THJD OMAHA DAILY BBJDt WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 80 , 1800.
DONS THE CAP AND BELLS
Wltnwa In Dreyfus Case Who Cannot Help
Being Funny ,
SANDHERR RECEIVED THE BORDEREAU
ISx-AflnUtnnt Chief of ItitclllRrnco De
partment CoiilrnUlotn 'Much of
ilie llvldcnce of the
I'roicautton ,
RENNES , Aug. 29. General Merclor , tbo
former minister of war , and most of the
other generals Interested In the case were
present this morning when the Dreyfus trial
was opened. There was no special Incident ,
Colonel Cordlor , deputy chief of the In
telligence department under the fate Lieu
tenant Colonel llrury , and who , since hla
previous appearance In court , had been re-
letmod by the minister of war , General dc
Marquis de Gallfet , from his oath of profes
sional secrecy , was the first witness called
today. He testified to the effect that the
late Colonel Bandhorr and not Lieutenant
Colonel Henry received the famous
bordereau ,
The witness deposed strongly In favor ol
Dreyfus and was most amusing In deliver
ing his testimony. He kept the court and
oven the judges In roara of laughter by his
comical manner and witticisms. Ho Is a
short , stout man with a Jolly face and a very
rod ncao. The colonel declared that his be
lief In the guilt of Dreyfus was first nhakcn
when the date of the bordereau was given aa
May. The witness declared stoutly that ho
was now convinced that Dreyfus was In-
nocont.
Colonel Cordlor then spoke up strongly
for Colonel Ploquart as a conscientious
soldier and an honorable man and throw light
upon the situation which existed In the
ofllccs of the Intelligence department of the
War offlce. Ho explained that Henry was
jealous of Plcquart because the latter was
given charge of the statistical section , which
Henry had hoped to get for himself. Cordler
expressed the belief that It was because ol
Plcquart that Henry committed his forgery.
l'"orbltit Reference to Germany.
The evidence of Colonel Cordler was de
livered In a loud voice , accompanied by
humorous asides. Ho several times men
tioned the ambassador of Germany , which
caused tha president of the court , Colonel
Jouaust , to intervene and toll the witness
that ho must not Introduoo the ambas
sador's name or refer to Germany. The
hasty corrections of the witness when ho
repeated the eamo slips of the tongue as bo
did more than once and the amusing manner
In w hlch ho avoided mentioning Germany
nt other times caused the greatest merri
ment. During his testimony no fewer than
five witnesses rose and asked to bo con
fronted with him. But the colonel received
the Interruptions with the utmost good
humor.
Droyfus spoke a few words nt the con
clusion of Colonel Cordler'o utntemcnts. Ho
said the scene which preceded bis arrest
was BO fautoatlc that It completely bewll-
dorcd him and merely loft a blunted 1m-
prcoilon on his memory.
The prisoner la now accustomed to his
ourroundlnga and has apparently recovered
his sclf-confldonco , as ho speaks readily and
clearly nnd follows the wltnceses closely ,
taking notes of various points In their depo-
Eltloiis.
lleurs Jin Falac "Witness.
Majpr Lauth first confronted Colonel Cor
dler and tried to score against him by
pointing out that Cordler was Incorrect In
saying there were no anti-Semites on the
Eoneral staff , since Cordier himself was one.
The colonel retorted , turning the tables on
the jrnajor , us , raising his hand , he cried :
"Qufto true. I was an ontl-Semlto , but I
never bore false witness against the Jew.
I am an honest man. "
The audlcnco applauded these remarks.
Colonel Cordler then administered a well
deserved snub to Major Lauth by remarking
i bat ho ( the colonel ) might be allowed to
1 now more than Major Lauth with reference
\r \ > the work of the Intelligence department ,
t. . nco ho ( Cordler ) replaced Colonel Sandhorr
i a chief of 'tho department whenever Sand-
1 -r wns absent , while Major Lauth , the
\ t ness concluded , "was merely my asslat-
i . My assistant , mark you. "
Mnjnr Lauth did not enjoy this llttlo
srcno at all.
General Roget next confronted Colonel
Cordlor. The general assumed the same
supercilious air which characterized him
when ho appeared at the witness bar , strut-
tine about the atago In disdainful attitudes.
Hlo evidence , however , was not very strik
ing , nor waa that of Colonel Flour or
Archlvtet Gribelln , who also contested minor
points of Cordler's deposition.
Finally General Merclor , who evidently
appeared In order to demonstrate the base
lessness of the stories of his Intentions to
fly and to show hla determination to fight
to the last , confronted Colonel Cordler. The
general's remarks were of small Importance ,
the most Interesting being his repetition of
Colonel Sandhorr's opinion of Mathluu Drey
fua when the prisoner's brother went to see
the colonel to ask for Justice In behalf of
Captain Droyfus. Mercier admitted Sand
herr said : "Mothlou Dreyfus Impressed
mo as an honest man , who was prepared to
make any sacrifice to save his brother. "
Fcnrs AUiickn an Army.
M. de Froyclnet , the former minister of
war , former minister of foreign affairs and
premier , followed Colonel Cordler on the
witness stand.
The court room was packed to Its utmost
capacity as the distinguished French states
man began his deposition. It was evident
the public was anxious to eeo the former
minister at the witness bar. Ha Is a vener
able looking man with bcanty , snow-white
hair and moustache and was dressed In a
blue eonra suit. . Ho wore a llttlo black bow
for a necktie and gave his testimony seated
nnd iu u low volca.
This witness was expected to speak about
the 35,000,000 francs supposed to have Iwon
contributed abroad , mainly In England and
Germany , to the Dreyfusan war chest.
M , do Freyclnot began by expressing the
palu which ho experienced at the troubles
hU country waa undergoing. Later ho said
I ha rrnwmberal A conversation with General
Jamokel , at which there WM a reference to
money coming from dbnxui Iu support of the
Droyfus agitation , "which , while dlilntar-
wiled In France , might Dot be so abroad , "
M , do Freyolnot , however , did sot remem
ber the details of the conversation , not
could he njr U any fpoolflo amount was
mentioned ,
M , do Froyotnot then nlludod to his foan
that "attacks on the chiefs of the army
might be prejudicial to discipline , " adding :
"Might not those attacks lead to the disap
pearance of discipline , and what then would
bo the result If wo found ourselves In dim-
cultlos with a foreign country ? "
In short , M. do Freyolnet delivered a
patriotic speech , rather than a deposition ,
concluding with the words ! "All the world
will accept your verdict , which will open
an era of reconciliation , "
The members of the court-martial treated
M. do Freyclnet with the greatest def
erence.
The president of the court , Colonel
Jouaust , declined to put to the witness some
questions from Maltro Laborl , leading
counsel for the defense , on the ground that
they had no direct bearing on the ease.
One of these questions referred to M. do
Freyclnet's personal opinion on M. Boheurer-
Kcetnor , the former vlco president of the
senate , who has Interested himself strongly
In behalf of Droyfus. Although the colonel
refused to put the question , the witness re
plied that M , Schourer-Kostner was his
friend and that he 'bad a high opinion of his
character. M. do Freyclnet was then con
ducted to the witness seats , where ho sat for
a few minutes beside General Billet , chat
ting with that officer. He left the court
later.
Evidence in Detail.
Following are the proceedings In detail :
The appearance of Colonel Cordler , form
erly deputy chief of the Intelligence depart
ment of the War offlce , as the first witness
at the Droyfus court-martial today aroused
great Interest , as , since his previous ap
pearance , the colonel has been released by
the minister of war from his oath of pro
fessional secrecy. Speaking In firm , audi
ble tones , the colonel testified that Sep
tember 23 , 1894 , ho left Paris on n fort
night's leave of absence and that nothing
was then known In the Statistical depart
ment of the War office of the bordereau.
Continuing , Colonel Cordler said that the
day after ho returned to Paris Colonel
Sandherr , who appeared greatly distressed ,
handed him a copy of the bordereau on
foolscap paper. Sandherr and Cordler
animatedly discussed the bordereau , Sand
herr considering It ample evidence of
treason. The document was photographed
and an Investigation was opened , resulting
In suspicions against Dreyfus being aroused ,
Prior to this there was no presumption ol
Dreyfus' guilt. It was October 8 that the
suspicions of the prisoner's guilt became
definite. Witness said he believed the
bordereau arrived at the War offlce after
September 24. Ho could not say who re
ceived It. Very few officers were then aware
that treason had been committed. Witness
thought It necessary to enter these
particulars In reply to the statements ol
his assistant , Major Lauth , before the court
of cassation.
At this point Major Lauth , rising In the
center of the court , exclaimed : "I beg leave
to speak , my colonel. "
Proceeding with his testimony , Colonel
Cordler said he believed the bordereau waa
handed to Colonel Sandherr by Colonel
Henry.
Ordinary Channel of Information.
Cordlor then explained what was the
"ordinary channel" by which Information
reached the War offlce. "The ordinary
channel. " the witness said , "was a very
clover spy attached to the Intelligence de
partment. who had the habit of visiting
great houses , but who * preferred the com
pany of sen-ants to the company of their
masters. "
Cordler then described the method of piec
ing documents and showed how the
bordereau was pasted together by Henry ,
who was usually entrusted with such work.
The witness said piecing documents pos
sessed fascination for the men who were
engaged upon such work , "like the passion
of fortune-tellng by cards. Men who have
once pieced paper , " said the witness , amidst
laughter , "will always continue to do so. "
Referring to the spy who has been dubbed
as the "ordinary channel , " Colonel Cordier
said the former did not directly receive the
documents from the embassy from which
they were abstracted. A woman , he ex
plained , served as an Intermediary and the
"ordinary channel" having been closed , It
was found necessary to negotiate directly
with the Intermediary , otherwise the woman ,
with whom rendezvous were usually made In
churches. But as the "ordinary channel's"
services were still available elsewhere , his
pay was continued. "Possibly , " continued
the witness , "the spy endeavored to renew
his relations with the embassy. Such was the
situation at the moment of the reception of
the bordereau. "
of AVar Secret * .
Dealing with the leakage discovered by
the military authorities , Colonel Cordler said
ho ascertained it was occurring at Bourses.
Witness recalled the fact that an artificer
named Thomas was sentenced for treason In
1S94. The following correspondence did not
notice his arrest arid consequently a letter
addressed to him was Intercepted and a reply
was sent. This letter asked for plans of a
shell. The headquarters staff obtained the
plans and sent them to Thomas' correspond
ents. The latter replied , thanking Thomas
and enclosing bank notes , which were
credited to the funds of the headquarters
staff.
staff.Whatever
Whatever has been said to the contrary ,
witness maintained that the leakage at
Bourgeu could not be ascribed to Dreyfus.
This was also the opinion of Colonel
Sandhorr , who frequently had recourse to
witness' Intimate knowledge of this ques
tion In the futile efforts to discover evi
dence against Dreyfus ,
Cordler , whose evidence greatly Interested
his hearers , described the various leakages.
Ho especially referred to a very serious case
designed as "leakage of St. Thomas
Aquinas , " In which a clerk of the Church of
St. Thomas Aquinas , Paris , was mixed up
In espionage and a serious leakage In the
ministry of nwrluc. The witness recalled
bow Information of the leakage of 1894 was
received primarily , The name mentioned
was that of a gentleman 45 years of ago and
decorated , who used to convey documents to
Most Famous 1 ?
TY
all over this country of ours , deservedly so , too. Y
Absolutely pure , delightful tp the taste , and a great MXW
aid to digestion. No wonder MXU MXU
* /
M
* >
K/
is considered the greatest table water in the world , KtJ
Sold by all dealers in mineral waters , and in every
hotel and club in America.
Bolt1 lir Bhrrtuau fc UuCouuell Ilru ; r Co. . Omnba.
I'tixt iu , Gulluirher Jt Co. , ' DUtrlbu tar * . Out aim.
the ombMtay , which U o rrltn * * described '
M * bouie with a targe garden. |
Colonel Oordler emphatlted the fact that
the above penonM dcMripUon did not bear i
1 the Bllcbteet reaembl&noe to Dreyfus , but
resembled much more closely another offlcer
whose name had boon mentioned and who '
could no longer be prosecuted or convicted. |
The witness then referred to the epy
Ouoneo's denunciation * , to the effect that
oOVcon of the headquarters st ff were guilt ) '
, of treachery , but the colonel explained that
It waa very difficult to accept Quenco'a state I
ment aa gospel. 1
Witness regretted Quenee'B death , as ho
said the court would have been cdlfled by
his testimony In regard to the manner In
which many thlngawore fabricated. j
HccriiltliiK Ocrmiui Sl > lcn ,
]
Referring next to what ho styled the "huKo
undertaking of Richard Cuers , La Joux and
Company , " the colonel declared the object ,
waa nothing lea than recruiting German
epics for 'tho ' service of the French government (
I
ment , lie sold the orcanlzatlon would have
boon ol the greatest utility In the event of
war and said regrets were frequent during
the last -war In regard to the lack of spies.
Cuers , ho pointed out , epoko French ad
mirably and therefore It could not bo main
tained that only Gorman was spoken at the
Interview at Basle , between Cuers , Henry
and Lauth. One of Cucrs' special services ,
continued the witness , was furnishing Ger
many with false Information. Ho was there
fore sometimes obliged to say ho hnd suc
ceeded In suborning a French officer and In
this way Cucra was Induced to declare ho
had obtained the collaboration of an offlcer
of the headquarters staff. Proof of this
could be found at headquarters In the dossier
of false documents delivered to Germany.
"These documents , " added Colonel Cor-
dler , "are no doubt In all the better order
because the archivist , M. Grlbelln , wears
blue spectacles. ( Laughter. )
Colonel Jounust called the witness to
order and the remark wns withdrawn , wit
ness declaring , amidst peals of laughter , "It
escaped me , Monsieur lo President. I with
draw the spectacles. "
Oiilr One Serious IeiiU.
Cordlor then described the events prior
to the arrest of Dreyfus and showed that
only a single rea.1 leakage , unmoly , the
plans of the fortresses , had occurred at the
time of his arrest. The document known
an "Cette Canaille de p " he explained ,
was contemporaneous with this leakage.
" " eald the witness "that
"It hoa been said , ,
I made a mistake on this point and con
founded the document with another contain
ing the Initial alone. I should llko very
much to see the document , In order to as
sure myself that It had not been tampered.
It Is not , however , of any Importance , ex
cept to show that General Itoget's evidence
concerning me Is false from beginning to
cod. " ( Sensation. )
Gen oral Rogct asked leave to speak , but
Colonel Cordler continued , showing how the
leakage of plans of fortresses waa facili
tated by the carelessness of the headquarters
staff , and maintaining that the leakage was
still occurring when the witness left the
war office.
Reverting to the manner In which the
suspicions against Dreyfus crystallized , the
colonel described the efforts to pry Into the
prisoner's life and said the Information at
first received was very bad and constituted
i strong proof against the prisoner. Later ,
, however , It assumed quite a different aspect.
It was admitted that before his marriage
Dreyfus was not "unimpeachable morally ,
nor was ho entitled to wear a wreath of
orange blossoms. " ( Laughter. )
But , Cordler added , after his marriage
Dreyfus was quite different.
The witness also said that while Drcyfua
boasted of his conquests he ( Cordler ) was of
the opinion that those who boasted the moat
accomplished the least. ( Laughter. )
Dreyfus , he continued , bragged a great deal
and probably now renentod having done so
and Dreyfus' InqulsHlveness , according to
witness , was probably explained by his
knowledge that he would not long remain
on the headquarters staff and ho desired to
obtain all the Information which might be
useful to him In after life.
PaH Tribute to Stiiiilherr.
The * colonel then paid a tribute to the
memory of Colonel Sandherr , who examined
the Immense mass of documents relating to
espionage and unearthed the "Cette Canaille
de D " document , which 'seemed to the wit
ness to date back to antiquity.
In 1894 the witness regarded as Insuf
ficient the solo prpof against Dreyfus ,
namely , the bordereau. He did not believe
the "prisoner " was guilty , but the fact that
the judges were unanimous in convicting him
changed the witness' mind. His doubts ,
however , returned when he saw that the
date of the bordereau received In Septem
ber had been fixed as May. Colonel
Plcquart's Investigation and the infamous
campaign against Plcquart Increased the
suspicions of the witness ,
"In 1894 , " declared Colonel Cordlor , em
phatically , " 1 had been reassured by the
unanimity of the judges and I was abso
lutely convinced of tha guilt of Dreyfus.
Now I am absolutely convinced of his In
nocence. " ( Great excitement. )
Next the witness discussed the attacks on
himself. Ho Bald he was astonished at
being accused of being soured , because he
was not given charge of the Intelligence
department In succession to Colonel Sand-
fa or r , "as every one knew I wished to quit
the service simultaneously with my friend ,
Sandherr. "
Replying to the president , Cordler de
clared that the approaches of the Dreyfus
i family to Colonel Sandherr were not at
tempts at corruption and that Dreyfus'
brother's remarked : "Our fortune la at your
disposal , " was only the expression of the
family's ardent desire to save an Innocent
member of It. "
Witness well remembered hearing that
Estorhazy and Henry were In the Intelli
gence department together about the year
1878 , but he added Esterhazy had not alnca
been employed there and It he had any rela
tions wlth the department they must have
been clandestine.
Henry 1'roiluccn DlNi-oril ,
Replying to Colonel Jotmust'o request to I
state what he knew regarding Henry's rela
tions with Plcquart , Cordler said good fel
lowship prevailed In the department until
the appearance of Henry , who had been
forced on Sandborr. Henry had close rela
tions with the supreme chief and his col-
leaguea suspected ho might report what ho
heard In the offlce divisions and what oc
curred In the department. Some sunnorted
Sandherr and others supported Henry.
Among the latter wns Grlbelln. It was
then , whllo the division was rampant , that
the witness handed over his department to
Colonel Plcquart. Henry ws much In
censed at being superseded by a junior
ofllcer , resolved to do everything to sup
plant him and , uddeil the witness , the
Henry forgery could have had no other
object but to ruin Colonel Plcquart , with
the vlow of giving Henry his place.
Maltre Labor ! asked the wltnusi what he
knew in regard to the arrest of Dreyfus , and
Cordler replied that his recollections on that
point were not very definite. He found dlf-
tlculty In recalling the names of those A ho
were pn-sent at the dictation scene , but tie
was informed on several occasions as to
what occurred. "I remember , " he declared ,
"that one of the proofs advanced against
Dreyfus was that during the scene bo looked
In a mirror. That Is going too far. If
Dreyfus looked In the mirror It was because
ho had seen another head besides his own
there. There was an arrangement of mirror ?
and since It roust ho told I will say It ,
Behind the curtain were two ears , listening.
Dreyfus therefore plight bavo seen some
thing besides his own face In the mirror.
M , Labor ! questioned the witness In regard
to the letter mentioned In M , de La Roche
Vernet'a evidence referring to the spy " 0.
C , C. , " which wan dispatched to the War
office at the time of Plcquart's arrival ,
Oordler explained that It was a letter from
an Italian woman , with whom the deportment -
ment at that time WM In correspondence
through an Intermediary at the foreign office.
"I woatly roeseot Italian ladle * In gen
eral , " said General Oordler , "not when It Is
a case of ettplonage , and I ndvlsed Plo-
quart not to make too much of the woman's
offers , saying to him , "There must bo no
pottlcoats. ' "
ZVu Offer of Money.
At this juncture M. Laborl Informed the
president of the court that he had received
a telegram signed "Pages , " announcing the
dleaptch of a letter relative to the relations
betwcn Colonel Sandherr and the Dreyfus
family. Counsel added that ho had himself
received i telegram as follows : "I declare
Colonel Bandherr told me distinctly that
neither before nor after the conviction was
an offer of money made to him. "
Colonel Jounuat announced that ho would
not road the letter because ho know nothing
of the writer and asked the usual question
of Dreyfus , who replied that ho would refer
merely to the scene on October 15 , preceding
Ills arrest.
"It was , " he said , "BO fantastic that I
frankly confess I understood nothing con
nected with It It.was conducted under such
conditions that I don't know what manner
of brain could have conceived It and when
I loft the extraordinary scene , my bend liter
ally reeled , BO I cannot remember the facts
and details , "
Major Lauth , hnvlnpr been permitted to
speak , said Colonel Cordlcr's leave of ab
sence commenced September 13 and not Sep
tember 23 , to which Cordler retorted that
ho was much surprised at contradiction on
such an unimportant point. But , neverthe
less , his original statement was true.
Continuing , the major commented upon
Colonel Cordler's ' testimony , especially the
statement that there were no anti-Semites
on the headqunrtor's staff , remarking that
there was one exception , and this was Cor
dler himself , who was always expressing
antipathy to the Jews , especially when there
was a question of introducing Dreyfus to
tbo department
"Yes , " exclaimed Cordler , "quite true.
I was nn anti-Semite , but my opinions never
went to the length of bringing false evi
dence against the Jews. ( Sensation. ) I am
nn honest man and have a conscience. " ( Re
newed excitement. )
Major Lnuth proceeded to discuss other
points. Ho eald he himself pieced the
"Cetto Canaille do D " document , and
added that as it was received at the de
partment at the end of 1893 It could not be
regarded as ancient. He explained that the
tension existing In the department was between -
tween the officers and Colonel Cordler.
When the president asked Cordler If he
desired to say anything In rebuttal to Major
Lauth's statement , Cordler replied : "Noth
ing at all. "
When , however , the major asserted In
regard to the letter "C. C. C. " that Cor
dler had nothing to do with the Italian
affairs , which Sandherr conducted , Colonel
Cordler rose and sold :
"As deputy chief I was acquainted with
nil the work done , while Major Lauth was
merely my assistant. "
At this juncture Major Lauth handed In
a letter from Mme. Sandherr contradicting
Colonel Cordler's statements relative to the
presence of Sandherr at the War offlce on
a certain day.
General lionet on the Staiul.
General Roget then mounted the platform ,
where his appearance caused a general stir.
Ho said he would not reply to Colonel
Cordler's statements concerning himself ;
"but , " he added , "the witness has stated
that 'What I said was false. He must now
say In what I have been Incorrect. "
Colonel Cordlertrln everything.
General Roget -Very well. Let us bo
exact. Let us take the case of Le Mercier-
Plcard. . .
f
Continuing. General , Roget entered Into a
lengthy explanation/'denouncing / Lo Mer-
cler-Plcard as ' ' "Imposter and swindler ,
apparently with fhe object of showing that
Cordler's allegation that Lo Mercler-Plcard
was employed by the general staff was un
founded.
Roget also referred to a letter to Mathleu
Dreyfus , attributed to Cordler , whereupon
the latter again arose and protested against
General Roget's Insinuations. He declared
that when It became known that he was
going to testify ho was covered with miul
and treated as a drunkard In order to
minimize the value of his evidence. He
also emphatically protested against a state
ment of the Libre Parole that he offered
his services to Mathleu Dreyfus and sold
the minister of war had authorized him , the
witness , to prosecute the newspaper.
In regard to the forged letter to Mathleu
Dreyfua , continued Cordler , investigation
had showed that Le Mercler-Picard un
doubtedly forged It.
General Roget having pointed out that
the letter In question was returned to the
headquarters staff through the pool , Colonel
Cordler expressed surprise at the fact that
the letter was not delivered to the ad
dressee , whoso residence , ho explained , was
well known.
Major Lauth again asked permission to
speak , but Colonel Jouaust declared that
the Incident was not connected with tha
Droyfus case and that the discussion must
be terminated.
General Roget Very well , I will wait
until Colonel Cordler states exactly which
of my deposltlono Is false before I reply.
Continuing , General Roget proceeded to
make tha same attempt as General Mercier
to confound Captain Freystaetter , saying
that the leakages In regard to the Robin
shell were only reported In 1S90-9S , which ,
he said , necessarily Invalidated the cap.
tain's statement that thceo leakages formed
the subject of parts of the secret dossier In
1894.
1894.Captain
Captain Freystaetter , however , merely
mentioned "a shell , " and not the Robin
fcholl.
"U'lIM AIlvnj'N it Lriiliiiiri' ,
The general then declared that tha leak
ages In the department of war continued
nfter the conviction of Dreyfue , and sala
the Information glvco to a certain foreign
power before Dreyfus was convicted was
quite correct , while the Information fur
nished afterward was incorrect , I
Colonel Plcquart'e testimony In this con- i
nectlori , Uoget asserted , was untruo. All
thu leakages ( subsequent to 1S94 related to
documents anterior to the arrest of Droyfus ,
When ufiKed If he had anything to eay i
Dreyfus promptly rcso and said :
"I never had any share in the preparation |
of plan 13 , to which General Hoget alluded ,
This plan was executed In 1S94. I had
merely to superintend the printing of live
or six copies of it.
"General Roget ateo Epoke'of a letter from
Captain Dernus , I would be very glad to see
that lettei. I know nothing of It. "
Colonel Flcur appeared In the witnebs box
to refute Colonel Cordlor'a testimony. Ho
declared that August 23 , 1898 , Colonel
Cordler sold to him ; "Dreyfus Is guilty , but
there mu t be two others , There are three
of them. '
Colonel Cordler shrugged his shoulders and
admitted that just a week before the arrest
of Henry ho said forgary had been com
mitted at the headquarters staff ; but , the
colonel added , ho totd the same thing to
others the day nfter the posting up of the
speech of M. Cavalgnac , the minister of
war , wa voted by the Chamber of Deputies.
Archivist Grlbelln also advancpd and
protested against Colonel Cordler's state
ment. He was followed by General Mercier ,
who said Itas neccEeary for Cordlor to say
what he knew about the arrangement of the
secret doasler by Colonel Sandherr. Gen
eral Mercier caused a sensation by endora-
Ing Colonel Cordler'e statement with refer
ence to the alleged attempt of Mathleu
Dreyfus to bribe Colonel Sandherr , The
general said ;
"When Colonel Sandherr reported the Inter
view and I asked bis opinion of It , Bandherr
replied ; 'He gave mo the Impression of be
ing an honrat man resolved to sacrifice
everything for his brother. ' "
Thla statement caused a commotion It
court.
Mi tie Krcyclnet Utieitluncit.
After a brief adjournment , the session o
court was continued , the name of M , dt
Freyclnot was called , and , amidst sup-
preened excitement the former minister o !
war , former minister of foreign affair *
and former premier took the witness stand
M. De-mange proceeded to question the
former minister. Counsel recalled Genera
Morclcr's statement that M. de Freyclne
told General Jamont that 36,000,001
francs had been ratted abroad r the de
fense of Dreyfus.
In reply , M. do Frcyclnct expressed th (
anguish which ho felt at the sight of th <
trouble Into which hlo country was plungcc
and eald his whole dcslro was to see peaci
and calm restored.
In regard to the conversation referred tc
the witness said !
"General Jamont made me a visit ol
courtesy on the occasion of my qulttlne
office at the beginning of May. I received
many similar visits. I do not think that 1
exaggerate when I say I received 100 such
visits. I made no note of the remark !
exchanged by my different visitors. In the
case of General Jaraont v.o , of course
talked about the case and the campaign
speeches and press utterances which hail
been proceeding In different parts of the
world during the previous two years. In
regard to the Dreyfus case , I was led to bny
that our agents abroad reported that effort
had been made on the Initiative of private
Individuals In behalf of this campaign a
very disinterested campaign In France , 1
am euro , but less so abroad. I reported the
estimates I heard bad been made by people
who professed to bo well acquainted with
the question of advertising In regard ta
the probable money value of the whole cam
paign throughout the world since Us In
ception. That , Monsieur lo President , Is a
resume , as complete as my recollection per
mits , of the conversation with Gener
Jamont. What struck ma most was the
Identity of our anxiety In regard to the
army. Wo mutually expressed uneaslicss
for It must not be concealed that the prca-
ent attacks have had a profound echo which
might eventually endanger the cohesion , ol
the army. "
I'lcu for Reconciliation.
"You know well , gentlemen , that there
Is a higher discipline than even the military
code , as I said in the chamber. It is that
more rigorous discipline which comes from
( he confidence of the soldier In his chiefs.
How can that confidence bo maintained If
these chiefs are depicted dally In the black
est colors ? Woo it not to bo feared that
at a given moment this confidence would
disappear , and what would be the result
if wo were engaged in external difficulties ?
( Sensation. )
"I adjure these of my countrymen , " con
tinued M. de Freyclnet earnestly , "who par
ticipate In these attacks under the Impulse
of generous passion and with the object of
serving a noble elevated Idea I have no
doubt they are led away to take heed to
the dangers to which they may Involve the
country. As General Jamont said to mo :
'It 1 ; high time to end it. ' Let us cease
throwing in one another's faces accusations
which discredit us In the eyes of our rivals.
Gentlemen , let us prepare and I would
that my feeble voice could be heard by
all let us prepare to accept your Judgment
with respect and silence. May the Judg
ment of this French court , towards which
the whole world has Its eyes turned , open
up the era of reconciliation which Is BO
necessary. ( Immenseexcitement. . )
"Gentlemen , pardon me for telling you
what I wish. It springs from a heart which
has no longer much to desire here below
except to see the country great and honored.
( Great commotion ) .
"I have finished. I have clven an exact
account of the Interview with the command-
er-in-chlef of our armies In time of war. I
have nothing to add. "
M. do Freyclnet had fully maintained his
tltlo to the nickname , the "little white
mouse , " which was bestowed him on ac
count of his ability to speak lengthily with
out convoying much Information.
Replying to a member of the court-mart ! il
M de Freyclnet explained the part which ho
played In the ministry to which ho belonged ,
lie said he confined himself to giving effect
to the government's decisions when the su
preme court decided In favor of a revision.
Small Importance of the Affair.
M. Demange wanted M. do Freyclnet to
repeat In court his statements , made In the
Chamber of Deputies In regard to the small
Importance attaching to the alleged treason ,
but M. de Freyclnet declined to Inflict them ,
saying the court , however , might
ndlcato the sense of bis speech.
In hla opinion moat of the leak
ages could only have been of In-
llnlteslmal Importance , though the Informa
tion relative to covering the troops might
have been Important. The publication of
secrets relating to arming and explosives
was also dangerous , But when the witness
made his speech in the Chamber of Deputies
ho wished above alf to avoid Increasing
public excitement.
M. Laborl Is M. do Freyclnet aware of
any fact whclh led him to believe that any
money had been placed apart In the revision
of the trial of 1894 ?
JonnuNt IlcfiiNPH to Pnt Qucntlon.
M. Laborl What does M. de Freyclnet
think of tbo accusations of a certain section
of the press against MM. Scheurer-Kestnor ,
Trarieux , Brisaon and Ranc and by another
auction , tending to attribute the opinion on
the revision expressed by those persons to
the Influences of corruption ?
Colonel Jouaust I refuse to put the
question.
M. Laborl Insisted that he should at least
bo permitted to question M , de Freyclnet
relative to M , Scheurer-Kestner , whose
statements about the letters Colonel Plc
quart wrote to him from Tunis havn t.pcn
contradicted by Savlgnaud , Plcijiiari's
former orderly , to which the president of
tbo court replied that the good faith of M.
Scheurer-Kestner was not under J'scuBsluii. '
Colonel Jouaust added that M. Laborl wished
to Impart passion Into the proceedings ,
Counsel was defending himself against this
ivsporslon when M , de Freyclnet Intervened
mid said ho did not scruple to say that M.
Scheurer-Kc&tiier was hlu friend and that ho
bad the highest opinion of his character.
M. Laboil thanked the witness for this
Frank statement. After leaving the witness
stand M. de Frnyclntt took a seat beside
Qenoral Billet , with whom he briefly con
versed. The former minister then left the
court room , after having been excused from
[ urther attendance.
M , de Freyclnot No , no , Monsieur le
President.
M. Golllchet , editor of the Drapeau , then
: estlfled. He expressed his personal Indigna
tion at the charges of treason against Henry
nnd repeated the gossip of a third party
relative to an alleged n-mark Colonel
Cordler wag overheard to make , namely ;
"We have taken Dreyfus with his hand In
the bag. "
M. Belhommo , a former Inspector of
schools , 78 years of age , testlflcd that he
examined as nn expert the bordereau In the
Efeterhazy case and came to the conclusion I '
that It was not the work of Estorhazy , The
witness added that be adhered to his opinion
aven more positively now than before. "
Incidentally M. Bulhomme sur
prise at the-fact that the court of cassation
did not take the rteuK of his examination
Into account. In conclusion M. Belhommo
declared ho never believed the bordereau
was In Esterhary's writing , and added that
until he actually saw him make a fresh
copy of the document , he would have no
remarks to make In regard \o \ the hand
writing of Dreyfus , which he bad not suffi
ciently examined.
After M , Demange had asked A questioner
or two , to which M. Belhomme did not rooty.
I M. Demango pointed out the contradictions
' In M , Belhomme'n original report and In
his statements today. The court at noon
I adjourned until tomorrow.
To ISxntnltie PiUr tie Clnnt ,
PARIS , AUB , JD. flonwral BruKero , the
military governor of Paris , tills morning or
dered one of the principal military surgeons
to examine Major Du Paty do Clam and re *
port when It will bo possible to take his
evidence for use at the second Droyfus court-
martial , The report bos not yet been deliv
ered. The examination of Du Paty do Clam
will bo conducted by Major Tavernler In
the presence o ! Dcaiango of counsel for the
defense.
I M , LlssrO Jouax , who supplied the Eclnlr
with Information from which tha "Cctto
Canalla do D " article waa concocted , was
nrrosted today. The prisoner declared tha' '
the nrtlclo was made up from Information
received from several pontons , not from doc
uments , nnd that ho did not know any
thing about Its origin.
SOUTH OMAHA NEWS.
Monday night's meeting of the city council
resulted Just as many had Predicted In H
fizzle. Of course , the Ensorltes were Jubl-
I lant yesterday and the Johnston follow era
I were correspondingly depressed. All hop
of the propcsud Investigation resulting In
the removal of Mayor Eneor from the execu
tive chair has been given up , as , with the
present split In the combination of six , there
I Is llttlo chance of even passing the ordi
nance which provides for the trial of elec-
live officers. At the rate the ordinance Is
I
I going through now It will bo the middle of
| October before It would bo effective , even II
passed. Then , after passage , It must go
I through the mayor's hands and run the
chances of a veto , so that the prospect for
nn airing of political linen 10 Indeed slim
at this time. To his friends , Johnston still
appears confident of winning out In the end ,
but that remains to bo seen. In yesterday's
Bco It was stated that It was presumed that
the ordinance In question merely laid the
ground work for the proposed trials of Mayor
Ensor and City Attorney Montgomery. An
error was mode In mentioning the city aN
torney , as his Is an appointive offlce nnd the
ordinance refers only to elective offices. The
city charter provides specifically for the re
moval of appointive officers for cause , but
an ordinance Is necessary for the trial and
removal of elective officers. The Intent of
the ordinance Introduced nt Monday night's
meeting was to prepare the way for the
filing of written charges against the mayor ,
and allowing seven members of the council
to sit In Judgment thereon. Even should the
ordinance In question secure the sanction of
the mayor , Interest In the fall campaign la
Increasing dally , and It Is thought by many
that all proposed Investigations will be aide-
tracked until after November 7.
Mayor Ensor wae asked yesterday by a
friend to what he attributed the attack of
the council nnd ho replied : "As a politician
and a physician I would dlagnoso the case
as follows : Petty politics , personal enmity
and poor whisky. " The mayor appeared
confident that ho would win out In the end ,
In fact ho was even willing to wnger that
the end had been reached and that the mat
ter of his resigning would henceforth be a
dead Isoue.
Chance of Grade Wanted.
A petition for the changing of the grade
on Twenty-seventh street from B to F
streets Is being prepared. The grade on
Twenty-seventh street was established In
1892 and Is not satisfactory to the present
property owners. Those who are asking for
the petition want the grade raised four
feet In the center of the block between B
and C streets , lowered ten feet at the In
tersection of D street , and raised three feet
at the Intersection of B street. No change
Is contemplated at the Intersection of Twen
ty-seventh and F streets. This street has
never been graded. The property owners
are considering the matter , but want the
grade changed before any steps are taken
toward grading or paving.
Chniiurc * Onlereil In School HnllilliiRN ,
With a vlow to doing away with the dry
closet system the Board of Education has
awarded contracts for the placing of flushIng -
Ing closets in the Llncom nnd Hawthorne
schools. Parks & Co get the work at the
Lincoln school , while George Darq will
make the change In the system a the Haw-
throne school. Membsrs of the board as
sert that the dry clcset system Is a menace
to the health of the pupils and for this
reason sewer connections are to be made.
These alterations will be made as rapidly
as possible In order that the flushing sys
tem may be In use when school opens next
month.
The CriulliiKof O Street.
Within the next day or two City Clerk
Carpenter will advertise for bids for the
grading of O street , between Twenty-fourth
and Twenty-sixth streets. No estimate of
the cost of this work has been made by the
city engineer as yet , but It Is thought that
For Infants and Children.
hie Kind You Have Always Bought
Bears the
Signature of
Something New in Omaha
The lalest society fail posters mount
ed upon colored mats terrible creations
yet Jnst the thliif ? now 200 new im
ported posters Just received no two
alike will be sold at COc eiicli these are
the productions of celebrated French ,
Itallnn and German artists there lias
never been a timewben such u display
of th genuine poster was seen as now
ut our store.
A. HOSPE ,
W celebrate our SBIU builneaa eaml-
Ter ur Oct. 23rd , 1800.
iluslc and Ait 1513 Douglas.
$1,50 $ School Shoes-
Next week school begins the l > oy nnd
girl must bo dressed up on the opening
day New shoes add more to the appear
ance than anything else Most mothers
know the vnluo Drex. L. fihooman puts
In Ills $1.50 shoes for boys nnd girls-
Hoys' sizes , $ lfiO that menus we can fit
nil boys Misses' sizes , $ l.r 0-Oliild's
91.25 It would be n peed Iden to como
In tills week and avoid the rush that la
sure to bo hero next Monday You will
never regret paying 51.60 for our shoes.
Drexel Shoe Co. ,
Omaha' * Cp-to-at * Ihpe
1410 VARNAli STREET.
the oatttniUci will be made before the week
Is out. 1'ropcrty owncm on 0 Hired are
anxious to have the ntrcot graded , AR It U
reported that the railroads will build n via *
duct across the tracks next year with tha
east end resting nt the Intersection of Twenty
sixth and 0 streets. On account of this
rumor 0 street property Is being held nt a
high prlco nnd , In fact , can scarcely be
bought nt all. Humor nfso has It thnt when
this proposed viaduct U built the Omaha
Motor company will construct the long
tnlked of loop and land passengers bound
for the stock yards nt Twenty-sixth nnd O
streets.
Who Will ! lp Prlnolnnir
Just where the Hoard of Education will
land whcti It attempts to select A principal
nnd assistant principal of the High school
no one eeoms able to predict nt this tlmn.
It Is reported that Superintendent Wolfi
would llko very tnuch to have Miss Helen
Seeloy nnnied as principal , but It Is under
stood that the teachers' committee will re
fuse to recall Mies Sccley , since her resigna
tion hns boon accepted , The next meeting ol
the board will bo hold on September 4 , nml
U Is presumed that at this meeting thcsi
two positions will be filled. Several caudl-
dateo nro In view , mostly women , but It la
thought thnt the board will adhere to Iti
original plan of having a man for principal
and n woman for nssl tnnt. As there Is no
available mnterlnl for principal nt present
In the employ of the school board , It Is mor
than likely that the now principal will bo an
out-of-town jnan.
MttKlo City .
Harry Marling of Wood Bros. ' office force
Is on the sick list.
Workmen commenced yesterday to paint
the Q street viaduct.
Kps Cory and wife have returned from a
two weeks' visit In the east.
A permanent sidewalk Is to bo created on
Twenty-fourth street , from N to Q.
E. C. Prlco Is expected home from Ver
mont the latter part of this week.
Mayor Ensor's Jersey cow was found by
some boys In the northern part of Omaha.
Mrs. John Wallwork of Chicago Is In the
city , the guest of her daughter , Mrs. A. L.
Lott.
Street Commissioner HOBS has been or
dered to repair the crosswalks at Twenty-
third and J streets.
Mies Jessie Flowers has resigned bur po
sition as clerk In the ofllco of Building
Inspector Dunscombc.
It Is reported on the streets that John
Fitz Roberts Intends resigning as president
of the Board of Education.
City Engineer Beal has been Instructed to
establish the grade on 0 street , between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth.
The city street department will construct
i curvert at Fifteenth and Monroe streets
, n order to carry off storm water.
F. A. Cressey and wife and Mrs. R. B.
Montgomery have returned from a two
weeks' stay at Hot Springs , S. D.
Miss Flossie Justin of Chicago Is In the
city the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Howard
Meyers , Twenty-third nnd I streets.
W. S. King , chief engineer for the Union
Stock Yards compnny , Is confined to his
homo with an nbceos on his Tett hand.
The ordinance compelling property own
ers to lay permanent side-walks on Twenty-
seventh street , between M nnd N , is now a
aw.
aw.The
The Ladles' Mlsstonnry society of the Flrat
Presbytcrlnn church will meet with Mrs.
M. Carl Smith on Thursday afternoon At
3 o'clock.
Grading bonds In the sum of $1,500 , to pay
for the grading of Sixteenth street , from M
street to a point 360 teet north of Mis
souri avenue , are to be Issued at once.
Authority has been given by the city
council for the Issuing of $600 In grading
bonds In payment for the filling In of Q
street , between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-
fifth.
fifth.Frank
Frank Plvonkn Is complaining that Ktorro
water Is damaging the foundation or his
building on N street , across the alley from
the South'Omaha National bank. ' Plvonka
asserts that the drainage of the alley la
poor nnd that the city Is to blame.
Coroner Swanson .herd an inquest yester
day afternoon over the remains of Joseph
Slejpal , the packing house employe who
was drowned In the Missouri river Monday.
A dozen witnesses were examined and the
Jury came to the conclusion that Slejpal
came to his death by accidental drowning.
Melissa E. Cockrell died suddenly yes
terday afternoon at the home of Louis
Cockrell , Twenty-second and J streets. The
deceased was 64 years of age. The fun
eral1 will be . .held at 2 o'clock this after
noon from the residence , twenty-second nnd
J street. Interment nt Laurel Hill ceme
tery.
HEARING INSTRUMENTS.
This style "London Hearing Tlorn"
in 3 sizes , each $5.00 ,
Wo carry the Inrpcat stock of In
struments for 'ho ' aid of deaf pcoplo
to bo found in the went.
THE ALOE & PENFOLD CO. ,
Larceat Iletnll Drug Iloace.
14O8 Farnam. OMAIIA.
OPPOSITE PAXTON 1IOTEL