The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-20

| trlal by court martial OF Capt. Alfred
Dreyfus of the 14th artillery. charged
with treason, was resumed at the Ly-
| Gee.
| The first witness called to-day was
Major Cugnet, formerly attached to
the ministry of war. The witness, who
declared he was convinced of the pris-
oner's guilt was cross-examined by M.
| Demange of counsel for the defense,
who succeeded in pointing out several
| of his statements contradicted his pre-
vious dispositions.
| The president of the court, Colonel
Jousaust asked Dreyfus if he had any
thing to say, whereupon the prisoner
arose and again vehemently protested
against the denunciations leveled
against him, an innocent man. General
Boisdeffre was the next witness
called
| Following is the evidence in de-
| tail:
| Major Cuignet. the first witness
called, was not in uniform, as he is
| not at present attached to any corps.
Before beginning an account of the
| special investigation into the case
| which l was ordered to make by min
listers of war from M. Cavaignac to Nj.
Freycinet," said the witness. Il wish
to mention fact which, in conjunc-
! ton with the evidence already heard,
will constitute fresh proof of the pris-
oner's indiscreet behavior when en-
| ployed on the headquarters staff. l
was on the staff when Dreyfus was n
probationer during the latter part of
| 1898. Among other duties l was con-
nected with the maintaining of rail-
roads, with the view of interruptng
| traffic in case of need. 1t is hardly
necessary to point out the secret char
acter of such a matter. Dreyfus was
probationer on the eastern railroads
and had been ordered to specially study
the mining on them and possessed in
formation relating solely to them. One
day Dreyfus asked me to give him the
general scheme of mining, which I
possessed, giving as the reason for the
request that he was anxious to increase
his knowledge and that it was neces-
sary for him to know the general
scheme in order to properly carry out
the work entrusted to him. / replied
that / did not see the necessity Of Civ
ing him the scheme and that in any
case he had better apply to his own
chief, Major Bertin. Dreyfus pretended
Bertin would not impart any informa-
ton. Day after day he pestered me so
that finally, having no reason to dis
tions. Dreyfus displayed the keenest
interest and took copious notes. When,
later, his house was searched these
notes were not discovered. l did not
know what became of them. But it is
difficult to believe they were destI Dyed.
considering the Importance he seemed
to attach to the information and the
persistence shown in procuring it,
After launching the above declara-
tion, which he apparently considered
to be weighty evidence of the treach
cry of Dreyfus. Major Cuignet pro-
ceeded to recount in detail the task
which General Gonse assigned to him
in May. 1898, of classifying the docu-
ments in the Dreyfus, Esterhazy and
Picquart cases.
Conviction of Dreyfus' Guilt.
'"The first question will ask here is
said the witness. rs Dreyfus guilty?
My conviction of his guilt is based on
three grounds. First his confessions
to Captain Lebrun-Renault: second the
technical nature of the contents of the
bordereau; third. the results of the eX-
animation of the secret dossier. | will
add to these three points the evidence
of the expert, Bertillon Qaughter), as
indirect proof, and the means en-
ployed by the Dreyfus family to Sc
cure the prisoners rehabilitation. l
protest that IA campaign has been un-
dertaken against justice, truth and our
country"
The majors outburst of heroics
evoked cynical smiles and indications
of dissent, coupled with marks of as
sent from the assembled generals. The
witness next spoke of the secret dos
sier of the war ministry containing in
formation relating to interviews be-
tween Major Tarrieux, former minister
of justice, and Count Ternielli. the
Italian ambassador. which country
said Cugnet, benefited by the treach-
cry"
Regarding the confessions said to
have been made to Captain Lebrun-
Renault. the witness said he still be-
lieved they were authentic, adding: IF
people do not believe the confessions
to Captain Lebrun-R Renault, they will
believe no human testimony. Contin-
uing. the witness reasserted that the
bordereau was written by Dreyfus at
the end of August, and incidentally
the major protested against ColGnel
Picquarts insinuations against Du
Patty de Clam. He then returned to
the secret dossier of the war office.
from which, he declared, the court was
sure to draw important deductions.
THE first portion of the dossier," he
said, shows that in 1893 there was a
constant leakage in the ministry of
war. We have had proofs of the plans
of Notifications reaching the hands of
a foreign power. 1t is known to a cSr-
tainty from the letter of an agent of
foreign power, that the stolen plans
emanated from the ministry of war.
A vast network of espionage had there
fore been organized against US by
agents belonging to the same power,
as "A Colonel Schwartzkoppen), the
German military attache; the agents of
other powers also colaboring"
The witness invited the courts at
hi E-t.a r.. ..1I, lA
said would be found ample proof of
the prisoners guilt.
A Manifest Lie.
At this stage of the proceedings Drey-
fus rose and interrupted the witness,
shouting: That is a manifest lie"