Connecticut western news., 1898-09-08
COLONEL HENRY.

COLONEL HENRY.
 Boisdefrre's orders. It Is further said that former war minister Is compro- missed.
 General Boisdeffre, the chief of staff who presided at one of the courts mar tial at which Dreyfus was convicted. has resigned.
 tenant Colonel Paty du Clam is im- minent, and there>is also a widespread belief that a majority of the officers of the general staff will resign.
 The discovery of the forgery by Colo nel Henry was made on the night of Aug. 15 by the officer who was intrust- ed with the inquiry into the case of Major Esterhazy. This officer was ex- amining the letter under strong light when he noticed that 1t was written on paper divided into little squares by per- pendicular and horizontal lines. He happened to have at hand another let ter dated, like the suspected one Octo- Der, 1896, which had undoubtedly been written by the same person who was supposed to have written the alleged forged letter. He noticed that the It, tie squares differed considerably, so much so in fact as to show that the two sheets had not been manufactured by the same maker.
 The next morning the papers were again examined, but by daylight no diff ference could be noticed between them. The officer began to think that he must have been mistaken. but further ex- periments in artificial light showed that the sheets were radically different as regards the squares. A further exam ination showed fresh discrepancies, and Colonel Henry was summoned to Paris by M. Cavaignac, minister of war, who asked him to explain the matter. Colo nel Henry attempted to do so, but soon became hopelessly confused. Finally, under strict questioning. he admitted that he had forged the suspected letter.
 Henry's Confession.
 The following description of Colonel Henry's confusion and confession, when taken into M. Cavaignac's presence on Tuesday afternoon, is regarded as ac- curate. M. Cavaignac had the suspect ed letter on his desk. He took 1t up and said:
 You have mentioned the name of the agent who furnished this letter. ldy at- tention has been called to the fact that on the docket there Is no name." Colonel Henry beat his forehead and then said: 'I have no memory for names. I have forgotten the mans name. but would know him if I saw him"
 Tt is pity that you have forgotten" said M. Cavaignac dryly: We think the letter a forgery. You have been duped by a clever forger." Colonel Henry declared his belief in the authenticity of the letter, but in faint voice.
 s"Come, come," said the minister of war No agent ever gave 1t to you.
 You wrote 1t in pencil to disguise your
 handwriting the better. You are the forger.''
 Colonel Henry's speech grew thick as he denied the charge. which was again repeated.
 ."On your honor as soldier" said M. Cavaignac more gently. did you or did | you not write that letter." Colonel Henry then replied, Since yov | appeal to my soldierly honor. it was who wrote it."
 The following Is brief review of the | celebrated Dreyfus case: | Alfred Dreyfus. a Hebrew, formerly a captain in the Fourteenth regiment of French artillery, Is now undergoing inn | prfsonment for life on Devils island, an | unhealthy spot of the coast of French | Guiana. He was formerly on duty at the | ministry for war. was considered bril- \ | of a wealthy banker and was himself a | man of means. In the autumn of 1894 Cap tain Dreyfus was arrested on the charge | of selling important documents regarding | the French army to the agent of foreign | government. His house was searched, but | 1t Is claimed that no evidence of an in | eliminating nature was found there. The | charge against him was based upon memorandum of a package of documents | xrrt,gp tta v,ricn ia a n have | to the representative of foreign govern | ment. generally believed to be Germany. | though another power has been mentioned | in the case The handwriting of the mem | orandum was supposed to have correspond | ed with that of Dreyfus. Three experts In | handwriting declared Dreyfus had written
 the memorandum. and two others asserted | that he had not.
 In spite of Dreyfus repeated protestations | of innocence he was tried by secret court | martial. The exact nature of the evidence
 against him was never revealed, and he wAs HAntsncsd to inanriaon roant fa< kfA In