The Forrest City times., 1899-09-01
TESTIFIED FOR DREYFUS.
4ore Handwriting Experts Testify
that the Bordereau was
Written by Esterhazy.
Gen. MERCER IS pUzzllMs THE PEOPLE.
Sen. Roget sefses nm Opportuniay
tn score u PoBnt-At the Reauext
Of Mai. Carriere the Seseton ct
Thursday VIII he Held Behind
Closed Doors.

of Maj. Carriere the ses.tou ct
Tharsdsy VIII he Held Behind
Closed Doors.
Rcnnes. Aug. 31.--At the opening in
IRE Lycee of the third session of the
fourth week of the ccurt-martial of
Capt. Alfred Dreyfus. NJ. Paul Meyer.
member of the institute and director
Of the school of ancient manuscripts,
was the first witness called. He de-
posed in favor of Drcyfus.
ClOsed Session Thursday.
After hearing NM. Molinier and Giry
and NJ. Picot n member of the insti-
tute, all of whom testified in favor of
Dreyfus. Gen. Deloyc testified against
the prisoner on the artillery references
in the bordereau. Then the court. on
the application of the government
sommissary, Maj. Carriere. ordered
that the opening part Of Thursdays
session be behind closed doors, for
the purpose of discussing documents
rclating to the artillery.
Strong Point For Dreyfus.
The evidence of NM. Meyer. Mo-
Her and CRY, all Of whom are hand
writing experts Of the first rank, was
. strong point for Dreyfus. They
were most emphatic In declaring the
bordereau was written by Esterhazy.
and created a better impression than
M. Bertillon by not introducing tn.
fantastic diagrams which the latter
deemed necessary.
Pussled the Audience.
The action of Gen. MERCER in ash
ing to be allowed to reply to Gen.
Molinier, and then getting up and con-
Arming the professors statement that
Esterhazy changed his handwriting
since 1894, puzzled the audience. That
Esterhazy should have deemed it adj
visable to change his handwriting
since the date of the bordereau, which
appears, at first sight, to indicate that
he wrote it, and NJ. Mercier should
support Prof. Molinier. aroused dis
sussion as to the generals motives.
How Some Look NJ II.
There are some people who see in
Mercier's unsolicited testimony. Tues
day, In support Of the honorable ma
ture of NJ. Matthew Dreyfus' visit to
Col. Sandherr, in 1894, i'm behalf of
his brother, and the generals move
to-day, an indication Of some change
OF attitude. perhaps prelude to
candid ayowal of his mistakes of 1894.
On the other hand, many persons
think Con. Mercier. fearing that Sat
urday's exposure will discredit him
altogether with the Judges. has con-
eeived the idea of giving way on cer-
tain points, which, moreover, are a.
most incontestible, and thus. to some
extent. reinstate himself by an afrec.
tation of impartiality.
Evoked . Protest.
N. Picot related an interesting con-
versation which he had with the
Austro- Hungarian military attache,
Col. SchneiNer, mention of whose
name evoked a prompt protest from
Maj. Carriere, in the name of the gov
eminent and state. Col. Schneider
according to this witness. admitted
that Esterhazy acted as spy and
wrote the bordereau.
sArewd Gen. Roget.
Gen. Roget, with his usual shrewd-
ness, seized upon NJ. Picot's statement
that Col. Schneider expressed astonish-
ment that French officers should have
the bad taste to question the word of
foreign officers, to mount the plat
form and make a short speech in de-
Tense of the attitude of the French
eeicers, concluding with the remark:
II intervene, because when French Of
hk'ers are attacked, they have the RICH,
to defend themselves"
These words will be published all
ever France and will tend TO make
Capt. Roget more popular with the
army.
Gen. Deloye's Testimony.
Gen. Dcloye repeated his testimony
before the court of cessation relating
to the 100 short cannon hydro-pneu-
matte brake and the Robin shell.
Dreyfus, in reply. made really clear
statement. explaining that he saw tho
hydro-pneumatic brake once at Bour-
ges, once at he school of war, and
that he never saw it used because.
while on the general staff, he was
never present at firing practice.
MAI. Carriere's Application.
Maj. Carriere then made his appli-
cation to have the court sit behind
closed doors Thursday. explaining that
he desired to submit 10 the court Ger.
tain documents prepared by the gun
merry bureau, containing information
which it was not desirable to discuss
In public.
Granted BY the Court.
The court, after elaboration, grant
Cd the application and also acceded to
the request of the defense that their
witness, Maj. Hartmann. of the artil-
lery, be allowed to be present. as he
would give important testimony show
sng that Dreyfus could not have writ
ten the paragraphs in the bordereau
concerning artillery.
Baron Albert Grant Dead.
London, Aug. 3l.-Baron Albert
n.