New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-26

list then unpacked packages OF photographs.
plans. etc, and another table was brought IN 10
hold the mass Of papers produced
In monotonous tones NJ. Bertillon proceeded
TO demonstrate technically how he reached tho
conviction OF Dreyfus's guilt. reciting the facts
published on April %. He said he proposed 10
prove to the Court: % That the bordereau was
a doctored document: CO that 1t could only be
manufactured by the prisoner; co that IL had
been written in a free hand by means OF a Key
word placed beneath tracing paper in such a
way as to be quite visible.
The witness. continuing. declared that Drey-
fus did not have recourse TO initiating Ester
bazy's free handwriting because 1t required too
long TO study and he used the tracing process
because It was easier to learn and more likely 10
be successful. with the view Of illustrating MS
meaning, NJ Bertillon handed round photo
graphs of the bordereau etc. and during the
course of the demonstration the specialist ad-
yanced to the Judges bench and with his
finger pointed out illustrations OF his theories.
AN ASTOUNDING REVELATION.
NM Demange and Labor, the judges and
others gathered in a group around the witness
Dreyfus appeared to be stupefed by the com
narativeIy incomprehensible targon. and many
of the audience left the court Suddenly the
wandering attention OF those remaining In the
hall was riveted by the remark enumerated by
NJ Bertillon, IN loud tones:
I'VE clearly have before us fabricated docu-
nent. The one word always rests upon the
other with a divergence of 1.25 millimetres ana
225 millimetres. That is a phenomenon which
Is unnatural"
NJ Iabori watched the specialist for few
moments. and then returned to his seat, holding
UP both hands and excaimins; III Is most
extraordinary
NJ Bertillon continued his explanations. and
caused such a whirl in the brains OF his near
ers that Colonel Jouaust finally remarked; we
must have q few minutes rest
When the session of the court was resumed,
NJ Rertjllon made further demonstrations lie
compared words Of the bordereau with WORDS Oh
the documents In comparison. Leaning on the
Judges. bench. he placed the entire bordereau
over a graphic canvas and proceeded 10 sho"
that NV doing so Dreyfus succeeded in formuiat-
ing the principal rules which served 10 suioe
him in making his Joining MARKS aooins
that any copyist possessing key to these rules
could learn to replace the entire bordereau' ihe
witness then proceeded to try to demonstrates
the practicability Of this
when persons are accused" ne said. ut Is not
suf1cient to meet the charge with deniais' out
IL ia necessary to prove that they, have not done
u,hat they are charged with. In this case Inc
handwriting was disguised. There Is, there-
fore presumptive proof that the prisoner Is
guilty"
After this NJ Berton pointed out that five
ouestions in the bordereau were traced IN the
same manner and said: Il had reacheo 'hiS
point in my experiments when was SUM
rooned 70 the Cherche Midi prison by Major
D'Ormescheville The Major explained that ne
wished my personal opinion on cryptographic
methods, sympathetic inks, etc, which might
help the family Of Dreyfus In corresponding
with him. The request partly due TO the
fact that a number of letters addressed to the
prisoner by his family had been received.
THAT INCRIMINATING 90"
..DurinR the course Of the interview Major
D'Ormescheville produced one Of these letters
had hardly cast my eyes II before l was as
founded to notice the same kind OF a negative
~. with which had been so struck II was IN
a letter from Nine. Dreyfus"e
The specialist then pointed out how ne rounu
the same pecuIiarities OF Dreyfus's handwriting
in the letters OF other members OF MS ramliy'
and proceeded to give a long and perfectly unih-
teligible exposition, designed to demonstrate
that this proved the guilt of the prisoner The
audience quite in the dark regarding the mean
ing OF the technicalities. punctuated the queer
exnressions Of the witness with peals OF laughter
The members Of the court martial evidently
tried hard TO understand while Dreyfus APP
neared fatigued, but endeavored to follow the
arguments.
"My theory" continued the witness, was In
1894 considered by the Ministry OF war TO De
favorable 10 the prisoner II the defence ac-
cepted IT, they said the long magisterial investi-
CATION would have to be recommended, ana So
here the witness raised his voice and struck the
table with his fist-"when the word grille per
forated card used for ciphers) was uttered at
the court martial in 1894 the prisoners face
contracted. When / spoke of the fabrication OF
the bordereau he exclaimed. on the Wretch!
He saw me write then!
II did not hear the remark. but when 1t was
repeated to me It was revelation. For. II in
nocent, the word fabrication would have de-
lighted instead OF frightening him.
THE PRISONER UNMOVED.
Dreyfus listened impassively to this TRADE.
The audience again became animated when NJ.
Bertillon announced that he would give prac-
teal demonstration of how the bordereau was
fabricated, by means Of a keyword. The wit
ness. seated at table. began to copy the bor-
dereau on a sheet Of paper similar in character
to the famous document. After quarter OF an
hour Colonel Jouaust suggested that it was not
necessary to finish the demonstration. NJ. Ber-
tillon rose and showed the judges the result of
his labor, remarking. 81 was in a bad position"
The audience concluded from this remark that
the experiment had not succeeded, and the ex-
preston of the judges faces seemed to bear out
this opinion. The Court adjourned for the day
at II As a. m.
At the close Of the proceedings a crowd sur
rounded NJ. Labor anxious to know his opinion
Of NJ Bertlon's imitation bordereau. The law
yer answered that, so far as he could Judge by
a hurried glance, It certainly had resemblance
to the original but by no means any identity