THE DREYFUS CASE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1403, 19 January 1899, Page 31

THE DREYFUS CASE.

London. January 10. The resignation ot M. Beaurepaire, a member of the Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation, owing to his disagreement with the report drafted by M. Bard in the Dreyfus case, has created a great sensation. M. de Blowitz, the Paris correspondent, in the course of a telegraphed despatch on the subject, says that " of all the scandals that have arisen out of the Dreyfus case, that caused by M. da Beau-opai'-e's resignation and his attack on his ex colleagues is the greatest." The writer takes the vif>w that the present turmoil is a source < t grave danger to the Republic, and says tl at even if the present system of government should survive the crisis it will have a very hard time. The " Daily News " decbu es that M. de Beaurepaire's manoeuvre is intended to involve the French Government. PABis.-January 10. M. Baurepaire complains tint M Loew (who presided over tho «.) "liberations of the Court of Cassation) and M. Bard had a private interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Picquart while that officer was in prison awaiting trial by court-in irtial at the orders of Geheral Zurlinder, the Military Governor. He states that they ordered the officer hot grog and treated him during the hearing of the case with even greater consideration than was extended to the G. nerals. Paris, January 11. The Dreyfus case is at present being dealt with by the criminal section of the Court of Cassation. An agitation is afoot to transfer it to all the sections of the Court sitting together. A ballot has resulted in the appointment of M. Beaupre, a member of the Court of Cassation, as the successor of M. Beaurepaire in the Presidency of the civil section of the Court. Paris January 12. M. Beaurepaire accuses tho Judges of the Court of entering the Dreyfus inquiry with their mind 3 biassed in favour of the prisoner. The French newspapers, in commenting upon the revelations of M. Beaurepaire, condemn them as tiivial, and regard it as ridiculous to place reliance on the " tittletattle of Court ushers." The Cabinet has had the matter under consideration and has directed M. Mazeau, president of one of the divisions of the Court, to inquire into the allegations. Paris, January 13. M. Beaurepaire, formerly President of the Civil Chamber, has appealed to the Chamber of Deputies to remove the Dreyfus inquiry from the control of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

After a stormy debate the Chamber passed a vote of confidence in the Government and by implication in the Court of Cassation by a three to one majority. M. Lebret, one of the members of the Court, has denied that special favours were shown to Colonel Picquart. M. Dupuy(the Premier), in a dignified speech, appealed to the Chamber to respect law and liberty. The general opinion is that M. Beaurcpaire's agitation has failed. Paris, January 15. Ex-Captain Dreyfus has conveyed his thanks to M. de Freycinet, the Minister for War, and to General Boisdeffre and his comrades in the army for assisting towards his rehabilitation.

Paris, January 15. Ex-Major Esterhazy has written to M. Mazeau, President of the Court of Cassation, admitting that he exchanged secret documents with Colonel Schwartzkoppen, the Prussian attache in Paris in 1894, but says he did so under orders from Colonel Sandherr, then bead of the French Intelligence Department. Paris, January IG.

Ifc is understood that ex-Major Esterhazy will not be arrested if he agrees to voluntarily give evidence. There is reason to believe that the Court of C issat.jon will, in its judgment, jlear Dreyfus of tho charges against him, and leave it to a Military Court to discover the real traitor in connection with the sale of military secrets to a foreign Power.