The evidence of Colonel Picquart, reported in Friday's papers, clearly
made a great impression on the Court, as well it might, for it was not only the testimony of an able man of high and noble character, but showed how Colonel Picquart went one by one through all the stages of disillu- sionment in regard to the Dreyfus case which have been gone through by all fair-minded men who have examined the facts. —only, of course, much in advance of them in time. He tells us how be felt originally that there was no evidence to convict. Then he heard and believed that the secret dossier contained overwhelming proofs. Next, he saw the secret dossier, and found it utterly valueless. Again, he was for a time taken in by the alleged confession, but ultimately found that false. Next, there was the allega- tion of money paid to Dreyfus for his treason which was upset by the inability to show that he ever received or spent such money, and the incredible explanation of Da Paty de Clam that "Dreyfus was paid by insurance premiums against fire in Alsace."
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