The record-union., 1898-09-01
Evidence That Proof of the Prisoners
Guilt Was Forged.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry, the
suited in the Conviction Of
Arrest, Commits Suicide by CUT
ting His Throat With a Razor.

PARIS, Aug. 31.-The arrest Of Lieu
tenant Colonel Henry on the discovery
that he is the author of an important
letter which figured in the DreyfuS
case, was one of the most sensational
developments in the whole of this ex-
traordinary affair. Colonel Henry has
been throughout the champion of the
army against Colonel Piquart, with
whom he fought a duel. This new de-
Velopment appears to alter the aspect
of both the Dreyfus and Zola cases,
and to practically nullify the evidence
of Generals PellieuX and Boisdeffre
and the declarations of the Minister for
War, NJ. Cavignac, in the Chamber of
Deputies. In fact, many people be-
lleve that perhaps the real turning
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 Cavig-
nae assumed the office of Minister of
War he charged the official bureau to
make a thorough research of the Drey-
fus case, and it was this inquiry which
resulted in the discovery of documents
lately read in the Chamber of Deputies
by NJ. Cavignac, showing that proof of
the guilt of Dreyfus was forged.
When Colonel Henry was summoned
to the Ministry of War and questioned
by NJ. Cavgnac in the presence of Cen
eral Boisdeffre and others, he at first
affirmed the authenticity of the in
eliminating documents, but when dis
crepancies were pointed out he at flrst
admitted adding sentences, and finally
confessed to fabricating the whole let
ter. 1t is affirmed, however, that While
this discovery has not changed Nj. cav
ignac's belief in the culpability OF M
Dreyfus, the Minister is determined to
punish all the guilty parties, no mat
ter what their rank or position may be-
Colonel Henry confessed to having
committed forgery, owing to the abso-
lutte necessity for finding proofs against
Drevfus." 1t is understood that the
document in question is the letter
which hitherto has been alleged to have
been written by the German Military
Attache to the Italian Military Attache
in October 1896 1t is also said that
when the Interpolation in the DreytuS
case was coming in the Chamber OF
Deputies this letter was secretly com
municated to the court-martial and was
the chief evidence upon which Dreyfus
was convicted.
The anti-Dreyfus papers We're dunn.
founded at the arrest of the Colonel,
while on the other hand, the papers
which have been supporting the prop
osition to reopen the case are Jubilant
They now demand the immediate re-
lease of Colonel Piquart, who IS I'M
prisoned on charges connected indirect
" with the Dreyfus affair, and they also
insist upon a review of the Dreyfus
trial.
When Count EsterhaZy was informed
of the arrest of Colonel Henry and or
his admission. he exclaimed: This Is
too terrifying
Colonel Henry's confession threatens
70 rekindle the Dreyfus agitation more
heatedly than ever, and seems likely to
shake public confidence in the army.
Even the "Liberte," a strong anti
Dreyfus organ says ut must cause
the deepest pain TO all honorable 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
revision of the Dreyfus trial was alb
solutelv unavoidable, and = public an
nouncement that the Ministry has de-
cided to initiate a revision is expected
soon.