The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-01

Ae Moutom de BOfsdefFre Zen
GERS His Resignation as D.ra..
eSuit of the Henry Expose-
Dreyfus Case May Be Reopened
PARIS, Aug. 31.-Lieut. Col tTenr,,
arrested on the charge of bavinp, foro-c6
letter that was used in nreyont7r7o-
reopening of the Dreyfus case COM
Hrtted suicide in his cell nv n,,t+tro.
MS throat with a razor he had Coz
cealed In his valise
Ihe suicide has caused a nrofound
sensation. During the recent
| trlal, Col. Henry accused Col. Picouart
81 talsiry1ng kilograms duel fol-
io"eo' and Henry was wounded. Then
III the chamber of deputies Col P1c-
qudrt accused Col. Henry of having
iOrsed letter intended to pretud,ca
'he Dreyfus case, and Picquart was
arrested While Henry was given pic
quarts place in the intelligence denar+-
ment
1t is now evident that Henry for
"@roeu the letter with the express oh
Ject OF paralyzing Col Picuuart's ef-
Ioits 10 expose Maj. Esterhazy and to
SCI revision Of the Dreyfus case.
Inc letter was written In French q
1act that first caused it to be regarded
| as spurious.
IL Is said that, If the cabinet decides
upon revision of the Dreyfus case
NJ CaValgnac, minister Of war. will
resign.
Coi. Henry's arrest was very pain
lui' When he found 1t was useless to
uehy rurther, his tongue got too thick
1or utterance. He grew red In the
race, and 1t was feared he would have
a stroke of apoplexy. The officer ac-
companying him was under orders not
10 lose sight of him for a moment
ano' therefore, he could not see his wife
alone. He addressed her, telling her:
L am under arrest" calling her INV
dear Wife" He was allowed to pro.
cure some clothes. Henry then clasp
ed his wife in his arms, exclaiming:
My conscience is pure and free from
every sting"
This exclamation is much commented
upon as going to show that he may
possibly have forged the letter under
orders from his superiors
Lieut.. Col. Henry was a poor mans
son. He was born in Pousey, in
Marne, in 184s, and enlisted in foot
regiment, as his brothers substitute.
IN 1853. He had a good military rec
ord for bravery and in discipline. He
was prisoner Of war in 1870 and was
wounded in the Algerian campaign.
retained much Of the rough and ready
manner of a non-commissioned officer.
He was lacking in education spoke no
foreign language, and owed his pro-
motion primarily to his reputation for
blunt traightforwardness
A NEW SENSATION.
The arrest Of Lieut.. Col. Henry on
the discovery that he is the author OF
an important letter which figured In
the Dreyfus case, is one of the most
sensational developments in the whole
Of this extraordinary affair. Col,
Henry has been throughout the cham
pion Of the army against Col. Picquart,
with whom he fought a duel This
new development appears to alter the
aspect Of both the Dreyfus and the
Zola case, and to practically nullify the
evidence of Gems. Pellieu and Boisdef-
fre and the declarations of the minister
for war. M. Cavaignac, in the chamber
of deputies. In fact some people be-
lieve that perhaps the real turning
point In the Dreyfus case has been
reached, and that the arrest of Col.
Henry will lead to a revision of the
trial OF the prisoner of Devils Island.
1t appears that so soon as NJ Ca
vsignac assumed the office of minister
for war, he charged the official bureau
to make a thorough research of the
Dreyfus case, and 1t was this inquiry
which resulted In the recovery Of doc
uments lately read in the chamber OF
deputies by NJ. Cavaignac, showing
that the proof of the guilt OF Dreyfus
was forged. When Col. Henry was
summoned to the ministry for war and
questioned by NJ. Cavaignac, in the
presence of Gen. Boisdeffre and others,
he at first affirmed the authenticity OF
the discriminating documents But
when discrepancies were pointed out
he at first admitted adding sentences,
and finally confessed to fabricating
the whole letter. 1t is affirmed, how
ever, that while this discovery has not
changed M. Cavaignac's belief in the
culpability of Dreyfus the minister Is
determined to punish all the guilty par
ties no matter what their rank or Do
sition may be.
GEN. BOISDEFFRE RESIGNS.
Gen. LIE Mouton de Boisdeffre. chief
OL the general Sldl Oh the FrenCh
army, has rendered his resignation to
the government.
Gen. De Boisdeffre, in his letter Of
resignation, explains that he resigns
owing to his misplaced confidence IN
Lieut.. Col. Henry, which led him to
believe as genuine what was forged ev-
idence. Nj. Cavaignac, the minister of
war, in reply, asked Gen. De Bois-
deffre to remain to see justice rem
dered in the matter"
Gen. De Boisdeffre thanked NJ Ca
vaignac for proffers of his esteem, but
persisted In his resignation. He Will
be replaced therefore by Gen. Re
nouard, director of the military COL
lege.
Col. Henry's confession threatens TO
rekindle the Dreyfus agitation more
heatedly than ever and seems likely to
shake public confidence In the army.
Even the Liberte, a strong anti-Drey-
fus organ, says:
"It must cause the deepest pain to
all honorable men that officers of such
standing show such a lack of moral
sense
1t is reported that at today's cab
met meeting the ministers admitted