The trial of Emile Zola: containing M. Zola's letter to President Faure relating to the Dreyfus case, and a full report of the fifteen days' proceedings in the Assize Court of the Seine, including testimony of witnesses and speeches of counsel

by Émile Zola

M. Bertillon.—“I thought that there was a decree of the court forbidding us to speak of that case.”

M. Clemenceau.—“It is not for the witness to tell the court the meaning of its decrees.”

M. Labori.—“I will not insist, because it would take us a month. But could M. Bertillon tell us the difference between dextrogyrate writing and sinistrogyrate writing, and the consequences that he draws therefrom as an expert?”

M. Bertillon.—“I know the theory of that matter, but I did not use it in my expert examination.”

M. Labori.—“Without concerning ourselves with the Dreyfus case, I take the words A. Dreyfus and the word adresse, and I ask him what scientific consequence he can draw from the possible superposition of the words, both of which begin with adr, but the first of which has a period between the A and the D. Will the witness explain to us by what method these two writings can be compared?”

M. Bertillon.—“This question relates to my deposition of 1894, and, moreover, is of no importance.”

M. Labori.—“Will the witness tell us if the bordereau is written in a running hand?”

M. Bertillon.—“It is absolutely impossible for me to answer that question without entering into my deposition of 1894.”

M. Labori.—“Permit me, Monsieur le Président, I have not to occupy myself with M. Bertillon’s demonstration of 1894. That did not place an eternal gag in his mouth. I know but one thing. We have a witness here,—I may say an official witness; he is bound to testify, and I ask him a question of the first importance. It does not concern the Dreyfus case, which for the moment I forget. I speak of the Esterhazy bordereau. I know why the witness cannot answer, and I will give the reason in my summing-up. But my question is: Is the writing of the bordereau in a running hand, or is it made up of traced words?”

M. Bertillon.—“It is impossible to answer that question without entering into my deposition of 1894. It is neither one or the other. It is in a running hand, and it is not. I will throw light upon all that. I must go to the heart of the question, or say nothing at all.”