The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-01
C0NFESSES TO FORGERY
AND THEN COMMITS SUICIDE
Colonel
Authorship of the Letter Upon Which
The Celebrated Case Will
Developments Have Stirred Paris % It's Depths.

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.
Colonel Henry has been throughout the
champion of the army against Colonel
Picquart, with whom he fought a duel.
This new development appears to alter
the aspect of both the Dreyfus and lola
cases. and to practically nullify the evil
dence of Generals Peillieux and Boisde-
frere, and the declaration of the minis
ter for war, NJ. Cavaignac. in the cham
Der of deputies. In fact, some people
believe that perhaps the real turning
point in the Dreyfus case has been
| reached and that the arrest of Colonel
| Henry will lead to a revision of the trial
of the prisoner of DEVILS island.
| 1t appears that so soon as NJ. Cavaig-
nae assumed the Office of minister of
war he charged the officials to make a
! thorough research of the Dreyfus case.
| and IL was this that resulted in the
recovery of documents lately read in
the chamber of deputies by NJ. Cavag-
| nae, showing that the proof of the guilt
| of Dreyfus was forged.
| When Colonel Henry was summoned
| to the ministry for war and questioned
| by NJ. Cavaignac in the presence of Gem
eral Boisdefrere and others, he at first
! affirmed the authenticity of the incrim-
| mating documents. but when discrep~
ancies We're pointed out he at first ad-
| mitted adding sentences and finally con-
! fessed to the fabrication of the whole
! letter. 1t is affirmed, however, that
| while this discovery has not changed
| NJ. Cavaignac's belief in the culpability
! of Dreyfus, the minister determined to
punish all the guilty parties, no matter
what their rank or position may be.
Colonel Henry is to be tried by court
| martial
! Colonel Henry confessed to having
committed forgery. lowing to the abso-
! lutte necessity for finding proofs against
/ Dreyfus." 1t is understood that the
| document in question is the letter which
hitherto has been alleged to have been
written by the German military at
tacha to the Italian military attache in
October, 1896.
1t is also said that when the interpo-
lation i'm the Dreyfus case was coming
in the chamber of deputies this letter
was secretly communicated to the court
martial and was the chief evidence upon
which Dreyfus was convicted.
The anti-Dreyfus papers are dumb
founded at the arrest of the colonel
while on the other hand the papers
which have been supporting the propo-
sition to reopen the case are jubilant.
They now demand the immediate re-
lease of Colonel Picquart, who is impris-
oned on charges connected indirectly
with the Dreyfus affair and they also
insist upon a review of the Dreyfus trial.
When Count Esterhazy was informed
of the arrest of Colonel Henry and of
his admission. he exclaimed: This is
too terrifying"
Colonel Henrys 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 i-preyfus
organ, says: TT must cause the deep
est pain to all honorable men that Off
GERS of such standing show lack of
moral sense"
1t is reported that at to-day's cabinet
meeting the ministers admitted that
revision of the Dreyfus trial was abso-
lutely unavoidable and a public an
nouncement that the ministry had de-
cided to initiate such a revision is ex-
pected soon. Another report is that the
minister for war has declared that he
intended to compel the resignation of
the chief of the general staff. General
Boisdefrere and his subordinate, Gonz,
because in two years personal investi-
cation they had not succeeded in discov-
ering the forgery and led successive war
genuineness of the documents.
The Temps this afternoon asserts that |
the disclosures made to the ministers |
to-day have decided the minister of war
to place Major Count EsterhaZy on the |
retired list.
Colonel Henry was attached to the |
war department when Dreyfus was con- |
victed and he was one of the prominent |
witnesses who testified unfavorably to |
NJ. Zola during the latter's sensational |
trial on the charge of libeling military /
officials.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry cut his
throat with a razor he had concealed
In his clothes.
During the Zola trial Henry accused
Colonel Picquart of falsifying tele-
grams A duel followed, in which
Henry was wounded. The next scene
occurred in the chamber of deputies.
where Colonel PicqGart pronounced the
letter forgery and, as a result, was
censured. while Henry's villainy was
rewarded by his being appointed Col
onel Picquart's successor.
1t is now said that Henry forged the
letter with the express purpose of par
alyzng Colonel Picquart's efforts to
expose Major Esterhazy and to get a
revision of the Dreyfus case The
letter was written in bad French. a fact
which first led it to be regarded as
spurious.
1t is said that IL the cabinet decides
upon revision Of the Dreyfus case VI.
Cavaignac, minister for war. will re-
sign.
The scene Of Lieutenant Colonel Hen
rvs avowal was most painful When
he saw il was almost useless to deny
further his tongue grew so thick that
he was unable to speak. 1t was feared
that he would have an apoplectic stroke.
After his arrest he was permitted TO
visit his wife while on the way TO the
fortress at Mont Valerien. She thought
he really had had a fit. He addressed
her as My poor wife" adding. Il am
under arrest" The officer accompany
ing him was under orders not To lose
sight Of him for a moment and there
tore he could not see his wife alone.