The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-19
P!CQuARH TEST!R!ES
Former Chief Of Intelligence De-
N partment on the Stand


| Upon the Accused Oficer Charged
With Treason.
Rennes, Aug. 19.-Colonel Picquart
| practically occupied the whole days
sitting with masterful presentation
of his side of the case. He spoke fol
five hours. and his voice at the end oi
that time began to show signs of ia
tigue. His testimony was followed with
the closest attention by the members
of the court martial and by the audi
ence.
Colonel Picquart explained how he
had been unable to attend to his du-
ties on account of family bereavement
and Colonel Henry had acted in his
stead. He spoke of the Quenelli case
Quenelli was returned convict, who
had been caught red handed In a
criminal act. Colonel Plcquart pro-
tested against the allegation that he
had consented to the communication
of the secret dossier. without the pris-
oner's knowledge, to the Dreyfus court
martial.
The colonel then proceeded to dis
cuss the phrase of the bordereau. Il
am going to the maneuvers." He said
there was no question of probationers
going to the maneuvers in September.
The witness rebutted the charges
against him of unnecessarily delaying
the prosecution of Esterhazy. He said
his object was to avoid arousing sus-
picion in regard to an officer who, per-
bor I'M a
mistake" he added, would have been
averted in 1894 had they acted in the
same way In regard to Dreyfus."
What the witness gathered about
Esterhazy's character, he continued,
created the worst impression upon him
but he learned nothing to connect Es-
terhazy with any act Of espionage.
Therefore, he did not mention his sus-
picions. An agent, however, was or
dered to watch Esterhazy, who had
completely compromised himself
through hts relations with an English
company, of which he had agreed to
become director. Moreover. Esterhazy
gambled, led life Of debauchery, and
lived with Mile. Pays.
The colonel said it would facilitate
to see the secret dossier, adding 81
have already had 1t in my hands, but
fear my memory may fail me on
some points"
what you ask" replied the presi-
dent of the court martial, "is imfos-
sible. The minister's orders are alb
solute. The secret dossier can only be
examined under certain conditions"
The minute detail with which, the
colonel dealt with the evidence, the
clearness of his language, and his de-
ductions had grand effect upon the
audience and ELECTED general admir-
alton. The former chief of the intel
ligence department concluded his ex-
animation of the first portion of the
secret dossier by saying:
MAY | be allowed TO express deep
regreat at the absence of Major Dl
Patty De Clam? 1t seems to me indis-
pensable that this officer. who wrote
the commentaries on the secret dossier,
should be summoned to give evi-
dence here He would give us his
"reminiscences, and would help him."
But" added Picquart, "since | am
mentaries of Major Du Paty de Clam,
permit me to point out to you, gen.
tlemen, that this document was not
the property of any particular min
lister. 1t was classified as belonging to
the intelligence department. and, as
you see, it formed part of a well de-
fined dossier-a dossier which was
shut up in one of the drawers of my
desk, and which was abstracted from
it. The commentary, therefore, is
upon secret dossier document which
was improperly removed from my de-
partment.
"You cannot imagine, gentlemen,
what people. in order to get money, if
only modest 20 franc piece. have
brought to the intelligence department
in the shape of so-called information,
which examination has proved to be
worthless"
Colonel Picquart explained how he
had acquired the conviction that the
bordereau was written by Esterhazy.
and how he ascertained that the anti
Dreyfus proofs were worthless. He
detailed how he first learned of the ex-
istence of Esterhazy, and his efforts to
discover something about him.
Il knew Esterhazy was anxious to
enter the war Office, and did not re-
gard his desire favorably. communi-
Gated my impression to my chiefs, who
approved all my steps, and the ap-
plication of Esterhazy was rejected.
His insistence,. however, only in
creased my uneasiness regarding him,
and / resolved to obtain specimen Of
his handwriting. | was Immediately
struck with the similarity of his hand
writing and that of the bordereau, and,
forthwith, | had the letters of Ester"
hazy, which were in my possession,
photographed, and showed the photo
graphs to Major Du Patty de Clam and
M. Bertillor (the handwriting expert).
between Aug. rs and Sept. g."
Colonel Picquart, continuing, said
Patty de Clam, on seeing the writing,
forthwith declared it was that of Mat
thew Dreyfus, the brother of Captain
Dreyfus.
AT M. Bertillons request left the
photographs with him. When he re-
turned them he said he adhered to this
opinion, and earnestly asked to see the
original, when l saw beyond doubt
that the handwriting of the bordereau
was Esterhazys. and seeing that the
documents mentioned therein might
have been supplied by Esterhazy, that
the words i am going to the maneu-
vers' could perfectly well apply to
Esterhazy, and that Esterhazy had
secretaries at his disposal to copy
document SO voluminous as the firing
manual, resolved to consult the Sc
cret dossier to see what part of the
treachery he ascribed to Dreyfus and
to assure myself whether the dossier
contained anything indicating Ester
hazy.
Il frankly admit | was stupefied on
reading the secret dossier | expected
Ia Cad x,anItarr nf nrn.rit,r tha,.in and