The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-10

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ne romance which from time TO time II
thrown around the conviction OF ex-Capt ORGY
m, Il very interesting, but unfortunately for
IN. convict it 10 only q romance. The idea Of
his innocence was probably created by q French
povol that appeared some time before his arr
rest. and the horo Of which was a Captain in the
French Army, who was the victim OF a conspira.
CIV. SinRularly enough, the story fitted the case
Of Drcyfus very we'll, except in one very impor-
tant point, his innocence.
But the impressionablo composition OF many
French minds assumed q form Of suspicion in
regard to the Justice Of the traitors conviction.
a suspicion whose only real foundation was the
fact that his trial was conducted with closed
doors. All sorts Of sensational stories were told
of the condemned man, especially In the English
papcrs, in which his escape, or, rather, his many
osoaper, wero detailed In . style worthy Of the
ycllowest journalism.
Tho fact 10 that Dreyfus was convicted on the
clcarest evidence. There was no possibility OF
any conspiracy against him. He was caught at
his infamous work. and only escaped tho death
sentence by the law which fails to prescribe
capital punishment for treason in time Of peace.
Technically Dreyfus was not a traitor; no was
simply q German spy and a dangerous enemy OF
France. His family was German to the core,
although their homo was in Alsace. At the
S S,SSe 81 wit With them to become Citizens Of the
| French republic or to be subjects Of the Emperor
of Germany. they all, with one exception, the
wrctchcd prisoner, took tho German side. The
young man wanted to mike money and was NOE
sorupulous IN regard to the manner in which he
might secure 1t. so he became a spy. Joined the
which belonged to him, managed at lasp
to reach the bureau of the General
STAFF, where no was employed as q clerk.
Soon important docuInents wero missing, ana
suspicion at last fell upon the rather morose but
extremely diligent officer. Copies, OF
The copies we're in his own handwriting, and he
was actually found at work upon one OF them.
which, when finished, he put into his vnliso.
and carried away to a place whore he had a rem
dozvous with an officer who was said to be at
tnched to the German Embassy In Paris. When
tives Immediately arrested Dreyfus, and the In
eliminating document was secured.
This is all that the outside public was allowed
to know of the case. Tho contents OF the paperq
were not revealed. Many wild stories were told
about them, but up to the present time nobody
outside OF the General Staff really knows
anything about them; i has been said that
German Government was OF so serious
q character that the entire plan for the mobiliZas
tion Of the French Army had to DO altered. and
that the record of his trial contained q state
secret tho revelation OF which would immedi.
ately be followed by war between Franco and
But, after all. there are many people in Francs
who believe that Dreyfus Is innocent. NJ.
Scheurer-Kestner, the Vice-President of the
French Senate, has repeatedly expressed the
belief that Dreyfus is the victim Of q conspiracy
while the majority Of Senators and. members OF
Kestner who Is the victim Of a delusion or Of q
mnchination,