The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-22

PRISONER GROWS EXCITED.
A former secretary of the
war office named 4.erret next
testified to seeing Dreyfus pry-
ing into other officers work during
their absence and the prisOner replied
eXcitedly that Ferret'S statements were
connections by a former minister of
war, which caused a sensation. Then
in a cooler manner the prisoner made a
statement, explaining the difficulties in
the way of a civilian, such as Ferret
entering the offices of the general staff.
Gen. Gonse thereupOni presented two
letters to the effect that the writer's,
both of whom were civilians, obtained
easy admittance to the offices.
Dreyfus retorted that the regulations
were very strict in this respect and
therefore some persons were guilty of
gross breach of discipline; and M. De-
mango scored by adding that if entry
in these offices was easy why, any
body could procure the information
-Dreyfus was alleged to have obtained
so surreptitiOusly.
The next witness, Lieut.. Col. Bertin,
who was the head of Dreyfus' Office in
1854, showed himself to be 4 most viru-
lent enemy of the prisoner. He had
evidently learned his testimony by
heart, and acclaimed it in a strident,
aggressive tone, which grated upon the
ears of the audience.
Some of his remarks, particularly his
declarations that he was convinced of
Dreyfus' guilt by M. BerUilon's chart
and his introduction of Esterhazy's
statements as evidence against Drey-
fus elected general smiles il court.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
Following are the proceedings in de-
tail:
The president of the court, Col Jou-
aust, on taking his seat turned to NJ.
Labori and amid impressivev silence,
read an address as follows:
ALLOW me, NJ Labori. to express to
you the unanimous sentiments of the
OF Afaa mi TO
which you nearly fell a victim. This
unsDeakable act has excited every
where especially among the members
of this court martial the keeneSt indig
nation. (Applause.) We are glad it did
not have grave consequences to you
and that the skillful and devoted atten-
tion lavished upon you permitted you
to resume your duties today" Gap
plause.)
In spite of the presidents exhorta-
tion not to fatigue himself, NJ. Labori
replied:
Monsieur le President: Permit me.
Notwithstanding my weakness and
emotion, to say word In reply to those
you have done me the honor to address
to me in such deeply touching terms 1t
was for me a visitation of a particular
ly painful nature to be struck down
at the time when this case was begin
ming to realize my beautiful dream of
the last few years, namely, to plead
this case in all its amplitude before d
tribunal of soldiers. That was my
aspiration ana that Will explain to you
my emotion and sorrow as well as my
joy today. 1 will not revert to that
but 1 wish to thank all friends or foes
or Indifferent people who have honored
me with these signs of sympathy of
which I am deeply sensible and I thank
you, Mr.. President, and members of
the court martial and also all these
eminent men, though have not the
honor of knowing them except in the
course of these long struggles in which
we have met and in the progress OF
which the faces of adversaries end by
smiling a little like the faces of friends,
or at least like those of old acquaint-
ances, who have expressed their sym
pathy. 1 thank you, friends and col
leagues, even the humblest correspond
ents who have done me the honor to
write to me without giving their ad-
dress, because their marks of SYM
pathy. though coming from the hum
blest abOdeS were also the most sim
cere and the most touching.
I resume my place in court, rather
to hear than to speak. If 1 am less ac-
tive, / shall bring no less conscientious
ness nor less good temper into my
work. It is a difficult task we are all
performing. You who are the arbiters
and who will render juStice-We the
auxiliaries. But ali of this will help
US on, for we shall have the sense Of
duty done.
Let US now continue the proceed
ings in which we have yet to pass
through many vicissitudes Thanks to
the fullness of these Investigations, we
shall see emerged from them perfect
truth and complete justice making for
peace
In conclusion, NJ. Labor said that
they now had the right to hope and
declared that protests and recrimina-
tlOnS after the success of the work of
justice must be regarded as inadmissi-
BILE and that it must be known that
error has ever a larger share in human
affairs than treachery." (Applause).
LABORI IS CHEERED.
showed emotion and fatigue, seated
himself there was prolonged handicap
ping.
NJ Grenier, former prefect of Belfort,
was the first witness called. He said
he considered Esterhazy to be an ire
sponsible parsonage. Esterhazy, he
continued, was the orderly officer of
the witness father, who always praised
his fidelity and devotion, but Ester
haZy even then was a disappointed
man. He was always complaining of
deception, grumbling at fate and living
IN great style without means to uphold
it. He squandered successive legacies.
The witness continuing said he in
troduced EsterhaZy to NJ. Jules Roche,
reporter of the Budget, of the minister
of war who. wanted an educated, intel
lgent officer, capable of explaining mil
itary technicalities. No one according
to NJ. Grenier, was better qualified for
this than Esterhazy, who spoke every
foreign language and was thoroughly
posted on military science and the gen.
eral and military history of Europe.
At Esterhazy's request the witness
made numerous attempts to get him
onto the ministry of war, which Ester
hazy declared was necessary in order
to enable him to pass for lieutenant
colonel.
NJ Grenier continued that at that
time Esterhazy attributed the resist
ence which he encountered to various
people, including the late Lieut.. Col.
Henry but when the witness reassured
ESterhazv on this point he exclaimed:
1T is the last thing I should expect
for Henry to be nasty"
Col. Jouaust-Did Esterhazy tell you
he believed in the innocence of Drey-
fus?
HE COULD NOT SWEAR IT.
The Witness could not renlY definitely