The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-16

ana TlCn ana a married man. Ou the
ground of former. suspicion and de-
clared resemblance between his handwriting
and that on the envelope, he was brought
to trial charged with selling the plans of
the French minister of war to the German
government among them plans for the
mobilization of the French army on the
eastern frontier in case of war. In the
eyes Of the French people no crime could be
more henious: from his nationality and
antecedents no prisoner less likely to ex-
cite pity.
The trial was secret. 1t was principally
dispute among experts on handwriting
Popular feeling against the prisoner ran
high. Just before his arrest the German
embassy had protested against the stealing
of documents by the French. Following
close after the protest, the betrayal of the
French plans caused intense excitement.
Dreyfus was dec, red by the French gov
eminent a bad CHARACTER, buSybody and
conspirator. He had been seen frequenting
the cafes where Germans Congregated. To
the popular mind he was guilty from the
first and the feeling was not lessened by
the fact that the French Cabinet was not
unanimous on the question of his guilt, and
it seemed likely that his judges might dis
agree.
CONVICTION AND DEGRADATION.
It was a trial which excited the interest
of people all over the world. During it's
progress more than once the peace of Eu-
rope seemed to hang on the decision. The
fate Of French Ministry did depend on it.
Dreyfus protested innoC ence; he brought ex-
perts to testify in his defense; he called to
his aid a previous character for good con-
duct and honesty but it was of no avail.
The French minister of war was anxious for
his conviction; the French people clamored
for 1t, and while the matter hung in abey-
ance the judges were brought to a decision
| by the transmission among them of letter,
| the contents of which are yet unknown.
The populace, which had been excluded
| from the trial, was admitted to hear the
verdict. They greeted Dreyfus with cries s. OF
| Traitor and cheers for France. Dreyfus
| heard the verdict in the courtyard, the cen
ter of a hollow square of guards. and with
| tears running down his cheeks. 1t was i'm
| prisonment for life After it had been read
| he again protested his innocence This was
on Dec. q, 1894 But Imprisonment was not
| all the verdict carried with 1t. Christmas
and New Years passed and then came what
| to the soldier was the hardest part OF MS
punishment to bear. On Jan. ne was TAKEN
| to the Ecoe Militaire. From every Sarrl-
! son near Paris attachments of troops mad
been assembling at the place until there
were 5000 troops there under arms. IL was
| was occupied by the crowds which had come
! from Paris to see Dreyfus degraded
brought out uioI under guard. He Was in full
uniform and his sword hung by ms Sue,
but the sword had been filed almost in two
and the insignia Of his rank na9 ,,t peen f eu1
| loose stitches. He knew what was coming
and he stood erect and with set race TO
meet it.
The adiutant advanced, took the sword
| from Dreyfus's hand and broke 1t across MS
knee. Then, one by one, he stripped from I'm
| the uniform the marks Wnlcn gave IL It's
| you are unworthy to carry arms he
| said. I'm the name Of the people OF france
/ degrade you.
Dreyfus raised his hand.
"vive la France" he shouted. 1 am In
The roll of drums and the hooting of the
| spectators drowned his voice. WITH the
| guard about him he was marched round the
| square of soldiery and back to prison
Dreyfus was first temporarily imprisoned
! in France until a permanent place of ban
ishment could be selected and preparations
A few degrees north of the equator, off
the coast of French Guinea, there lies
| group of three little islets. They are known
| as the Ales de Salut, or Islands of Safety.
| All have unsavory regulations. They are
almost barren; agriculture is lmposSlDle
upon them five months OF rainfall after
| mates with seven of burning heat; fevers
| and physical evils springing from the IN
| hospitable climate make them almost unin-
| habitabie Individually they are known as
| the lie st. Joseph. the lie du Dlapolo ana
! the lie Royale Upon the lie Royale there
| eph there is a penal settlement; the lie du
| Diabolo had been used for the isolation OF
lepers. The last was chosen as the place
| for DreyfuSS confinement.
ALWAYS UNDER GUARD.
The leper huts, the only habitations on
the island, were burned, and in their place
two others were built. One was for Drey-
| fus, one for his guards. Over the first Tor
/ the surer confinement of the prisoner,
grating of iron bars like huge cage was
| constructed. Dreyfus and his guards, seven
in number were taken to the island. He
! conversed with no not in government
| employ on the journey. AT its end he took
up the life which he has now led for more
than two years. Day and night, though the
| iron cage and the isolation of the island
would seem warrant enough for his safe
| keeping, there is a guard over him. When
| he walks about the island two men follow
him with loaded guns; when ne buSleS MINI
! self in his hut guard stands outside the
| iron boundary which surrounds 1T. Letters
he may write, but they pass first through
! the hands of the Governor OF French
| Guiana who is answerable for their con-
tents. To one side of him, separated by a
| with it's garrison; to the other the lie Roy
! ale, with its penal settlement; in all other
| directions there is nothing but dreary
Since the first days of his Imprisonment
his wife has been working for his release.
! She and his friends, many of whom hold
| high places in Europe, believe in his limo
cence. Senator Ranc and many other prom
| inent men of France declare him victim
| of plot. Nine. Dreyfus is a woman of
beauty and intelligence. From her father,
| M Hadamard, a diamond merchant, she
inherited a large fortune. Her money, her
beauty and her wit have aided her in her
| efforts. She has visited the court of nearly
every great ruler in Europe BY persist
ence and patience she has gained the ear
| of many. Emperor William of Germany
heard her story and promised to use such
! influence he could to help her. Franz
Joseph of Austria did the same. The Car
| of Russia agreed to inquire into the mat
] ter and lend his influence if possible Even
| the King of Greece found time to listen to
| her. But far the movement in Dreyfus's
behalf has had no effect.
The belief is growing stronger and strong
er that Dreyfus is a. scapegoat- Secret serv-
| ice in France German officers declare, is
| cheap. Germany, it is said, commonly
has as many as two hundred French Off
| Gals in its pay for betraying their trust.
| Some of them are in high positions. There
! are those in high places in France, it is
believed by Dreyfus's friends, who would
| tremble if he were released. 1t is thought
! that his offense consists not of wrong doing
but of knowing too much. With some,
| within whose power it now is to keep him
| in confinement, he would be menace if
! free. So they have shut him off from the
! world secure in the knowledge that his
nationality and the nature of the crime
with which he is charged win always make
! the French people hesitate before demand
| ing his release, and are waiting till i'm
| prisonment and unhealthful surroundings
| bring about his death.