The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-19
HIS BAD ADVEN TURESS
SHE GIVES RAZZLE-DAZZLE TO
THE FANCY PLOT.
A FORGED DOCUMENT PREPARED
Oreyfus Refused, it is Alleged, to Pay the
Sum Demanded For the Paper and the
Conspiracy Was Then Set in
Motion--An Investigation.
Motion--An Investigation.


Paris, Nov. 1S.-The allegation that
Alfred Dreyfus, the former captain of
French artillery, was falsely accused
and convicted by court-martial of sell
ling French military plans to the agents
of foreign government continues to be
widely discussed in Paris and through
out France. From person who is in
the cOunsels of the family the cores
pondent of the Associated Press here
learns that their presentation of the
prisoners case to the French govern
ment reveals a thrilling romance, in
which figures the gang of so-caled
journalists" and stock jobbbers who
beset the late Max Lebaudy, the mill
Eonaire conscript. 1t is claimed that the
documents Dreyfus was charged with
selling to Germany were never really
sold to the agents of that company, bur
were prepared in imitation of Dreyfus'
handwriting to blackmail him, his wife
being a wealthy woman and he himself
being in good circumstances. The plot,
it would further seem, was conceived in
1893, when the wave of Jew batting
swept over Europe. Dreyfus is of He
brew extraction, and these jackals of
Partisan society, casting about for funds
determined to "bleed this wealthy
Jew." A beautiful adventures, whose
house was the resort of number of
French officers and foreign diplomats,
is said to have acted as the go between
in these shady transactions. By inyi-
tati0n Dreyfus was a frequent visitor
to her house. In due course of time the
plan for the mobilization of the French
army, which had been put up in a hand
writing which cleyerly initiated that of
DreyfuS, was produced and money was
demanded for its surrender.
Dreyfus, however, it is said, refused
to pay the sum demanded, knowing that
the purchase of the document 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 the woman, who
herself was a party to the plot. would
be considered part of the strongest eyie
dence 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 the
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 then,
to be used against Dreyfus, and it is
also said that advances have been made
to Nine. Dreyfus, wife of the prisoner,
in behalf of the anti-Dreyfus press, of
fering to cease all opposition to his re-
lease "fOr a consideration"
FINALLY, it is said, that the plan for
the mobilization of the French army,
which Dreyfus is said to have sold
to the agents of a foreign government,
was a comparatively unimportant docu-
ment, the features of which were in the
possession of all foreign governments
and was easily fabricated by experts.
LIE Soir says that the absence of M.
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 M. Faure who said to him:
"The documents in the Dreyfus case
have been brought to my notice. 1 give
you my word of honor that they con-
tain irrefutable proofs Of guilt. beg
you, therefore, to cease this campaign,
by which are compromising the repub-
lie and yourself to no purpose"
M. Scheurer-Kestner's friends, how
ever, deny this story.
Later a formal contradiction has been
given officially to the story put in cir
culation by lie Soir as to the alleged in
terview today between NJ. Faure and
NJ. Scheurer-kestner.
ESTERHAZY'S TREASON.
London, Nov ia despatch from
Paris to the Daily Mail says that friends
of Dreyfus assert that Count Walsihg
Esterhazy was assisted in his treason by
an Alsatian Sergeant Major, who is now
in Alsace, and has made full confes-
sion.