The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18
WHY DID HENRY FORGE ITp
Unexplained Features of the Latest Devel-
opment of tho DreyfuS Case.

opment of the DreyfuR Case.
PARIS. Sept. 1o.-In commenting upon the
Dreyfus case and the suicide OF Col. Henry too
many journals stumble over the forged docu-
ment and picture II as the principal piece OF
evidence at the trial Of the prisoner OF DEVILS
Island. As q matter Of fact, the paper never
appeared in that trial: II was not thon 10 exist
ence. The case was closed In 1894; the forgery
was committed In 1895. and figured first In
public in the memorable speech Of M. Cavaig-
nae In the Chamber OF Deputies. A few new
details upon the subject arc noteworthy:
The day after the delivery OF the Wal Minis
ter's speech 1t was known by some officers OF
the general stafr that the paper he put in evil
dence nae every appearance OF fraud. and 1t
was even openly said that the Minister had
been deceived. That somebody, as the world
now knows. was Col. Henry. How easily the
men in the War o1lce were deceived by the
thing seems strange. certainly. but this is ac-
counted for by the fact that the Minister. who
had then been only o few days in office.
had not had sufficient time to make O
thorough examination Of the papers in the
case. Consequently he had to appeal to the
officers In charge OF the records. He did so.
and the result Is known. Certainly NJ. Cavaig-
nae never for a moment suspected that any
one OF the papers he put in evidence in the
Chamber was spurious. But later on. too late.
unfortunately, when rumors began to buzz in
his ears, the Minister ordered a minute exam
ination Of all the papers in the dossier. Capt.
Cuignet, the principal expert charged with
this examination. reported to n. Cavaignao
that the paper in which the name OF Dreyfus
was written out in full was a forgery. He
easily convinced the Mortified Minister that q
crime had been committed. Then followed
the confession and suicide Of Henry.
ITa-a 49, ara rnf,,ra1ly hrO,ohk - thA r,,na-
ton, What in the world was Henry's motive In
forging the paper2, He certainly appeared to
t aSS e NJ he stSStly sndie enlsd. IT IN Ms KS answers SasS; nn % N Il.
now become the general opinion # Frepiehpen
appeared SC, far seems hardly sufisient to lead
q sane man to crime and suicide. 1t is that he
eespnIyippeeS Of ths Ealis q Prsytas, spd iesriHs
IN the journals might lead to dangerous reve-
~lations, he determined to resort to forgery to
put an end ioreverto the troublesome agitation:
they present Tie PSthstiS, side 1Si. q t.: Ne one
affair can fail to feel sympathy with the wife OF
the pris9ner. DTeyfus., or the widow OF the
that her husband was dead. the, cause OF his
death was concealed from her; they, told her It
N Ea af H4PRP lEs bisaf o. an tie a RpsaInii ths o eaye WHIT Wb iie
she entered the room where his. body lay she
fell upon her knees at the bedside and re:
brought tears to the eyes Of old. Veterans.
He was the son Of a small farmer. In 1855 he
enlisted In the Thirty-sixth Infantry. His pro-
motion was rapid. He distinguished himself
at Orleans and taken to Germany. He man
aged to escape and returned to his regiment.
In February. 1871. he was again taken prisoner
by the Germans. but escaped again. and re-
turned to France. and. rejoining, the army.
with the expedition to Tupis, where he was
wounded in the right leg and In the righthand.
Mhf Militia @ Wss b sGnt his 70 staT ofReee' T IN is8 Se 6e
gained the cross OF the Legion OF Honor. and
In 1897 he became Lieutenant-C Colonel He
was In fourteen battles.