The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-01

| Paris, Aug. 31.-The arrest OF Lieu
tenant Colonel 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 develop
ments in the whole Of this extraordi-
nary affair. Colonel Henry has been
| throughout the champion of the army
| against Colonel Picquart, with whom
| he fought a duel. This new develop
ment appears TO alter the aspect of
both the Dreyfus and Zola cases, and
| to practically nullify the evidence Of
| Generals Pellieux and Boisdeffre and
the declaration of the minister for war,
NJ. Cavaignac, in the chamber of depu-
| ties. 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. Cav
aignac assumed the Office of minister
for war he charged the officials to make
| a thorough research of the DreyfuS
case, and it was this that resulted in
the recovery of documents lately read
in the chamber of deputies by NJ. Cav
| aignac showing that proof of the guilt
/ of Dreyfus was forged.
DENIALS AND CONFESSIONS.
When Colonel Henry was summoned
/ to the ministry for war and questioned
| by NJ. Cavaignac in the presence Of
General Boisdefeffre and others, he at
| first affirmed the authenticity of the
\ discriminating document, but when dis
! crepancies were pointed out he at first
admitted adding sentences and finally
confessed to the fabrication of the
whole letter. 1t is affirmed. however.
that while this discovery has not
changed M. Cavaignac's belief in the
culpability of Dreyfus. the minister de-
termined to punish all the guilty par
ties. no matter what their rank or po-
sitiOn may be.
Colonel Henry confesses 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
attache to the Italian military attache
in October 1896.
CHIEF EVIDENCE AGAINST DREY-
FUS-
It is also said that when the inter-
polation in the Dreyfus case was COM
ing UP in the chamber of deputies this
letter was secretly communicated to
the courtmartial, and was the chief
evidence upon which DreyfuS was con-
victed. The anti-Dreyfus papers are
dumbfounded at the arrest of the col
onel. while on the other hand the pa
pers which have been supporting the
proposition to reopen the case are jubi-
liant. They now demand the immediate
release of Colonel Picquart who is i'm,
rrisoned on charges connected indi-
rectly with the Dreyfus affair. and they
also insist upon 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 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 Liberteux, a strong anti
Dreyfus organ. says:
1T must cause the deepest pain to
all honorable men that officers of such
standing show a lack of moral sense
REVISION OF DREYFUS TRIAL.
1t is reported that at today's cabinet
meeting the ministers admitted that a
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 declared that he intended to-
compel the resignation of the chief Of
the general staff of General Boisdefrere
and his subordinat, Gonz, because in
two years personal investigation they
had not succeeded in discovering the
forgery. and led successive war minis
ters to pledge themselves to the genu-
ineness of the documents.
The Tem9s this afternoon asserts
that the disclosures made to the minis
ters today have decided the minister
OF war to place Major Count ESterhazy
cn the retired list.
Colonel Henry was attached to the
war department when Dreyfus was
convicted, and he was one of the PROM
trent witnesses who testified unfavor-
ably of NJ. Zola during the latter's SEN
sational trial on the charge of hbeling
military officials.
COLONEL HENRY SUICIDED.