The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-19
NO DEVELOPMENTS.
The Entire Days Sitting Was 0ccu.
pied by General Picquart,
WHO SPOKE FOR FIVE HOURS.
His Testimony Was Lucid and Strength.
ened Dreyfus' Cause.
FAMOUS BORDEREAU WAS DlSSECTED.
Case from Its Inception Stated in Detail
by The Witness.
COURT ENLlGHTED ON MANY POINTS
Generals Rogcts and Mcrcier's Tes-
umony Contradicted-Nothi
Sensational Occurred.

(special to The post.)

'tfNN'~'A N~N'f
New York August lS.--A special cable
to the Herald from Paris says: NJ. Corney,
writing in this mornings Figaro. remarks
how truly Major Carriere spoke when he
declared that the drama being developed
at Rennes was struggle and not a trial.
Let us, however have clear un-
Outstanding on this matter. The people,
like ourselves, and ! hope they are nu-
merous, do not look upon the Dreyfus
affair as a political battle to be won; they
regard it merely as a judicial error to be
repaired.
I'VE are not dreaming Of conquest of
power, nor do we desire to upset or weaken
the army. We have not the least
little grudge TO settle, and as soon as
ever the innocence of Dreyfus is recog-
nized we will do everything in our power
TO obtain pardon for his executioners and
his accusers. Likewise we will endeavor
to bring to an end that ferocious system
(Which, by the way. is now much less
in favor than 1t was) which consists in
refusing to admit General Mercier's Flair
d 'Artilleur," in refusing TO acknowledge
that he acted in good faith and was un
Willingly deceived, SO that he could be
substituted for Dreyfus when the latter Is
acquitted if not on the isle du Dable,
at any rate in the animadversion of the
public.
"But everybody does not possess this
lamblike frame OF mind. In the view of
many people the affair has become means
of satisfying vengeance and of getting
possession of that thing, so attractive
nowadays, called power"
Rennes, August 1S.--When the second
trial by court martial of Captain Alfred
Dreyfus charged with treason, was re-
sumed in the Lycee at 1925 this morning,
Colonel Pioquart, former chief of the
intelligence department of the war office,
was called to the witness stand and cen
tinued his deposition which was inter-
rupted yesterday by the adjournment OF
the court.
Colonel Picquart practically occupied the
whole of the days sitting with master
full presentation of his side of the case
He spoke for FIVE hours and his voice at
the end of that time began to show signs
Of fatigue. His testimony was followed
with the closest attention by the mem
bers of the court martial and by the au-
dlence, and during the brief suspension
of the court Generals MERCER, Roget BIZ
lot and De Boisdeffre and other witnesses
bar and dpup tha
yard of the Lycee, or gathered in little
groups. animatedly discussing Picquart's
evidence, which, although IL contained put
few new facts, was severely placed peioI
the tribunal and was spoken SO effectively
that 1t could not fail to repeat the I'M
preston he made yesterday
Dreyfus drank in all the words, which
came as a balm to the wounds inflictei
upon him by MERCER and Roget, and the
prisoner frequently and closely scanned
the faces Of his judges as though seeking
to read their thoughts.
From the standpoint of the spectators
the session was the most uneventfuI since
the opening of the trial Even the con
frontation at the end lacked the dramatic
force of the similar incidents which have
marked almost every previous sitting
plcouart's deposition was a fine perform
ance. He spoke without notes and In
view of the mass of facts adduced 1t mus
be ranked as a feast of memory.
The members of the court martial took
coplous notes during Picquarts testimony
and it was quite evident that several OF
the explanations he gave came as fresh
light.
Then when Picquart concluded both
General Roget and General MERCER jumped
and asked to be heard contradictor!ly
Rqpat m
sneak first He thereupon faced Colonel
Picauart, who replied promptly TO his
questions which the general delivered In a
theatrical manner and with frequent ges-
lures.
General MERCER adopted a quieter de-
meanor. Neither however, said anything
which could be described as damaging
Colonel Picquart's evidence.
The colonel gave his testimony in the
same loud, fearless tone OF voice tina
characterized his manner yesterday. He
began by declaring he thought It necessary
10 reply to General Rogets veritable ar
raignment OF him while on the stand.
At the outset OF Colonel Picquart's re-
marks General Roget interposed and said
he would reply to them.
Continuing, Colonel Picquart proceeded
TO discuss the secret dossier as being the
handspring OF the condemnation OF Drey'
fus. He took up the documents success
siyely, referring to the writer's and ad'
dressees OF the letters as "a and 'B."
Among those present In court were Gen
erals Zurlinden and Billot. former minis
ters of war. Maitre Mornard. who argued
the case in behalf of the Dreyfus family for
the revision Of the papers sent before the
court OF cessation, was present this morn
ing to assist NJ. De Mango. counsel for the
defense. n
FoIIowing is the evidence In detail:
A>~' HE danngi:inn Cnlona