The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-25

arriving at this conclusion that certain
words-the word artillery was one
were written in an identical way. whereas
the experts said. nobody ever writes any
thing without making slight changes IN
forming letters.
But Dreyfus was condemned. neverthe-
less. The preponderance OF expert testi-
mony was I'm his favor but he was con-
victed and promptly sentenced 10 be de-
ported and TO be confined in a prison
for life.
ATTRIBUTED MOTIVE.
Cupidity was the motive. it was pre-
sumed. Yet Dreyfus' wife had a fortune
in her own right and Dreyfus himself
was i'm easy circumstances aside from his
salary.
Some Of his prosecutors. or prosecutors,
perhaps. tried 20 make it appear that
under professed loyalty 10 France lurked
n real devotion TO Germany. They point
ed TO his name and to the fact that he
was born I'm Alsacc.
II Is true that he is a native OF Alsace,
but when that territory was wrested from
France by Germany his love OF France
prompted him TO leave his childhood's
home forever and take up his residence
among the French.
DToVfus was urdEGeN upon ltle 'iidhlb0
de Mars January =. 1895. BY order OF Cen
eral Saussier. military Governor Of Paris.
no foreign correspondent was permitted
TO witness the final scene before Danish
ment for life.
Troops were drawn mp in hollow
square and the condemned captain was
hustled into their midst. lie was In
uniform. and wore all the insignia of his
rant.
An admtant, an officer inferior in rank.
stepped up 10 him, snatched his cap on
and tore from IL the marks Of rank.
give Ia France, shouted Dreyfus.
His sword was jerked from him and
broken.
give In France" cried Dreyfus.
His patriotic conduct under the most
trying OF all circumstances 10 a man Of
sensitive honor aroused profound emotion
even among those who were degrading
him.
Then Dreyfus. bareheaded and cheering
for France. his uniform I'm tatters and
stripped OF it's gold lace and buttons.
was led handcuned along the front Of the
troOps and. amid their cXcCration. was
drummcd out OF the army.
4 month later Dreyfus was transport
ed 20 DEVILS Island. OF French Guiana.
OTHERS INTERESTED.
Dreyfus is in prison on this island.
where the very air he breathes IS dead
Is. and though he is on a well-nigh mac
cessible islet OF the coast Of South
America. he is kept il Is said. in an iron
cage under the keen eyes OF watchers
day and night
The very precautions taken 10 pre-
vent his rescue or escape prove the inn
portance the French government attach
Is 10 his case other men have been con-
victed Of betraying army secrets. but
nobody has ever been so fearfully pun
ished or so jealousy guarded. Even his
wife. Stunned by and shrinking from
the people of Paris, is not permitted TO
visit him.
It is three years since Dreyfus WAS
disgraced and deported and now positive
proof of his innocence is said TO be in
the hands Of influential men in the
French capital.
TO explain the extraordinary features
of the sentence and Imprisonment, those
who pretend To know the facts say that
If Dreyfus were at liberty many high
officials at home might have TO take his
place on Devil Island. II is even as
serted that Dreyfus was victim Of pow
erful conspirators who required a scape-
goat.
CASE REVIVED.
Last November NJ. Scheurer- Kestner, the
then vice-president of the Senate, created
n furore In France by asserting that he
had incontrovertible proof OF the inno-
cence OF Dreyfus. and intimated that Fer
dinand Walsh Esterhazy. who had just
resigned n colonelcy in the French army,
was the real culprlt.
The Government declined 10 reopen the
case. but Esterhazy was later tried on
charge of having betrayed military Sc
crets. and having written disrespectfully
OF France and the French army.
The trial was a court-martial and was
A mere farce, the evident intention OF
the authorities being 10 prevent unpleas-
ant disclosures.
A few days after the acquittal OF Es-
terhazy, he was placed on the retired
list Of the army. VI. Scheurer-Kes.ner.
who sought reelection as one OF the vice
presidents Of the Senate. was rejected.
and the matter was about 10 close when
NJ. lola wrote ~ letter TO NJ Faure,