The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-22

TO the petit bleu In order to demonstrate
how valueless was Captain Janckes eYl-
dence He said the court had only 10
compare the captains evidence with tue
results of the Ravary Fabre and Taver-
nier inquiries to see the contradictions
between him and Major Lauth. The court,
he added. then would see the utter valae-
lessness OF Captain Jancke's statements
(Sensation.)
ION that morning" said Lauth. 1T may
have been September "a, or later date,
it can not matter much, l arrived at the
office when Colonel Henry who was work
ing in the corridor, called to me and took
me into his room Captain Mather ar
rived simultaneously. We had scarceiy
entered when Colonel Henry showed the
packet received and exhibited some pieces
he had pasted together, saying 1t is
frightful. Just see what l have found IN
this packet
We walked to window and all three
began to read the paper, which was none
other than the bordereau. We discussed
the matter as to who could be the author.
Il must add that NJ. Gribein entered
the room and was informed regarding the
document. At the same time the Dor
dereau was only shown TO Colonel Sand
herr half or three quarters of an hour
! later when he arrived.
Next. discussing the petit bleu, Major
/ Lauth said 1t reached Colonel Picquart
enclosed In a packet early in March. IN
/ cidentally, the witness mentioned the mis-
! sion to Nance on which Colonel Henry
went, and said that while he was absent
! his wife came to the intelligence depart
ment to ask of his whereabouts. as she
knew nothing of his departure.
1T was the same with all officers OF the
department" said Lauth. "0ur families
never knew where we were going when
we We're sent on a mission, and 1t was
through the department that they cores
ponded with us. That proves that things
were not conducted In the fourth bureau
as alleged by Colonel Picquart. The off,
GERS were not so negligent and careless as
| he ~kas asserted,
| Continuing, the witness proceeded to
speak OF Picquarts orders to destroy all
evidence in tho petit hleu, having been torn
and TO determine the office OF origin by
afrxing the post mark.
"The spy Guers." said Lauth, entered
into relations with the ministry of war
with the avowed purpose of revenglng
himself on his government
Major Lauth's extremely long deposition
was listened to with profound silence. He
protested at Picquart's allegations against
! him in the course of the Tavernier inquiry,
! when Picquart represented Lauth as the
| instigator and perhaps also the writer or
the Henry forgery.
| II declare" said Lauth, that II by
inspiring or writing It | had share in
any way whatever in the preparation OF
the Henry forgery, | should have avowed
II the day Henry committed suicide. ] am
not even afraid of the razor nor
the rope OF LIE Mercier Picard, nor even
| OF broken glass omelette."
After controverting further statements
OF Picquart, Major Lauth, in conclusion.
declared that Henry, who knew nobody
on the newspapers, held quite aloof from
the press campaign organized In response
to the action taken by the friends OF Drey-
| fus."
After a short adjournment the court re-
assembled and the judges questioned NJ.
Lauth.
They asked his opinion of the Schneider
letter OF November so. 1897. Witness re-
piled that II was authentic and emanated
from Agent Pierre
Replying to N. De Mango, witnes
be never saw the photograph certain
newspapers asserted he took representing
Picquart and Schwarzkoppsn strolling
arm In arm ut Carlsbad,
Il suppose II was who took It." the
witness added ironically.
NJ. De Mange'-I do not accuse you.
Al the instance OF NJ. De Mango, Colo.
mel Picquart again described the altera-
tons Of the petit bleu, and declared that
the last time he saw II was the day be-
fore he started on his mission. when the
petit bleu was still In the same condition
as when Major Lauth handed II to him
In November. 1897 When Plcauart saw
Il In the possession OF General Pelliuz.
former minister OF war It seemed to him
that the handwriting had been somewhat
modified. and at the Tayernier inquiry he
noticed that alterations OF quite a serious
character had been made Ruled lines had
been erased. Moreover. experiments
showed the address had been written In