The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27

shaking with suppressed passion.
Today'e session tore the last shred of
credit from MERCER but added the name
of Freystatter to the little roll of heroes
who have risked everything In the defense
OF Dreyfus One needs to be in the very
midst of the storm of passion now raging
In France to appreciate the height OF moran
courage to which Captain Freystatter has
risen in coming forward to the defense
of the truth against the army chiefs. ICY
are simply furious at the thorough expos
ure and all blame Maurel FOR falling Into
the trap laid for him by Labor in Thurs
days cross examination, although 1t is diff
iicult to see what else Maurel could have
done.
| After the court rose and all the public
were supposed to be excluded, General
MERCER accosted Colonel Maurel in the
court yard and gave him piece of his
mind. even going to the extent of calling
him a blockhead
Maurel vainly protested his helplessness
and the impossibilty of warding off La
boris home thrusts In view of Captain
Freystatter's testimony.
Finally MERCER left him In n temper.
he appearance at the court martial to-
day of the properties OF NJ. Bertillon, the
distinguished anthropometer. was the
signal for an outburst of hilarlty on the
part OF the audience. The prisoner was
apparently quite Indifferent to what was
going on, but the judges and counsel alone
attempted to follow the specialist In his
interminable cryptographc problem.
The witness was heard to say during his
demonstration; "The system | have the
honor to explain to you can easily be car
ried on under the eyes and II you like
Will again read the notes"
Roars Of laughter greeted the depreca-
tory reply OF Colonel Jouaust, president
OF the court martial, who said: ooh, do
not trouble yourself"
As the comedy was prolonged It grew
so wearisome that the audience brought
out newspapers and chatted in low tones,
Bertillon at one point advanced alleged
fresh proofs against the prisoner, namely.
founded ON Dreyfus' papers seized at the
war office, In which the specialist said he
found that two words had been traced.
One OF Bertillon's demonstrations was
handed TO Dreyfus, who closely scrutinized
i and returned the paper with disdan-
full shrng OF his shoulders and without ut
tering word.
In summing up the results OF his test
M. Bertillon said Gully understanding
the responsibility OF 80 positive state
ment, on my soul and conscience I declare
today. as did In 1894, on my oath, that
the bordereau Is tho work Of the prisoner
here. fSensation.)
'Esterhazy" exclaimed Bertillon. sis a
man OF straw and a scoundrel. I have said
this ever since the commencement OF the
lola trial"
There was sensation. which was turned
to laughter as the witness, In his excite
ment. knocked his portfolios to the ground.
M. Laborl asked how Bertillon recon-
ciled the present experiments. namely, that
the hordereau was written by Dreyfus.
tracing Esterhazy's handwriting, with his
opinion in 1894. that the bordereau WAS
written by Dr4fus. unless 1t had been
most cleverely forged. To this Bertillcn
replied that It was only hypothesis.
whereupon Lahori remarked that the forg-
cry vas then Of such nature - " CON-