The times., 1899-09-05
THE DAY AT RENNEs.
An Aussrinn's Astonishing Testi-
mony Against Dreyfus.

mony Against Dreyfus.
RENNES, Sept AT the session Of the
Dreyfus court martial today there came the
sudden delivery OF the final coup against
Dreyfus. The blow was not only desperate,
but coEsrdly. and quite in keeping with the
history Of all the maneuvres against the
prisoner. Il came from an unknown for
eign witness. who undertook TO declare
Dreyfus guilty of systematic treason in
selling secrets 10 several embassies.
The secret session Of the court for the
completion OF Major Hartmann's examina-
ton occupied the first half hour this morn
ing. Major Carriere, the Government pros
ecutor read one or two unimportant War
Office records on disputed points.
The grefher read witness Brugere's letter
OF resignation from the army.
General Roget IN a clustering fashion
the other day attempted to discredit Lieu
tenant Brugere by declaring he had written
q disgraceful letter in which he said that
il was dishonor 10 serve in the French
army. The reading OF the letter itself
showed that il contained denunciation OF
the headquarters stan. but that il was in
capable OF the construction put upon II by
General Roget On the contrary il ends
with the declaration that the writer is ever
ready to go to The front as a simple SOL
der.
Then was called an unknown witness by
the name of Eugene CernuschL Appa-
rently he did not speak French fuently for
he submitted q written statement. He af-
hrmed that he was q descendant OF the
Servian royal dynasty and that he had been
lieutenant in the Austrian army in June.
1884 Then n proceeded TO tell this extra
ordinary story:
& Strange Tale
He met AZ Geneva, ne says in his state
Inent, the military attache OF foreign
power who told him he had resolved trea-
aonsble information from Dreyfus He
saw this attache in Paris afterEaTd. ona
day ia his osEice the a;tache opened before
the witness two large envelopes contain
ing important documents relative to
French mobilization and plans. There
were severa! sheets giving details of mo-
bilizatioR OF various corps Ct infantry
The attache said to the witness: Yo1
are q foreigner. so ! can show you these
documents" The witness replied by say
ing: But how can you obtain suci cop
iesg'
The attache answered: Listen In
France you can get anything with money
Why should there be Jews in the French
army If one cannot use them2"
The French officer who supplied these
documents is no other than Captain Drey-
fus' said this strange witness.
The reading Of this statement was greet
ed by the audience in the courtroom first
with sstonishmeDt and then with muir
murs OF incredibly and ridicule.
Major CarFisre before proceeding further
said the witness had some verbal informa-
tion TO add. but as il would touch on two
international questions z special session
with closed doors was necessary.
NJ Demsnge asked Major Carriere il he
had made enquiries as 10 the character of
the witness
Major Carriere replied in the negative
lie added that he had put in any available
testimony which tended 10 throw light on
the case
Maitre Labori asked sharply: AT whose
request has this witness been summoned?'
Summoned by Jouaust.
Colonel Jouaust, The president of the
sourL replied: Il summoned him by
virtue Of my discretionary power"
NJ Labori-I beg TO call attention 10 the
fact that FOR the first time we are called
upon TO listen 10 witness foreign TO our
nation. Now. then, since this has been
done, ] declare that ! shall demand that eli
information which Is necessary upon the
question Of the delivery OF the pieces
named In the b0raereau shall be obtained
through diplomatic sources. I beg you "a
ask that II the court grants the request for
the examination Of this witness behind
closed doors that II be postponed until to-
morrow in order to give US some opportu-
nifty 10 demonstrate the falsity Of his testi.
nony and 50 be able 20 take the necessary
proceedings against the author of suci
fslsehoods
n Demange asked Major CaIriere whe,
il was the witness arst communicated witt
the Government.
Major Carriere-I cannot say exactly.
The court reserved its decision as TO tn
time when the secret session should b
held
Cernuschi left iae stand after speakinj
scarcely a word He is under thirty year
OF age and looks much more like a vale
than the scion OF any royal family II
started boldly around the hall where he wa
greeted with half suppressed Kisses. Thel
be sat down for few moments among tn
other witnesses and then left the hall.
Dreyfus UBconcerned
Dreyfus listened TO the reading OF Ger
nuschi's statement without q sign OF emo
tiOn and did not attempt TO make any re
ply. The effect on the audience. however
was TO produce intense passion and excite
ment among the two factions which wa
scarcely kept within bounds II must b
admitted here that the Dreyfus sympa
thizers sometimes fail to maintain prope
control over their feelings.
The next witness was M. Peyrot.
friend OF Judge Bertulus, who repeate,
the same version that the magistrate nov
gives OF the famous interview with Colo
lel Henry when the latter broke down an,
confessed. NJ Bertulus told the stor.