1897
June, 21-26 : On a short leave in Paris, fearing
retaliation, Picquart shares his convictions with the lawyer Me Louis Leblois, a
long time friend from Alsace, but asks him not to reveal publicly his secret.
July 13 : Picquart's lawyer Me Leblois meets with the Vice-President of the Senate, the Alsatian Auguste Scheurer-Kestner, who becomes convinced of Dreyfus's innocence as well and starts his own investigation. However, sworn to secrecy by Leblois, and because the Intelligence Office still keeps all documents restricted to civilians, Scheurer-Kestner cannot find any significant proof of the frame-up. Even during an interview with Mathieu Dreyfus, Scheurer-Kestner refuses identifying Esterhazy because of his promise of silence to Leblois.
Unable to provide evidence of his claim, the cancer ridden Scheurer-Kestner is ridiculed by the anti-Semitic press as totally senile and bribed by a Jewish interest lobby.
August 17 : War Minister General Billot has Esterhazy retired from active duty in the Army "for temporary infirmity," because is has become an embarrassment.
October 16 : At a meeting with Billot, Gonse, Henry and du Paty de Clam decide to warn Esterhazy of the accusations pointed at him.
October 18 : Esterhazy receives a letter conceived by dy Paty de Clam, written by Mme Henry and signed "Espérance", warning him to be more careful.
October 23 : Esterhazy sees Schwartzkoppen for the last time. Later that day, in parc Montsouris, he has a secret interview with du Paty de Clam in disguise, who promises to protect him..
October 29 : Scheurer-Kestner has an inconclusive interview with President Félix Faure.
October 30 : Scheurer-Kestner has lunch with his old friend General Billot, who asks him to be patient.
November 3 : Scheurer-Kestner has an interview with Prime Minister Méline.
November 6 : Bernard-Lazare meets with Emile Zola.
November 8 : Me Leblois visits Zola.
November 10 : Esterhazy, with Henry or du Paty de Clam's approval, sends anonymous letters to Scheurer-Kestner requesting clandestine meetings, then has his mistress, Marguerite Pays, address send mysterious notes signed "Speranza" and "Blanche" to Picquart. Forged messages are also planted in his file to make him appear as the fabricator of the "petit bleu," which he himself had discovered in March 1896.
November 11 : By a twist of fate, Mr. de Castro, a stock-broker from South America, notices a facsimile of the bordereau on sale at a newspaper stand -- thanks to Mathieu Dreyfus' efforts to publicize it as much as possible, in the hope that someone would recognize the handwriting. Realizing that it matches that of one of his clients, Major Esterhazy, he immediately contacts Mathieu Dreyfus.
November 12 : Mathieu Dreyfus goes to see Sheurer-Kestner to check if Esterhazy is the same individual whose identity he has sworn not to reveal. Scheurer-Kestner can finally confirms that Esterhazy is the actual traitor.
November 12-13 : At his home, Scheurer-Kestner has a meeting with Matthieu Dreyfus, Leblois and Zola.
On Devil's Island, Dreyfus' hut is surrounded by a double eight feet high stockade.
November 13 : German authorities order Schwartzkoppen to leave his post in Paris.
November 15 : Scheurer-Kestner declares Dreyfus innocent in an open letter to Le Temps.
Schwartzkoppen leaves Paris for his new position.
November 16 : Mathieu Dreyfus writes the Minister of Justice denouncing Esterhazy as the author of the "bordereau" and sues him.
November 17 : Because of the accusation, the Military Governor of Paris, General Saussier, orders the opening of an inquest on Esterhazy conducted by General de Pellieux.
November 25 : Zola starts a campaign in favor of Dreyfus' cause in Le Figaro.
November 26 : Picquart is recalled to Paris to be questioned as part of the Esterhazy investigation.
November 28 : Le Figaro starts publishing a correspondance from Esterhazy that one of his spurned mistresses, Madame de Boulancy, has communicated to the newspaper in which he vents his contempt for the French, even dreaming to become a German Uhlan.
December 3 : General de Pellieux's inquest exonerating Esterhazy is followed by a second judicial investigation on him, conducted by Major Ravary.
December 4 : Prime Minister Jules Méline declares at the National Assembly: "There is NO Dreyfus affair whatsoever."
December 7 : Scheurer-Kestner tries to rally his colleagues at the Senate but no avail. He is only supported by Ludovic Trarieux, Senator of the department of Gironde.
December 13 : Zola publishes "Letter to youth."
December 26 : Three handwriting experts, Belhomme, Varinard and Couard, declare the bordereau not to be by Esterhazy's hand.
July 13 : Picquart's lawyer Me Leblois meets with the Vice-President of the Senate, the Alsatian Auguste Scheurer-Kestner, who becomes convinced of Dreyfus's innocence as well and starts his own investigation. However, sworn to secrecy by Leblois, and because the Intelligence Office still keeps all documents restricted to civilians, Scheurer-Kestner cannot find any significant proof of the frame-up. Even during an interview with Mathieu Dreyfus, Scheurer-Kestner refuses identifying Esterhazy because of his promise of silence to Leblois.
Unable to provide evidence of his claim, the cancer ridden Scheurer-Kestner is ridiculed by the anti-Semitic press as totally senile and bribed by a Jewish interest lobby.
August 17 : War Minister General Billot has Esterhazy retired from active duty in the Army "for temporary infirmity," because is has become an embarrassment.
October 16 : At a meeting with Billot, Gonse, Henry and du Paty de Clam decide to warn Esterhazy of the accusations pointed at him.
October 18 : Esterhazy receives a letter conceived by dy Paty de Clam, written by Mme Henry and signed "Espérance", warning him to be more careful.
October 23 : Esterhazy sees Schwartzkoppen for the last time. Later that day, in parc Montsouris, he has a secret interview with du Paty de Clam in disguise, who promises to protect him..
October 29 : Scheurer-Kestner has an inconclusive interview with President Félix Faure.
October 30 : Scheurer-Kestner has lunch with his old friend General Billot, who asks him to be patient.
November 3 : Scheurer-Kestner has an interview with Prime Minister Méline.
November 6 : Bernard-Lazare meets with Emile Zola.
November 8 : Me Leblois visits Zola.
November 10 : Esterhazy, with Henry or du Paty de Clam's approval, sends anonymous letters to Scheurer-Kestner requesting clandestine meetings, then has his mistress, Marguerite Pays, address send mysterious notes signed "Speranza" and "Blanche" to Picquart. Forged messages are also planted in his file to make him appear as the fabricator of the "petit bleu," which he himself had discovered in March 1896.
November 11 : By a twist of fate, Mr. de Castro, a stock-broker from South America, notices a facsimile of the bordereau on sale at a newspaper stand -- thanks to Mathieu Dreyfus' efforts to publicize it as much as possible, in the hope that someone would recognize the handwriting. Realizing that it matches that of one of his clients, Major Esterhazy, he immediately contacts Mathieu Dreyfus.
November 12 : Mathieu Dreyfus goes to see Sheurer-Kestner to check if Esterhazy is the same individual whose identity he has sworn not to reveal. Scheurer-Kestner can finally confirms that Esterhazy is the actual traitor.
November 12-13 : At his home, Scheurer-Kestner has a meeting with Matthieu Dreyfus, Leblois and Zola.
On Devil's Island, Dreyfus' hut is surrounded by a double eight feet high stockade.
November 13 : German authorities order Schwartzkoppen to leave his post in Paris.
November 15 : Scheurer-Kestner declares Dreyfus innocent in an open letter to Le Temps.
Schwartzkoppen leaves Paris for his new position.
November 16 : Mathieu Dreyfus writes the Minister of Justice denouncing Esterhazy as the author of the "bordereau" and sues him.
November 17 : Because of the accusation, the Military Governor of Paris, General Saussier, orders the opening of an inquest on Esterhazy conducted by General de Pellieux.
November 25 : Zola starts a campaign in favor of Dreyfus' cause in Le Figaro.
November 26 : Picquart is recalled to Paris to be questioned as part of the Esterhazy investigation.
November 28 : Le Figaro starts publishing a correspondance from Esterhazy that one of his spurned mistresses, Madame de Boulancy, has communicated to the newspaper in which he vents his contempt for the French, even dreaming to become a German Uhlan.
December 3 : General de Pellieux's inquest exonerating Esterhazy is followed by a second judicial investigation on him, conducted by Major Ravary.
December 4 : Prime Minister Jules Méline declares at the National Assembly: "There is NO Dreyfus affair whatsoever."
December 7 : Scheurer-Kestner tries to rally his colleagues at the Senate but no avail. He is only supported by Ludovic Trarieux, Senator of the department of Gironde.
December 13 : Zola publishes "Letter to youth."
December 26 : Three handwriting experts, Belhomme, Varinard and Couard, declare the bordereau not to be by Esterhazy's hand.
