficult steps of the shepherd
lance interrupted by EXPLANATIONS. "Ole!
)lt,'
How did | manage 10 get hold of the Court
II Cessation 'dossier?" said NJ de Rodays. as
ie repeated the question put TO him We'll,
lon't mind saying that il piece of pure
,ood luck. You will readily understand that
Ner since 1t was known that the dossier would
,e printed all the newspapers in Paris, besides
Ieveral in London. used every effort to obtain
he precious document I had almost come 20
ne conclusion that should be obliged to give
he matter up. | was about to congra tulate my
lef that | should at least have the compen
iation Of passing the Easter holidays quietly at
pinard. OF course you have seen the reports
hat it was one of the Judges or lawyer. or an
* Deputy or a friend of the Dreyfus family
a no had been the means of divulging the dos
Iier' 10 the Figaro Nothing is further from
he truth. The person who enabled the Figaro
% publish the proceedings before the Criminal
Chamber Of the Court Of Cessation was not a
Judge. nor was he a lawyer, nor an employe of
The National Printing Office nor a friend of
Dreyfus. nor of Mrs. Dreyfus nor member Of
he Dreyfus family ] can also tell you that
The person who gave it to me asked for no
or other compensation for it. nor did
offer any am. moreover. authorized to de-
clare that the person in question is, If neces-
larry. quite prepared TO reveal his or her identity,
md this would be done, for instance II one of
he Judges or any person connected with the
ase should be unjustly accused of divulging the
amous State and judicial secret.
AN OFFER THAT WAS REFUSED.
Il may also say that the Figaro has received
III sorts of offers of the 'dossier one OF which
las been alluded to by NJ. de Blowitz. the Paris
Of The London Times. and which
onsisted of scheme for transmitting to us the
ontents of the 'dossier' by means of phono-
loud. so that it should be recorded by the
monograph and then repeated sheet by sheet
ritRut of course. leaving trace of any incrim-
mating handwriting. This offer was made with
he expectation of being rewarded with large
UNI of money. / promptly refused it, because
here was no sufficient guarantee nor any means
t verifying its accuracy or trustworthiness. l
ias about 10 give the matter up in despair, when
ne night TO my great establishment received
communication In such a form could
rave in my mind no reasonable doubt as to its
GOD faith The person who made it said to
ne: 1t gives me sincere pleasure TO be enabled
o offer you this document gratuitously, for /
m conscious that in doing so l am accomplish
ne an act of patriotism.
While this conversation was going on NJ
iarion Commssary of the Republic. duly
rmed with a mandate from the Procureur
eneral, visited the Figaro" offices-not as has
cen enormously stated, to search the premises,
ut to take official cognizance of the Figaro's
rave offence" AS soon as NJ. Marion accom-
lished his official mission he seated himself
omforta bly, among the "Figaros" guests at the
umptuous tea table, in the ante-room and
ipped a glass Of dry champagne and ate
aviar biscuit Sehorita Chavita-the dark eyed
Indsusian dancing girl-also partook OF re-
at the same table There were sew
raj women present and general conversation
nsued on matters Of theatrical and terpsicho-
san interest
NJ. de Rodays. in response TO inquiries. said
hat it was mistake to suppose that only
iehteen copies Of the "dossier' were printed.
The exact number printed by the Imprimerie
rationale" continued NJ. de Rodays, lis eighty
our. or these forty-two We're given to the
onselleurs Of the Court of Cessation. who were
o be present at the sessions to be held when
dine Dreyfuss petition for her husbands new
nal shall be argued One copy was given 10
u Mazeau. First President Of the Court OF
assation; one copy was given to each of the
residents Of the three chambers of the court,
ne copy was given TO Procureur- General
lanau. che copy was given TO each of the three
dvoeates- general one copy was given TO Nj.
lornard, Dreyfus's counsel, one copy was
anded 10 III. de Freycinet, Minister OF War,
nd another copy was given to NJ. Delcasse.
uiefa 81 ffair