The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-01
The Letter Which Convicted Dreyfus
Was a Fabrication.
WILL REVIEW DREYFUS' TRIAL
Tho Occurrence Relegatcs the Cars
Suspension OF Several stan
Officers Is Demandcd--The
Sensation Has Thrilled
Paris.

PARIS. August 3i.-Licutenant-Co
Henri VINO had been arrested on the dis
covery that he was the author of an inn
portanl letter that figured in the Dreyfus
case has committed suicide.
It appears that as soon as ". Cavaig-
nae assumed tho office OF minister Tor
war he charged the official bureau to
make a thorough research OF ,he Dreyfus
ease and it was this inquiry which re-
suited ia the discovery OF documents
lately read i'm the chamber of deputies
by VI. Cavaisnac. showing that proof
of the guilt of Dreyfus was forged
When Colonel Henri was summoned 10
the minister for war and questioned by
~ Cavaignac 90 the presence OF General
BOisdenre and others he az first affirmed
the authenticity of the incriminaiins doc
ument. but when discrepancies were
pointed out DE at first admitted adding
sentences. and finally confessed to fab
ricating the whole letter.
TO PUNISH ALL
It Is affirmed. however. that while this
discovery has not changed NJ. Cavaig-
macs belief On culpabiiity of Dreyfus. the
minister is determined 20 punish all the
guilty parties u0 matter what their rank
or position may Doe.
Colonel Ileuri confessed 10 having
committed forgery lowing 20 the abso-
lutte necessity for finding proofs against
Droyfus.'
IL is understood that the document IN
question is the letter which has hitherto
been alleged 90 have been written by the
| German military attache To- the Italian
military attache in Oclber 1896.
10 is also said that when the interpella-
| tion I'm the Dreylus case was coming up
in The Chamber OF Deputies this letter
was secretly communicated 20 the court
martial and was the chief evidence upon
| which Dreyfus was convicted. The anti
| Dreyfus papers are dumbfOunded al tho
| turn OF events. while ON the other hand,
! the papers which have been supporting
| the proposition 10 reopen the case are
! jubilant They now demand the imme-
diatc release Of colonel Picquart. who IS
| imprisoned ON charges connected indi-
| Tecty with the Droylus affair and they
| also insist upon a royiew OF the Drcyfus
| trial
WILL REVISE THE TRIAL.
| To is reported that at tO-day's Cabinet
| meeting the ministers admitted that q
| revision of the Droyfus trial was abso-
| utcly unavoidable and q public announce
/
| initiate such "a revision Is expected soon.
l0 =. M-Goneral Lemouton DE Bois-
! delfre. chief of the general stan of the
! French army, has rendered his resignu-
/ ti0n 90 the government General De
| Boisdenre I'm his letter OF resignation,
| explains that he resigns owing 90 his
| misplaced confidence in Licutenant-Col-
! onel Henri. which led him 90 present as
/ genuine what was forged evidence.
] II flr1fuurr .Ne Minister of War. In
| reply asked General DE Boisdeffre 10 re-
| main 90 "seo Justice rendered I'm the
! matter"
General De Bolsdcnre thanked NJ
| Cavaignac for proofs OF his esteem. but
| persisted in his resignation lie will Dee
replaced therefore, hy General Renouard,
/ director of the military college.
Colonel Henri was attached t0 the War
| Department when Dreyfus was convict
! ed and Doe Was ono OF The prominent Wit
! nosses who testified unfavoraby 10 VI.
| Z0ia. during the latter's sensational triai
/ ON the charge of libelling military Ofi-
/ ci4ls.
WITH A RAZOR
Northumberland Henri cut hts throat
with n razor be- had concealed I'm his
| yaIise.
! During the recent Zola trial Henri ac-
| cused colonel picQuart ~ fnlsifying tele-
| grams 4 duel followed I'm which Henri
/ was wounded. THE next scene occurred
/ in the Chamber OF Deputies, where Colo
/ mel picQuart proclaimed tine letter a forg-
/ cry. and as result was arrested. while
| Henrls yiiiainy was rewarded by his
! being appointed Colonel Picquarts suc-
cessor in the Intelligence Department.
/ 10 is now evident that Henri forged the
! letter with the express object Of paralyz-
| ing Colonel picquarts efforts 90 expose
| Major Estorhazy and 90 get revision on
the Drevfus case. The letter was written
| in bad French. "a fact which first led II
20 be regarded as spurious.
IT IS said that n the Cabinet decides
upon revision of the Dreyfus case. Mr..
Cavagnac, Minister for War; will re-
sign. .
4 PAINFUL SCENE.
| The scene OF Iieutcnant-COlonel Henri 3
! avowal was most painful. When ne sa"
IL was almost useless 20 deny turtner'
his tongue grew TOO thick for MS moulh'
and he was unable 10 speak. IL was fear
| ed that he would have an apoplecnc
stroke After his arrest he was permitted
| to visit his wife while on the way 10 the
| Fortress az Mont Valerien.
| The officer ACCOMMODATING him was un-
| dor orders not 20 lose sight OF him Tor
| moment. and. therefore. he could not
See his wife alone. All three proceeded
10 his bedroom 20 get the necessary
] clothing Henri LnfM 'laT'''+ 't' 50
bis orms and exclaimed. MY conscience
IS pure. and free from every sting
This exclamation Is much commented
| upon. as going to show that he may pos
| sibiv have forged the letter under orders
| from his superior
! Lieutenant Colonel Henri was peas
] ants son. lie was born on Pouzy In
! Marne. IN 1878. and enlisted In 1907
| regiment as his brothers substitute In
1853. he had a good military record for
, bravery. and inexorable discipline. He
was prisoner Of war in 1870, and was
wounded in the Algerian campaign. lie
| retained much OF the rough and ready
manners OF a non-commissioned officer.
[ lie was lacking in education spoke no
| foreign language and owed his promo
ton primarily 20 his reputation for blunt
! straightforwardness.
CABINET MEETS
The Cabinet has held meeting under
the presidency OF NJ. Faure. IL hnaily
rose between six and seven o'clock, hay
| inc 4nnyrautIv failed 10 arrive ~ a de-