The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-30
SPEAKS OUT FOR DREYFUS.
cor. coRDIER TELLS THE COURT THE
PRISONER rs INN OCENT


,.L in tho General Stnn's Ranks-Gen.
Boi,defre Wants to Return to the Stand
and Tell the Truth-H cid Back ny the
Irott,rs-Ex-war Minister Freycinet n
p,,ppointing witness-Coi. Du Patty de
Cam to Escnpo Cross-Examination.
Srseial cab. Detpateh TO The Sun.
REEVES. Aug. 2o-There were touches OF
uuht comedy in the public events OF to-day,
which though sometimes Inappropriate. al
,ordcd A lot unwelcome relief. Even the sem
.atiopaI evidence OF intrigue and the rapid
succession OF startling incidents had become
,nopotonous, and q touch OF fun. however
torced. served to restore mental equilibrium.
40 at least everyone In the crowded court
room, including. fortunately. Dreyfus himself.
found It during the three hours that Col.
Cordier hold the platform.
The evidence OF ex- Minister OF War De Frey
s,net. which the public expected would prove
dramatic and sensational. was chiefly remark
able for what it did not contain. 1t was prac-
tioaliy null and void.
Outside the court room. however. the air is
atill filled with rumors about the crisis in the
situation which every body believes 10 close at
hand. One Of the most persistent OF these
rumors is to the effect that there is division
among the group Of Generals. which will soon
become an omen rupture.
It's known that since the Henry forgery and
nuicide Gen Boisdeffre has taken no active
mart with Gems Mercler and Roget and the
others who are so frantcally seeking to block
the course OF Justice. He scarcely conceals his
disapproval OF their policy. and his personal
relations with them have recently become
strained. 1t la now asserted that since
Capt Freystaetter gave his testimony on
Saturday there has been the igreatest
difficulty in restraining Gen. Boisdeffre
from returning to the stand and championinR
the cause Of Dreyfus. Gen. Gonse alone OF
Gen. Boisdefrres old associates has had sum-
cient influence to prevent him from following
the dictates OF his conscience and separating
himself from these defenders OF the honor Of
the army
The Generals have not yet given a public
align of the rash change OF policy which the
defendants lawyers expect them to adopt, and
which was fully described In last nights des-
patches to The SUN. Ma1tre Demange was
surprised that the first move was not made
to-day in the new direction by the Generals.
but in any event it Is unfortuna that Du Patty
de Clans deposition will be taken without any
representative OF the defence being present.
The Figaro to-day asserts to the contrary. but
this is mistake Du Patty de Clam will escape
all cross examination.
COL. coRp1ER's JOKES MAKE DREYFus LAUGH.
Every seat and every inch Of standing room
was occupied when the Sergeant Of the Guard
called Present armsl" to tho file OF soldiers
as the Court entered. The hearing was re.
sumed without the loss of q moment.
Col Cordier. who was Col. Sandherr's assist
ant In 1894. and who temporarily succeeded
his chief after Sandherrs death. occupied the
witness stand for moro than an hour. He as
sumed the task OF infusng comic reliefinto the
proceedings. Some Of his Jokes. interpreted
among serious and important declarations.
sent everybody In the courtroom into roars OF
laughter. Even Dreyfua laughed. 1t seemed q
miracle that that face. which had been almost
sphinx-like In It's hard lines OF endurance.
could relax again. 1t was the most welcome,
and at the Same time the most pitiful. incident
which the trial h d produced Tho re-birth OF
human nature In this tortured creature has
bsen. after all. the most marvellous OF the
strange things we have Witnessed In this court
room. Dreyius Is Q man once more. and en-
dowed anew with the capacity for human
emotions.
Col. Cordier gave an interesting account OF
the workings OF the Intelligence Bureau OF the
French War ONCE. The stan. he said. lived
for eight years in peace and mutual confidence.
till Col. Henry came. 1t was believed that
Henry was Gen. Mirbers spy. From that time
there was eavosdropping and suspicion. Col
Henry's forgery. the witness declared had for
It's sole object the ruin OF Col. Pcquart. whom
Henry was trying to supplant.
Cordier fixed the date OF the bordereau al
Sept "a to 20. 1894. 1t was not in the office
the witness said. when he left for a holiday on
Sept %. Col. Sandherr told him. on his return
on Oct. 8. that they had fixed upon Dreyfus as
tho traitor The witness believed until after
nrsvfus ad hot ha yuil Nv
His reason for this belief was not so much his
personal knowledge Of the evidence. but the
'unanlmity OF the Judges and those who pre-
pared the case. 1t became evident. however
that Dreyfus could not have furnished some OF
the items OF the bordereau. and 1t was dis
covered that there were other leaks in the
War Office. which continued after Dreyfus wal
transported.
CONVINCED THAT DREYFUs is INNOCENT.
Col. Cordier explained the report that police
investiL alton into Dreyius's private life hal
shown that he was gambler, &c. 1t was
found. the witness said that the inquiries in
volved several men OF the name of Dreyfus
and when the reports had been sitted there
was absolutely nothing against the prisoner.
except the fact that he was hardly entitled
to wear orange blossoms on his wedding day
His conduct after his marriage. however. was
shown to have been exemplary.
Finally Col Cordier. describing EsterhazI
without naming him. said: 1T was this
French officer who carried openly documents
and Information to the German Embassy. and
the man sitting notwithstanding Dreyfus-
does not answer to that description. I am
convinced to-day that Drcyfus is an innocon
man"
Major Lauth and Gen. Roget violently dis.
cussed some points OF Col Cordier' testimony
but without important result. Lauth. for In
stance. accused Cordier of having been al
ant-Semi' o in 1904.
Yes" retort1d tina witness: Il was and am
still, / object TO Israelite officers But
never went 40 far as to bring false evidence
against a Jew. am an anti-Semte. but an
also an honest man."
Gen. Roget. under pretence OF replying t.
Col. Cordier. made a series OF attacks upo
Capt Freystaetter. Col. Picquart. and Others
There was a hot fire OF personalities for three
quarters OF an hour, sometimes savage, some
times ludicrous. but seldom touching such