The age-herald., 1898-09-02
ARE NOT GIVEN CREDENCE
Public Excitement Is Still at High
 Pitch.
SITUATION EXTREMELY CRITICAL
fus Case Growing by Leaps Report That Col. Paty Du Clam Had
 Been Arrested Denied.

Paris, September 1.-The Dreyfus case plentiful supply of rumors.- The first of these is that Dreyfus is dead, no letter hav- ing been received from him for some weeks, another report is that General Roisdefere, who has just resigned the post of chief of the general staff has committed suicide. Both these fumors are undoubt- edly without foundation
 Colonel Paty Du Clam Is on a vacation trip in Switzerland and there is no con firmation of the statement of La Patrie that he had been arrested for complicity in the Henry forgery. The Hull in news, however, has not brought down public ex- citement.
 Anti-Semite Spirit
 The traditions of the intelligence depart ment which, at the time of the condemna- ton of Dreyfus, was under conspicuous anti-semite, would probably have led a blunt mind like Lieutenant-Colonel Henry s to construe the slightest hint from above the desirability of killing of the anti-Drey- fus agitation into an order to do so by any means.
 Colonel Sandherr, who was then suffering
 
 been the head of general conspiracy to hunt Jewish officeps, out of the French army Dreyfus, a man of naughty de- meanor, but of vast strategic knowledge, would naturally be selected as victim of these machinations.
 It is asserted that Colonel Sandherr's last rays were haunted by a fear that the na- ture of evidence upon which Captain Drey- fus was condemned should be revealed and weaken the prestige of the intelligence de- partment, and that he enjoined upon Henry, his subordinate, to guard the des partment's traditions at all costs.
 An Opportunity to Suicide The carelessness of the authorities in allowing Henry to have razor and in not watching him is generally interpreted as connivance and perhaps as persuasion, since officers under arrest and likely to be condemned, should, according to military regulations, be constantly watched, while hours alone and allowed to lock the door on the inside. If there was persuasion 1t is not likely to have been difficult It Is recalled that similar opportunity to commit suicide was afforded Dreyfus, who, however, declined to profit by 1t. Had Henry been expelled from the army, both himself and wife would ,have lost all rights. As it is, the widow becomes en- titled to a handsome pension. This seems more likely motive than the explanation based upon the alleged incoherent letter he left behind that he had lost his reason. The situation Is Critical Having died uncondemned, his remains are entitled to military honors, but his brother will take the body to Pougy, near Chatons, where it will be buried on Sat urday with the strictest privacy. Several officers of the general staff, it is said, tonight have asked to be sent back to their regiments The governments posi- tion is most unhappy. Notice of interpel- lations in the chamber of deputies multi ply.
 President Faure is censured for leaving Paris at such a critical moment. Great efforts are being made to get the signatures of a majority of the deputies which is a necessary preliminary to a convention of the chamber.
 Revision of the Dreyfus Case in Favor
 The movement in favor of a revision in the Dreyfus case is growing by leaps and breaks. Considering recent events Major Count Walsh Esterhazy retains an amez- ing attitude. In the course of an interview yesterday he expressed astonishment that Lieutenant Colonel Henry was allowed to have a razor. Henry's death, he said, was regretable. because, doubtless, he had other revelations to make"
 Count Esterhazy intends to appeal against his enforced retirement from ac- tive service in the army.