The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-23
THE DIR, YFUS CASE
The Captains Fri~nd- say IL W~s Conap'-
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Account of .tse ~eh~m~

The Cmp,ain's Fri~nd- say tf WIS - Consp'-
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Account of .te >ehrm~ |
Paris. November 18th allegation
that Alfred Dreyfus, a former captain
of French artillery, was falsely accus-
ed and convicted by a court-martial OF
selling Franch military plans to the
agents of a foreign government con-
tinues to be widely discussed in Paris
and throughout France. From a per-
son who is in the counsels of the fam
lily, the correspondent of the Associated
Press here learns that their presenta-
ton of the prisoners case to the
French government reveals a thrilling
omanc in which figures the gang OF
so-called journalists" and stock job
bers who beset the late Max Lebaudy,
the millionaire conscript. 1t is claimed
that the documents Dreyfus was charg-
ed with selling to Germany were never
really sold to the agents of that coun-
try, but were prepared in imitation OF
Dreyfus' handwriting for Matchmaking,
his wife being a wealthy woman and
IE uliIlSCII gill III ocOA
The plot, it would further seem, was
conceived in 1893, when the wave of
Jew batting swept over Europe. Drey-
fus is of Hebrew extraction, and these
jackals of Paris society, casting about
for funds determined to bleed his
wealthy Jew"
A beautiful adventures, whose
house was the resort of a number Of
French officers and foreign diplomats,
is said to have acted as the go be-
tween in these shady transactions. By
invitation Dreyfus was a frequent Wis.,
itor to her house. In due course Of
time the plan for the mobilization OF
the French army, which had been
drawn up in handwriting which clever
ly initiated that Of Dreyfus, was pro-
duced and money was demanded for its
surrender.
Dreyfus, however, it is said, refused
to pay the sum demanded, knowing
that the purchase Of the
would be an admission Of his guilt.
and would furnish ground for future
extortion, and being aware that the
fact that he had been intimate with
this woman, who herself was a party
to the plot, would be considered part
of the strongest evidence Of his guilt.
Continuing, the friend of the Dreyfus
family explains that the newspapers
whose attaches were concerned IN the
plot have constantly maintained a war
fare against Dreyfus even up to he
present time, and that in consequence
the prisoners wife and family are
obliged to keep secluded. Attempts
have constantly been made, it is al
legged, to extort admissions from them
to be used against Dreyfus, and 1T Is
also said that advances have been mad
to Nine. Dreyfus, wife of the prisoner,
in behalf Of the anti-Dreyfus press,
Offering to cease all opposition to his
release for a consideration"
Finally, it is said hat the plan for
the mobilization of the French army,
which Dreyfus is said to lave sold to
the agents Of a foreign government,
was a comparatively unimportant doc
ument, the features Of which were in
the possession Of all foreign govern
ments and was easily fabricated by
experts.
lie Soir says that the absence of Mr.
Scheurer-Kestner, who has forced the
government to reopen the case, from
today's meeting of the senate, is the
subject of general comment. A report
is prevalent that he was summoned
this morning by NJ. Faure who said tc
him: "The documents in the Dreyfus
case have been brought to my notice
1 give you my word Of honor that they
contain irrefutab Bile proofs Of guilt.
beg you, therefore, to cease this cam
paign, by which you are compromising
the republic and yourself to no pur
pose" Mr.. Schuerer-Kestner's friend
however, deny this story. Later, a for
NAL contradiction has been given offi
cially to the story put in circulation
by LIE Soir as to the alleged interview
today between M. Faure and M. Scheu
rer-Kestner.
t London, November ia dispatcI
( from Paris to The Daily Mail, says tina
friends Of Dreyfus assert that Coun
Walsing Esterhazy was assisted in hi
4 treason by a surgeant major who ha
made a full confession.