Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-24

it was Col du Patty de Clam who gave him
the document. (Sensation.)
Dreyf.. Makes . Statement.
Dreyfus here gave detailed story of
how he employed his time at Bourges from
October, 1882 to February, 1890. He said
that as he was preparing for his examna-
tions, he had no time to go to cafes or to
think of anything outside OF his duties.
This was reply to Gen. Merciers asser-
ton that he could have learned the secret
of the pneumatic brake there.
The prisoner said:
II was promoted captain September r.
1889, and remained at Bourges from Octo.
Der. 1882 to February, $780, when the writ
ten examination at the military college be-
gan. was then called to Paris, obtained
two months leave and was married in
April. / spent four months at Bourges AS
l was preparing for examination, l had no
time to go to cafes or to think of anything
outside of my duties"
General Risbourg, who was commander of
the republican guard in Paris in 1894. was
the next witness. He described the scene
with Captain Lebrun- Renault. when the
witness learned of Dreyfus alleged confess
s1ons to Captain Lebrun- Renault the day
after the prisoners degradation.
In conclusion, General Risbourg eulogiZed
the services of Captain Lebrun- Renault and
said that before the incident of the confess
sion there was nothing against him. He
was excellent officer a good comrade
After being asked the usual question,
Dreyfus protested against Gener al Ris-
bourg's evidence
Il am surprised the prisoner said, that
he Captain Lebrun- Renaul) could have
made. the statements attributed to him.
On the way from the prison of La Sante
Captain Lebrun-R enault shook hands with
him, a fact which is in contradiction with
his statement. Besides, when such a terri
Die charge has been hanging over a man
VINO has resisted it for five years, witnesses
should not come here merely to speak their
beliefs, but ought to bring proofs, positive
proofs Otherwise l am completely nom
plussed as to how 1 can reply" (Sensa-
tion.)
True Version of the Confession
Dreyfus then proceeded to give the true
version of his words on the occasion Of the
alleged confession, and dwelt on his pro-
testations of innocence to Du Patty de
Clam.
The prisoners remarks deeply impressed
his hearers.
AT the request of NJ. Demange Gen. Mer-
cier was recalled and asked to explain
why, having sent Du Patty de Clam to
Dreyfus to discover the amount of the in
jury Drevfus had done. he had not follow
ed up his Investigations
Gen. Mercier-''I did not feel called upon
to do So
The prisoner again protested that the in
quiry ought to have been followed up, be
cause it would have served to destroy the
fiction of a confession to which such i'm
portance was now attached" (Sensation)
Maj. Cure testified to a conversation he
had with Col Picquart in 1896. when the
witness gave Esterhazy a very bad char
acter.
NJ Billet. formerly a porter at the war
office, deposed as to the visit of Maitre Le-
blois to Col. Picquart, which the latter has
never denied.
NJ Jules Roche, deputy and former
minister. testified to his acquaintance with
EsterhaZy in 1894, when the witness was
studying the question of the sufficiency of
the effective strength of the army. which
mad become more important in conse-
quence of the new German law Of 1893,
adding 10000 men to the German army
EsterhaZy. it appeared. afterward visited
NJ. Roche and wrote to him on various &C.
caSions until 1897 One letter referred to
was indebted to him. NJ. Roche also de-
sCribed the steps he took to procure the
admission of Esterhazy into the war office.
order Regarding Esterhazy.
Replying to the government commissary,
NJ. Roche, declared that General Bilot,
who was then minister of war, told him
he must cease to interest himself in Ester
hazy, mot only for private and legal rea-
sons but for other reasons still more per-
emptory." (Sensation)
NJ. Labor insisted upon having further
details of General Billots statement. The
witness said he cortd not recall the exact
words of the minister. but their effect then
such that he felt under moral obi
CATION to cease to interest himself in Ester
hazy.
After a brief suspension of the session,
NJ. De Veruine, special commissary of the
minister of war, deDosed that Colonei
Picuuart was ordered to have EsterhaZy
watched Witness informed General Gonse
and the latter was advised to continue the
investigation diScreetly. on several coca
sions witness continued, EsterhaZy was seen
entering the German embassy, always
quite openly but dressed in civilian clothes.
NJ De Veruine EsterhaZy enter the
German embassy October %, 1897. He
stayed there an hour and drove to the
Credit Foncier, whence he went to the Of
flee of La Patrie
NJ Labori-"Wha does General Roget
think of the part played by Esterhazy?'
General Roget-"I have said that the part
played by Esterhazy escaped me com
pletely."
NJ I.aborI-"General Roget. however.
spoke of the syndicate as though 1t was
public institution"
General Roget-"Exactly, it is public
institution. Everybody talks of 1t.
NJ. I.abori-"But Gen. Roget mentioned
an offer of 6OO,OOO francs to Esterhazy. l
insist asking Gen. Roget what he thinks
of Esterhazy's visit to Col. Schwartzkop-
pen (the German military ATTACHED. Octo-
Der % 1897 the same day as the interview
in Mont Souris Park. a visit during the
course of which it is known that EsterhaZy
threatened to commit suicide If the Ger
man military attache refused to declare
that he (Esterhazy) was not the author Of
the bordereau?
Roget Is NOn-COmmittal.
Gen. Roget-"It is not for me to say
what | think of it,
NJ. Labor. resuming his seat, said:
Very good" Cloud and prolonged
laughter.'D
Col F1eur. retired, testified to the numer-
Gus alleged inaccuracies in Col. Cordier's
evidence before the court of cessation. Cor
der told the witness that the dismissal of
himself and Col Sandherr a beginning
of a Jewish revenge, and added that the
Jews had Influenced Gen. de Bosdeffre
Corder also said that he had not doubted
the guilt of Dreyfus.
The witness dramatically added:
That was my stupefaction when later
heard Col. Cordier express ideas diamet-
really opposite to those he expressed to
me. Proceeding, Col. Fleur repeated the
tattle intending to incrimnate Dreyfus
when NJ. Demanse Interrupted him, saying:
This is nothing but gossip"
NJ Labori asked that all the persons
mentioned by Col. Fleur be cited to appear.
The colonel protested against his evil
dence being dubbed gossip" and main
tanned the correctness of his statements.
Asked if he desired to reply to the wit
ness DTeyfus said:
Il have nothing to say only replv To
facts. will not reply to lies. If you at