The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-07
DREYFUS7 INNOCENCE
COMING TO LIGHT.
Snlcide of the Man who Forg-
ed Proof Of His Guilt.
CABINET FACING A CRISIS.

CABINET FACING a CRISIS.
Paris, August 81 Lieut.. Col
Henry. who had been arrested on the
discovery that he was the author OF
sn important letter that figured IN
the Dreyfus case, has committed
suicide
It appears that so soon as Nj.
Cavaignac assumed the Office of min
lister for war, be charged the Official
bureau to make q thorough research
into the Dreyfus case, and it was this
inquiry which resulted in the dis
covery of documents lately read in
the chamber of deputies by CavaIg-
pac, showing that proof of the guilt
of Dreyfus was forged. When Col.
Henry was summoned to the miuis-
try for war and questioned by NJ.
Cavaignac, in the presence of Gen.
Boisdeffre and. others, he at first al
frmed the authenticity of the incrim-
mating document. But when dis
crepancies were pointed out. he at
first admitted adding sentences and
finally confessed to fabricating the
whole letter. 1t is affirmed, bow
ever, that while this discovery has not
changed M. Cavaignac's belief in the
culpabillty of Dreyfus. the minister
is determined to pun:st al! the guilty
parties. no matter what their rank or
position may be.
Col. Henry confessed to having
committed forgery, "owiDg to the ab
solute necessity of obtaining proofs
against Dreyfus.' - 1t is understood
that the document in question is Che
letter which had hitherto been writ
ten by the German military attache
TO the Italian military astache in Oc-
tober, 1896.
It is also said that when the utter
oellation in The Dreyfus case was
coming up IN the chamber of depu-
ties, this letter was secretly commu-
nicated to the courtmartisi and was
the chief evidence upor which Drey-
fus was convicted The anti, Drey-
fas papers are dumbfounded at the
turn of events. while, on the other
hand, the papers which have been
supporting the proposition to reopen
the case. gre jubilant. They now de-
3 .ha ;mmediate release of Col.
Picouart, who is imprisoned on
charges connected indirectly with
the Dreyfus affair. and they also
insist upon a review of the Dreyfus
trial.
lis reported that at to-dsy's cabi.
net meeting the ministers admitted
that revision oil the Dreyfus trial was
absolutely unavoidable, and a public
announcement that the ministry has
decided to initiate such revision ls
lOp Gen LIE Mouten de
Boisdeffre, chief Of the general staff
Of the French army, has rendered LIS
resignation to the government. In
hia letter of resignation he explains
tsat he resigns owing to his mis-
nlaced confidence in Lieut.. Col Hen
~. which led him to present as geu'
nine what was forged evidence
NJ. Cavaignac. the minister of war;
in reply, asked Gen. de Boisdeffre tc
remain to "see justice rendered in
the matter"
Cen. de Boisdeffre thanked M
Cayaignac for proofs of his esteem.
but persisted in his resignation
He will be replaced. therefore. by
Cen Renouard, director of the mill
tafy college. Col. Henry was at
tacbed to the war department when
Dreyfus was convicted, and he was
one of the prominent witnesses VINO
testified unfavorab|y to NJ. Zo'a dur
ipe the latter's sensational trial o. on
the charge of libeling military ON
. cials. o,
courtmartial here has just sentenced
nr;vate soldier to three months I'M
nrisonment and 500 francs fine tor
shouting "Vlve Zola. !"
Col. Henry cut his throat with a
razor be had concealed in his va!'se
During the recent Zola trial Henry
accused Col. Picquart of falstylng
,el.orams. A duel followed. in
which Henry was wounded The
nert scene occurred in the chamber
of deputies, where Col. Picquart pro
,.:-ad tho letter forgery, and as a