Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-31
Bertillon on the Stand.

Bertillon on the Stand.
ReNnes, Aug. 26.-BertiIlon, the
handwriting expert who is at the head
OF the anthropOmetric department OF
the police and a number OF police Of
hcers were the witnesses in the Drey-
JUS trial Friday. The Dreyfusards re-
fused to regard Bertillon as anything
but the prince Of quacks. They cover
his remarks with ridicule and protest
that the admission Of his fantastic talk
as evidence before the court-martial is
a disgrace to France. The Dreyfus-
ards do not deceive themselves as to
the effect BertillOn's testimony may
nave upon the judges, who, they fear,
viii be gulled by what the Dreyfusards
consider spurious. If the Judges ac-
cept Bertillon's premises-that Drey-
Jus, as AN expert spy, did not write his
ordinary hand writing but in close i'm
ItauOn, even cOntriying to give letters
the appearance of having been traced,
IN order to be able to repudiate them
as a forgery if detected,-the struc-
SIOuQu
work may be scientifically correct. A
remarkable feature of Bertillon's depo
sltlon was the heat and excitement ne
putlnto what was expected to be a calm,
dlspassionate exposition of his theory,
He Numbered and shouted and waved
his arms as though engaged in some
terrible dispute. The military wit
n 5ses, all Of whom sit in a bunch,
leaving Colonies PicQuart and Bertulus
severely isolated, followed Bertillon's
statements with grave, wise express
sion OF countenance upon which not
even the suspicion of a smile appeared,
as though they understood every word
Dreytus gazed at the scene with a look
Of stupefaction. The clearest utter
ance Of NJ. BertillOn, during the course
OF his demonstration, was that the
handwriting Of the bordereau "obeys a
geometrical rhythm, of which l dis
covered the equation in the prisoners
blotting pad"
The defense intends, in the event of
DreyfuS being recOndetmned, to ask the
German government to communicate
the Esterhazy documents to prove
Dreyfus' innocence.
Hangs Out Black Flag.
Paris, Aug. 26.-All was quiet in the
vicinity of Guerins house throughout
the night, but at o'clock this morn
ing black flag appeared at a window.
Some days ago Guerin stated that in
the event Of his death the party would
hoist a black flag. It is known that two
of the party have been i'll, one seriously
from congestion of the lungs. Com
munication with the house is still
strictly forbidden. Guerin resumed
his watch on the roof at o'clock this
morning.
M. Guerin and his followers, who are
still besieged in the headquarters of the
anti-setnite league, created some ex-
element yesterday by distributing
from the windows of the building cir
culars denouncing the Jews. When the
police prevented the people from pick
ing up the circulars, the Guerinites
bombarded the police with bricks.
The police deluged the walls in the
neighborhood of NJ. Guerin's fort with
disinfectants, owing to the abominable
stencil since the water supply was cut
off. At late hour a reporter tried to
revictual the fortress of Guerin, but
was prevented 10y the police. Guerin
was greatly incensed and fired two |
shots at the police, but neither reached |
its mark
Diplomatic Mail Opened