New-York tribune., 1906-07-15
THE FORGED BORDEREAU
BUNAU-TARILL4'S STORY.
Detection of Esterha@y's Crime
Crozcds Cheer Dregfus.


gave The Associated Press story of how he first
discovered positive proof Of Dreyfus's innocence
and the guilt OF Major Count Esterhazy. The
story has heretofore been known to few. Dreyfus
said at recent dinner here that while the es-
tablishment Of his innocence was attributed to
many cases. NJ. Bunau-Varilla's chance detec-
ton Of the counterfeit bordereau. the main docu-
ment on which the prosecution relied was the
real cause OF the triumph of justice.
n. Bunau-V Varilla, at his home in the Avenue
d'Iena, said to-day:
A document among those old records was the
basis Of the whole Dreyfus agitation and was
instrumental in his final acquittal Dreyfus and
entered the Polytechnic School together in
1878. He was good fellow and a companion
able student. Our ways parted our gradua-
ton, he going into the army and becoming
government engineer. We seldom came to-
gether after that but once CHANGING 70 meet
him on the Avenue MOntaigne, we chatted about
scheme which was directing for the develop
ment of the French Congo. Later DreyfUs
wrote TO me, asking for information about the
scheme. for the purpose Of writing geographi-
Through oversight the letter remained un-
answered 1t was some years later that Drey-
fus was arrested and convicted before secret
court martial. first thought he was victim
Of the prevailing anti-Semitic sentiment. but the
conviction appeared TO establish his guilt.
Happening to dine afterWard with my brother
Maurice, proprietor of the "Matin,' he spoke Of
having a Photographic reproduction of the bor-
dereaU. which constituted the only proof upon
which Dreyfus was convicted. All the official
photographs Of the bordereau had been scrupu-
lously traced and returned to the court but
some one had photographed one Of the photo
graphs, and this delivered to my brother.
with the idea that its publication would prevent
further assertions that Dreyfus was innocent.
Maurice decided not to publish it, as he did not
wish to again call public attention to Dreyfus,
who was then considered to be a vile traitor.
When my brother spoke OF the bordereau the
idea flashed across my mind that I might COM
pare the document with something written by
Dreyfus. / finally found the unanswered letter
! in which Dreyfus asked for information relative
to the Congo.
NJ BunaU-Va then showed the correspond
ent letter. written on note paper in a delicate
handwriting. in which Dreyfus asked his old
school friend 10 give him information about the
Congo for a geographical study. BY the side Of
this letter NJ Bunau-varilIa placed the photo
graph of the bordereau. He continued:
/ began careful comparison of the bOrdereau
and the Congo letter. The first glance gave me
/ the impression that they were in the same hand
/ writing, but suddenly I observed something
/ which caused profound establishment. In
/ DreyfuS'S letter to me the words having double
S were written with a long first and short
/ second. whereas in the bordereau it was just
! the reverse. The short first and the long
second. I myself write double with a long
first. I tried TO reverse the letters, but found
it was impossible. 1t was like right handed
man trying to write with his left hand MY
brother made an independent comparison of the
| bordereau and the letter and reached the same
| conclusion; namely, that the handwriting OF the
letter about the Congo not that OF the bOr-
dereau As together we realized this discovery.
we felt If earthquake had shaken
Maurice Immediately announced his determi-
| nation to publish the photograph OF the bor-
dereau so that every one possessing letters writ
| ten by Dreyfus would be able to make cOmpari
sons. and the following day the people generally.
and the Dreyfus family in particular, saw for
the first time what has since been known as the
bordereau. From the appearance OF that photo
graph Of the bordereau dates almost everything
Importance which followed was IN consequence
of that discovery and the publication Of the
photograph of the bordereau But the three
FIrst-The members OF the Dreyfus family
were enabled to see the mysterious and only
proof on which DreEfus was convicted. and they
were thus enabled to make comparisons estab-
fishing the innocence of Dreyfus-
SecOnd-The appearance Of the photograph of
the bOrdereau led M. Castro. a stock broker to
recognize it as being in the handwriting Of one Of
his clients. Count EsterhaZy, thus precipitattnG
Esterhazy's trial and the publication OF zOla's
famous letter
Third-The appearance Of the photograph of
the bOrdereau permitted Colonel Picquart, head
of the Intelligence Department to break his
silence and become the most powerful witness in
establishing the innocence of Dreyfus.
All the facts which violently agitated the
world for years were simply the results Of the
three essential facts following the appearance of
the photograph of the bordereau, which would
not have occurred If had not forgotten to an
swer the letter which Dreyfus wrote to me about
the Congo That letter answered, l would have
torn it up, the photograph of the bOrdereaU
would not have appeared in the "Mattn, and
Dreyfus would be dead in shame still confined
on Devils Island.
The celebration of the French national holiday
to-day assumed special significance in connec-
ton with Dreyfus resUming his place in the
army. THE Official Journal this morning pub
lished decree announcing his reinstatement
and promotion and the inscription OF his name
on the list OF chevaliers of the Legion of Honor,
Dreyfus, who remains in his apartments, is be-
seged by many friends. who are congratulating
him. Hundreds of messages have reached him
by mail. telegraph and cable. The date of his
receiving his sword and putting his uniform
awaits his assignment to a regiment.
The condition of the Under Secretary of State
NJ Sa,raut who was dangerously wounded yes
terday in a duel fought with NJ. Pugliesi-Conti
is unchanged. No serious complications have
developed. The doctors this morning said that
the upper part of the right lung had been per
forated.
President FaIlieres to-day reviewed the troops
| at Iongchamps. There were enormous crowds
and frequent shouts Of 'vive Dreyfus!' The
King Of Cambodia was present at the review,
where the Presidents guests in the tribune in
cluded Ambassador Mccormick and Mrs McCor-
mick and Congressman Longworth and Mrs
Longworth.
Mr. and Mrs. Longworth have terminated
their visit to the American Embassy, where
} they were the recipients of many official and
private courtesies, and are now guests Of the
Count and Countess de Chambrun. They will
resume their travels soon, and probably will at
tend the musical festival at Bayreuth.