The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-01
COL. HENRY's CONFESSION.
The Arrest and Examination Leading
to the Suicide

The Arrest and Examination Leading
to the Suicide.
| PARIS, Aug 31.-The arrest Of Lieutenant
Colonel Henry, on the discovery that he was
the author of an important letter which
figured in the Dreyfus case, was one of the
most sensational developments in the whole
of this extraordinary affair. Colonel Henry
has been throughout the champion of the
| army against Colonel Picquart with whom
he fought duel. This new development
appears to alter the aspect Of both the
! Dreyfus and the Zola cases and to prac-
| tically nullify the evidence of the Generals
! Pellieux and Boisdeffer, and the declara-
| tons of the minister of war, NJ. Cavaignac,
| in the Chamber of Deputies In fact, some
| people believe that perhaps the real turn
| ing 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. Cavaignac
assumed the Office of minister of war he
charged the official bureau to make
thorough research Of the Dreyfus case, and
it was this inquiry which resulted in the
discovery Of documents lately read in the
Chambec of Deputies by NJ. CaVaignac,
showing that proof of the guilt of Dreyfus
was forged. When Colonel Henry was sum
moned to the minister for war and ques-
toned by NJ. Cavaignac in the presence Of
General Boisdeffer and others. he at first
affirmed the authenticity of the incriminat-
| ing document. But when discrepancies
were pointed out. he at first admitted
adding sentences and finally confessed to
falsifyng the whole letter. 1t is affirmed,
however, that while this discovery has not
changed NJ Cavaignacs belief in the culp-
ability of Dreyfus the minister is deter
mined to punish all the guilty parties, no
matter what their rank or position may be.
Colonel Henry is TO be tried by court
martial.
Colonel Henry confesses to have COM
mitted forgery. owing to the absolute ne
cessity for finding proofs against Dreyfus.'
1t is understood that the document is the
letter heretofore alleged to have been writ
ten by the Germany military attache to
the Italian military attache in October, 1896.
1t is also said that when the Interpolation
in the Dreyfus case was coming up in the
Chamber of Deputies this letter was secretly
committed to the court-martial and was
the chief evidence on which Dreyfus was
convicted The anti-Dreyfus papers are
dumfounded at the arrest Of the colonel,
while. on the other hand, the papers which
have been supporting the proposition to re-
open the case are jubilant. They demand
the immediate release of Colonel PicQuart,
who is imprisoned on charges connected in
directly with the Dreyfus affair. and they
also insist on a review of the Dreyfus trial.
When Count Esterhazy was informed of
the arrest of Colonel Henry and of his ad-
mission, he exclaimed:
This is too terrifying"
Colonel Henrys confession threatens to
rekindle the Dreyfus agitation more heat
edly than ever. and seems likely to shake
public confidence in the army. Even the
Liberte, a strong anti-Dreyfus organ. says:
1t must cause the deepest pain to all hon
orable men that officers of such standing
show such a lack of moral sense"
1t is reported that at to-day's Cabinet
meeting the ministers admitted that a re
vision of the Dreyfus trial was absolutely
unavoidable, and public announcement
that the Ministry has decided to initiate
such revision is expected soon Another
report is that the minister for war has de
cIared that he intended to com
pei the resignation of the chief
of the general staff. General Bois-
deffre. and his subordinate, Gonz, because,
in two years personal investigation. they
had not succeeded in discovering the for
gerry and led successive war ministers to
pledge themselves to the genuineness of the
documents
The Temps this afternoon asserts that
the disclosures made to the ministers to-
day have decided the minister of war to
place Major Count Esterhazy on the retired
list Colonel Henry was attached to the
War Department when Dreyfus was con-
vcted. and he was one of the prominent
witnesses who testified unfavcrably to NJ.
Zola during the latters sensational trial on
the charpe of hhalina military Officials