The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-09-08
DRBYFUS Is INDICATED.
Colonel Henry Confesses to a Forged
Document and Commits Suicide.
NOW PARIS CALLS FOR JUSTICE.

General Boisleffre Resigns - ESterhazy
Cashiered-Colonel Henry Confronted
With Forged Document and Placed
Upon a Soldiers Honor Breaks Down
and Confesses-Paris in an Uproar.
PARIS, France By Cable Frances faith
in the honor and integrity OF the command
ers Of that army for which she has made so
many sacrifices since 1870 has just received
q terrible shock through the startling con-
rCesson of Colonel Henry, Chief Of the In
telligence Bureau at the War Department,
that he had forged the note alleged to have
been sent from the Italian Embassy to the
German Embassy, In which the name OF
Captain Dreyfus was mentioned, and on
the strength OF which Dreyfus was con-
victed OF treason. subjected to military de-
Cradation and sentenced to lifelong i'm
prisonment on the Devils Island.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry, who was
arrested on Tuesday, after he had con-
fessed that he forged a letter which was
largely instrumental in preventing re-
vision of the Dreyfus case, committed
suicide Wednesday by cutting his throat
When Lieutenant Colonel Henry was
summoned to the residence of the Minister
for War on Tuesday he found assembled
there Colonel du Patty de Clam, Count Es-
terhazy, General de Boisdeffre, General
Roget and NJ. Cavaignac. The Minister
for War had suspected the letter on his
desk. He took it up and said to Henry:
'You did not mention the name OF the
agent who furnished this letter. My at
tention has been called to the fact that on
the docket there Is no name"
Colonel Henry beat his forehead and
then said he had no memory for names,
and had forgotten the name in this case,
but he would know the man II he saw him.
at is pity you have forgotten" said
NJ. Cavaignac. dryly; I'VE think the letter
forgery and that you have been duped
By clever forger."
Henry declared his belief in its authen-
ticity, but in a very faint voice.
Come said the Minister; "no agent
ever gave it to you. You wrote It in pencil
to disguise your handwriting the better.
You are the forger.'
The Coloners speech grew thick, but he
denied the charge. Then 1t was repeated
and he gave fresh explanations. But his
tongue began to cleave to the roof OF his
mouth, and it was feared that he would
have an apoplectlc fit or stroke.
ION your honor as soldier" said NJ.
Cavaignac, more gently, ''did you, or did
you not, write that letter"
"Since you appeal TO my soldierly honor,
It was who wrote It, he replied.
After his arrest he was permitted to visit
his wife while on the way to the fortress at
Mont Yalerien. She thought he really had
flt. He addressed her as my poor Wife,"
adding "I am under arrest" The officer
accompanying him was under orders not
to lose sight OF him for moment, and,
therefore, he could not see his wife alone.
All three proceeded to his bedroom to get
the necessary clothing. Henry then
clasped his wife in his arms and exclaimed:
my conscience Is pure and free from
everything"
This exclamation Is much commented
upon, as going to show that he may posi-
bly, have forged the letter under orders
from his superiors.
The fact Of the suicide became known at
Mont yalerien about O'Clock Wednesday
evening. 1t is supposed that 1t was COM
mitted about in the afternoon.
When the officials entered his cell, Henry
was found lying in pool of blood, dead,
with terrible cash In his throat.
Shortly before midnight Nine. Henry,
who had been informed, went to the
fortress and was admitted, the officials
granting her permission to pass the night
General Le Mouten de Boisdeffre, Chief
OF the General Staff OF the French Army,
has rendered his resignation to the Govern
ment.
General de Bosdeffre, IN his letter OF re-
sgnatioD, explains that he resigns owing
to his misplaced confidence in Lieutenant
Colonel Henry, which led him to present as
genuine what was forged evidence.
tn ~
reply asked General de Boisdeffre to re-
main to ''see justice rendered in the mat
ter"
General de Roisdeffre thanked NJ. Cavalg-
nae for proofs Of his esteem, but persisted
in Ihis resignation. He will be replaced
therefore by General Renouard.
When Count Esterhazy was informed OF
the arrest of Colonel Henry and Of his ad-
mission, he exclaimed:
"This Is too terrifying"
The Cabinet held two stormy sittings
under the Presidency OF VI. Faure, having
apparently failed to arrive at decision
on the question Of revising the Dreyfus
sentence, for the customary official note
was not issued.
1t is alleged that several Ministers. in
cluding NJ. Brisson, the Premier, u. Marue-
jouls, Minister Of Commerce, and NJ. Trouil-
lot, Minister Of the Colonies, demanded
revision and the immediate supercession OF
several staff officers. NJ. Cavaignac, how
ever, remained firm, opposing this course
on the ground that Lieutenant Colonel
Henry's forgery had not altered the case
adafrecting Dreyfus's guilt.
The only result thus far, therefore, Is
that Esterhazy Is cashiered, and will retire
on a small pension. Even after leaving the
council Ministers continued to argue heat
edly.
It would be impossible TO describe the
sensation that has thrilled Paris.