Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-08-19


IN. BertiIlon tried to discover where
! had obtained the handwriting, but the
only information impaired was that it
it was current and recent handwriting.
IN. Bertillon then suggested that it
was a tracing and ended by saying that
if it was current handwriting it could
only have emanated from some one
whom the Jews had been exercising for
year in initiating the writing of the
bordereau.
He found the words II am going to
the manPuvres'' might apply to Ester
hazy as well as Dreytus. He resolved
to examine the secret dossier. He found
instead of matters of gravely import
ance he expected, nothing but docu-
ment which might apply just as much
to Esterhazy as to Dreyfus, an unim-
portant document mentioning D'Avig-
non and document which it seemed
absurd to apply to Dreyfus, namely the
"Cette canaille de D." document, also
other apparently worthless matter.
He laid mis- proofs before General de
Boisdeffre, who told him to see General
Gonse, who, when he had given his IN
formation, said: $50 q mistake has
been made"
Esterhazy went to the great maneu-
vreS.
The compaign in the newspapers COM
menced. Attacks appeared against
Dreyfus.
The information regarding the bor-
dereau contained in them convinced
him that they had been inspired by
some one closely connected with the
Dreyfus affair. They contained express
sions familiar to Patty de Clam.
Witness next said he asked permis-
sion to inquire into the sources of the
articles, but was forbidden to interfere
in any way whatever
Describing his interview with General
GOnse, Sept. 10, Picquart said:
"When asked General Gonse for
permission to continue the investigation,
insisting on the danger of allowing the
Dreyfus family to proceed with theirin-
vestigation alone, the general said it
was impossible in his opinion and in the
opinion OF General de Boisdeffre and
the minister of war to reopen the af-
fair. When pressed the point, i'll Or
der to make General Gonse understand
that nothing could prevent its reopen
ing if it could be believed Dreyfus was
innocent, General Gonse replied:
"lf you say nothing. nobody will
know
General, | replied firmly, what
you tell ME is abominable. l do not
know what shall do. But won t carry
this secret with me- Great sensa-
ton.
though forbidden, he continued his
investigation and was removed as head
of the intelligence department He was
sent ON mission to -Tunis, which ought
to have been entrusted to commissary
of police.
Henry, abandoning his underhand in
trigues, began campaign of open per.
secution. Henry wrote to the witness,
accusing him of communicating in.
formation to the press, with disclosing
the contents of secret documents and
with attempting to suborn officers in
connection with the petit bleu. 1t was
then PicquaIt learned of the existence
of the forged secret documents directed
against himself and foresaw his own
ruin if the Dreyfus affair was reopened,
and, to safeguard himself. he entrusted
to lawyer friend certain letter from
General Gonse, at the same time ac-
quainting the lawyer with what he
knew of Esterhazy, and instructing the
lawyer how he should intervene, ''if the
occasion demanded it," This lawyer,
NJ. Leblois, communicated with III.
Scheurer-kestner, then one of the vice
presidents of the senate and the repre-
sentations of the latter to Premier
Meline's government followed.
When Picquart's furlough was due,
General lie CIerc, commanding i'll Tunis,
was ordered to send Picquart to the
frontier OF Tripoli. LIE Cierc commented
to the witness on this abnormal order,
and Picquart confided to the general the
probable reasons for it and his belief in
the innocence of Dreyfus. General LIE
Clerc thereupon ordered Picquart not to
60 beyond Gabes.
In the meanwhile the campaign in
Paris was continued. EsterhaZy ap-
peared among tine witnesses and ac-
cusers.
Picqu,.rt here created sensation by
incidentally remarking that the judges
in 1894 We're shamefully deceived in
having the document containing the
words "Cette canaille de D." commu-
nicated to them.
Witness bitterly recited the details OF
the various Vaccinations with the view
of discriminating him, instigated by
Henry, Esterhazy and Patty de Clam.
When Picquart concluded, both Gen
eral Roget and General Mercier jumped
upand asked to be heard contradictory.
Colonel Jouaust asked General Roget
to speak first He thereupon faced
Colonel Ficquart, who replied promptly
to his question, which the general de-
livered in theatrical manner and with
freuuent gestures.
General Mercier adopted quieter de-
meanor. Neither, however, said any
thing which could be described as dam
aging to Colonel Picquart's evidence.