M. Charavay.—“I refuse to answer. It is a custom among experts never to give an opinion while a trial is pending.”
M. Clemenceau.—“Then when do they give an opinion?”
M. Labori [handing specimen of the bordereau to the witness].—“Do you know these?”
M. Charavay.—“They are writings connected with the Dreyfus case. That is very far away.”
M. Labori.—“Certainly you cannot be very curious, if you have not heard it spoken of in the last few months.”
M. Charavay.—“At any rate I am determined not to answer. I was one of the experts in the first trial. I know nothing of the second.”
M. Labori.—“Would you ever condemn a person solely on the strength of an expert examination of handwriting?”
M. Charavay.—“I answer with your authorization, Monsieur le Président. I answer purely and simply that, as I do not believe in my own infallibility, or in the infallibility of anybody under such circumstances, never in my life would I condemn anyone on an expert examination of handwriting in the absence of material or moral proofs.”
The Judge.—“That is a very natural opinion. But it does not affect the situation at all.”
M. Labori.—“You add your impression, Monsieur le Président, to that of the expert, and I shall have something to say about that in my argument.”