The San Francisco call., 1898-09-03
COLONEL HENRY'S CRIME.

. ( TUDENIS. of human nature will ind Tn the ; career the crime, the confession and the sui AD eide: of. Colonel Henry of the Intelligence De partnlent of the French army of the most inter esting problems ever submitted to the analyslS ot psychologists.
 Every circumstance of the case, as well every salient characterstic of Colonel Henry himself, is well known The whole tragedy has been played out in the blaze of publicity that attracted the attention of the entire world, and back of all that IS known looms vast mystery affecting not only august ndl- viduas but mighty nations Certainly better set ting for drama dealing with the deepest depths of te human heart is be found in the history of this century in any civilized land.
 The career of Colonel Henry up to the time when he was involved in the terrible meshes of the Dreyus affair was a most creditable The son of a French peasant, he showed when drafted into the army such soldery characteristics that despite the lack of influential friends his promotion was rapid. From the ranks he rose to the grade of commis- stoned officer. During the with Germany he was noted not only for galantry but for fertility of resource. Twice taken prisoner he twice escaped, and emerged from the war with honorable a record as any patriot could desire.
 His services immediately after the war were also distinguished. In fact he seemed to be of the best soldier type that the world knowsfaithfu aborious, blunt of speech, prompt to obey and fitted to com mand During his service with the colors in the colonies he became afflicted with ncurable ma laria fever and thereupon transferred from the army itself to the staff Paris There the curse came upon him. and he entered upon the path of crookedness and crime from which his soldier soul could find escape except by suicide.
 Two incidents of the tragic last day of his life iumine the inner depths of his character. He had denied the authorship of the forged letter with which he was confronted and persisted in the denial until his, commanding general told him to reply on the honor of a soldier" Then he spoke out, Since you put me on my honor as a soldier 1 confess few hoirs afterward he took leave of his wife he said "I, have done nothing wrong; feel no sting ot con science" Before the went down h. had cut hi: throat and lay weltering in blood suicide upon the floor of:his prison.
 It will be in vain that the French officials ask the world to believe that with such record a that of Colonel Henry committed this forgery on his own initiative. The mans sense o honor and of duty was clearly that produced in some natures by excessive mlitarism. The type common but in Colonel Henrys case the devotion tc the army its officers and its cause had reached an ab normal development Perhaps the malaria feve may. have had some effect in weakening his brair and thus. made him easy victim to the in trigues of his commanders, but the dominant impuls to his crime must have come to him from the out side, and from source which he had learned to re spect and to serve with blind devotion
 Out of the confession and the suicide will of come reopenng of the Dreyfus case, and along witt that there will be fuller understanding of all tn circumstances and all the actions of the extraordina case When that understanding is reached the Colonel Henry will probably be to be marty tothe supersttions of military discipline, and upo himself alone will fall the blame for the crime tha brought shameful close to long carrie on with honor in war and in peace