The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-12-08
DREYFUS AGAIN
The Case Under Discussion in the
French Senate.
INTERPRETATIONS ENDORSED


M. scheurer- Restner Fails to Satisfy
the Statesmen That the Imprisoned
Captain was Unjustly Convicted-A
Military Investigation In the Matter.
Paris Dec. 8.-M. Scheurer- -Kestner's
Interpolation of the ministers on the
subject of the Dreyfus case was de-
bated in the senate yesterday. At the
conclusion of the discussion the senate
unanimously voted to proceed with the
order of the day, thus sustaining the
ministry in its attitude toward the con-
victed officer.
In anticipation of an exciting session
of the senate the precincts OF the Lux
embOurg palace were crowded, and the
police were called into reduisition to
keep the people moving. There were
many ladies and people of prominence
in the galleries Of the senate, and there
was a full attendance of senators.
When the opening formalities had
been concluded the president, M. Lou
bet, announced that M. Scheurer- -Kest-
ner desired to interpellate the govern
ment, in the persons of the premier, M.
Meline, and the minister of war, Cen
eral Billot, in regard to their declara-
tions in the chamber of deputies on
Saturday last on the subject Of the al
legged false imprisonment of Alfred
Dreyfus, former captain of the artil-
lery, convicted by a court martial of
selling military secrets to agents of
foreign power.
M -Kestner reviewed the
Dreyfus case at length He traversed
the statement of M. Meline relative to
his evidence that Captain Dreyfus was
unjustly condemned, saying that al
though he had not delivered the docu-
ments into the premier hands he had
shown them to him.
II told M. Meline," said the speaker,
che could publicly declare me mistaken,
IL he could show proofs that Dreyfus
was guilty. M. Mellne, however, re-
fused to do so, and also declined to
consider my evidence respecting the
anonymous note. If Dreyfus was not
convicted on the anonymous note, then
he was convicted on evidence which
was not communicated to the defense,
and who will dare to defend such a
procedure before this assembly, which,
only the other day, in order to secure
prisoners against the miscarriage OF
justice, voted reforms in the criminal
procedure?"
M. -Kestner then declared
that the government had refused a re-
vision of the trial, and asserting that
the authorship of the anonymous note
was the crux of the whole question,
he added that he was certain it was
not written by Dreyfus, and asked
that the matter be re-examined.
The minister for war, General Billot.
n
submitted to him no evidence He had
contended the minister explained, that
the anonymous note was the basis of
the whole affair, and that if it was
shown not to have been written by
Dreyfus the latter ought to be accorded
a new trial. But the general, as min
lister for war, could not go back on the
judgment Of the court martial, and he
acted within his right in declaring and
repeating that Dreyfus was guilty. The
present inquiry did not concern Drey-
fus, but concerned Mejor Esterhazy,
the officer whose letters bitterly re-
fecting upon France and the French
army were recently published. The war
office, General Billot declared, had done
| it's duty, and the various documents,
including the Bordereau, would be
submitted to a commission of inquiry
The premier, M. Meline, said the gov
ernment had taken the only course pos
sible in the midst of the storm of con-
ficting passions. "A military inquiry
has been opened" the premier said,
'let its decision be awaited. The press
campaign must cease for 1t has already
done much harm. The honor of the
army and the interests of the national
defense shOu1d remain outside of all
discussions. Certain facts are involved
which affect our most essential inter-
ests, and they should remain secret,
lest an indiscretion might lead to the
gravest consequences"
The impression in the lobbies after
the close of the debate and the adoption
of Senator Chauveau's motion to sup
port the ministry was that M. Scheurer-
| Kestner's defense had received a death
blow.