THE DREYFUS CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2379, 5 October 1899, Page 17

THE DREYFUS CASE.

PICQUART EXONERATED. PARIS, September 26. The funeral of M. Scheurer-Kestner was made the occasion of a great Dreyfusite demonstration. Dreyfus sent a wreath, on which was inscribed expressions of his infinite gratitude. September 28. Replying to Colonel Picquart's demands for an inquiry into the chai-ges aspersing his conduct, made against him while he was connected with the Intelligence depcartment, General Gallifet, Minister for War, has exonerated him, and adds that there is no ground for suspicion. LONDON, September 27. Madame Melba has written a touching letter of congratulation to Madame Dreyfus.

A DREYFUS INCIDENT.

As there seems to be some misapprehension as to that part of Captain Dreyfus s evidence in which reference was made to his supposed relations with an Austrian lady, it may be well, says the Daily News, to give the full text of that part of his examination from the shorthand note.^: — The President : You had relations with a lady who lived at No. 1 Rue Bizet? Captain Dreyfus : I knew her, but not intimately. The President : Anyhow, you have been to h°v house. What was her name? — Dreyfus: Madame W . (Name suppressed.) "What was her nationality?— Austrian. Of course she spoke German? — Yes. She had brothers, it is said, in the Austrian aimy? — I do not know.' You were not told?— Dreyfus: No, colonel. President : Anyhow, she had. This lady was said to be suspected of being a spy. How was it that you, a French officer attached to the general staff, and therefore one who was bound to be particularly discreet —how was it that you visited a person of foreign nationality, who had brothers in the Austrian army, and who was herself suspected of being a spy? Dreyfus : First of all, I did not know anything of the espionage, and I should like to observe that when Commandant Gendron gave evidence at the trial in 1594- he said he had never seen this lady's name on the list of persons suspected. Captain Dreyfus, it ,will be seen, had no intention of admitting, as many have supposed he admitted, that the Austrian lady was his mistress. The piece of evidence we have given above is otherwise interesting, as showing the manner in which a person who is on his trial is treated in France. It seems that Dreyfus has, at some time or other, been to the house of a person of Austrian nationality. The man who is sitting in judgment upon him, Colonel Jouaust, seizes upon the fact, and tries to stir up prejudice against th-3 prisoner by saying that the lady was said to be suspected ('" passait pour etre suspecte "). " Said to be suspected " is a perfect triumph of insinuation. It is, however, only Colonel Jouaust' s way of saying that the lady was not a Frenchwoman. Then, again, Dreyfus says he knows nothing about the suspicion " paid " to exist, knows nothing, moreover, of the fact that the lady was " said " to have brothers in the Austrian army, but this does not prevent his persecutor from asking him immediately afterwards why he visited a lady who had brothers in the Austrian army, and who was suspected, etc. So that '" it is eaid ' becomes a moment afterwards a fact that cannot be gainsaid, and the " said to be suspected" becomes "is Buapected." It is all very strange acI cording to our notions of law and justice.