The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-15
Buneau- VariIa Found it After
Many Years
COMPARED WITH BORDEREAU
Former Panama Minister Claims He Is
the First to Discover Positive
Proof of Dreyfus' In
nocence.

Paris, July 14.-As a fitting epilogue
to the acquittal of Alfred Dreyfus, M
Phillip Buneau-V -Varilla today gave the
Associated Press a remarkable story of
how he first discovered positive proof of
Dreyfus' innocence and the guilt of Major
Count Esterhazy, a story heretofore
unknown only to a few intimates includ-
ing Dreyfus, who said during recent
dinner here that while the establishment
of his innocence was attributed to many
causes, NJ. Buneau-V -Varilla's chance de-
lection of the counterfeit bordereau, or
the main document on which the prosecu-
ton relied was the real cause of the tri-
umph of justice.
The interview occurred at the residence
of M. Buneau-varilla, where his study
is hung with souvenirs of his services
with the late Count deLesseps. and as
minister of Panama at Washington, and
a sea-level canal.
Old Document Was Instrumental.
Yes" said NJ. Buneau-Varilla, "a doc
ument among these old records was the
basis of the whole Dreyfus agitation, and
was instrumental in his final acquittal.
Dreyfus and l entered the polytechnic
school together In 1878. l recall his very
characteristic Jewish look which was
rather unprepossesslng. But he was good
fellow and a companionable student. Our
ways parted on our graduation, he going
into the army and l becoming a govern
ment engineer We seldom came together
after that, but once CHANGING to meet
him on the Avenue Montaigne, we chatted
about a project which / was directing for
the development of the French Congo
Later Dreyfus wrote me asking for In
formation about the project, for the pur-
pose OF writing a geographical study upon
rench possessions in Africa. Through
an oversight the letter remained unan-
swered 1t was some years later that
Dreyfus was arrested and convicted before
a secret courtmartial I first thought he
was victim of the prevailing anti-semi-
tic sentiment but the conviction appeared
to establish his guilt. Happening to dine
afterwards with my brother Maurice
proprietor of the Matin. he spoke or hav-
ing a Photographic reproduction of the
hordereau constituting the only proof on
which Dreyfus was convicted
One Extra Photograph Made.
.,All of the official photographs of the
bordereau had been scrupulously traced
and returned to the court, but some one
had ingeniousy photographer one or the
photographs. and this was delivered to
my brother with the idea that its publica-
Ion would prevent further assertions that
Dreyfus was innocent. However. Maurice
decided not to publish 1t, as he did not
wish to again call public attention to
Dreyfus, who was then considered 10 be
a vile traitor.
''When my brother spoke of the bor-
aereau the idea flashed across my mind
that | might compare the document with
something written by Dreyfus during our
school days | finally found the old, un-
answered letter in which Dreyfus asked
for information relative to the Congo.
Buenau-yarilla then showed the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press letter
written on note paper in delicate hand,
In which Dreyfus asked his old school
chum to give him information about the
Congo for geographical study. by the
side of this letter M. Buneau-Varilla
placed the photograph of the bordereau
which he still possesses.
Begins c-refuI Comparison.
.I began a careful comparison of the
bordereau and the Dreyfus Congo letter ="
he continued THE first glance gave me
the impression that they were in the
same handwriting, but suddenly l OBJ
served something which caused me pro-
found astonishment. In Dreyfus' letter TO
me the words having double s. were
written with a long s. first and short
s. second whereas in the bordereau II
was Just the reverse. The short 's' was
frst and the long g. second. l usually
write q double s. with long slant.
tried to reverse the letters, but 1t was
impossible. It was like a right hand man
irving to write with his left My brother
and / made another comparison or the
bordereau and the letter. and reached tne
same conclusion, namely that the hand-
writing of the letter about the Congo was
not that of the bordereau AS together
we realized this discovery we felt as
though an earthquake had shaken us.
Maurice Immediately announced his de-
termination to publish the photographed
bordereau that every one possessing let
ters written by Dreyfus would be able 70
make comparisons, and the following day
the people generally, and the Dreytus
family in particular. saw for the nrst
time what has since been known as the
hordereau From the appearance OF that
photograph of the bordereau dates almost
evervthing known as the Dreyfus affair.
Everything of Importance which follow
cd was In consequence OF that discovery,
and the publication of the photograph OF
the bordereau But the three capital con-
sequences continue:
Three Important Results.
Il The Dreyfus family were allowed to
see the mystery and the only proof that
Drevfus was convicted on. and they were
thus able to make comparisons establish
ing the innocence Of Dreyfus.
~. The appearance of the photograph
or the bordereau led NJ Castro, a stock
h, oker. TO recognize as being In the hand
w.itjng of one Of his clients. County Es-
terhazy thus securing Esterhazy's trial
and the publication Of Zola's famous I
accuse letter.
..3. The appearance Of the photograph
of the hordereau permitted Colonel Pic
Quart (head OF the intelligence depart
menD to break his silence and become
the most powerful witness in establishing
the Innocence OF Dreyfus
"All the facts which so violently agi-
.ated the world for years were simply
the results of three essential facts fol-
lowing the appearance of the photograph
of the bordereau which would not have
occurred II had not forgotten to an
swer the letter Dreyfus wrote me about
the Congo. Once that letter was answered.
I would have torn his letter to pieces. the
mt Iograph Of the bordereau would not