The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-06-08
THE DREYFUS CASE.

nation and stain upon the reputation
of President Faure which is ineradicable.
A corrupt President "A weak war depart
ment. gang of conspirators and strong
anti-simetic feeling among the aristoc-
racy combined resulted in "a form of exile
for an innocent man which causes shud-
der because Of its diabolical character.
The CHEZ oonspirators in this infamous
plot are Con nandant du Patty de Clam,
Eanrv and Esterhazy The latter is the
person guilty of the offense for which
Dreyfus was condemned He escaped
from France and when his guilt was
clearly established brazenly confessed
his treason and acknowledged the part
he took in fastening the crime upon an
innocent man
1t seems hardly possible that i'll the
18th century condemnation should fol-
low upon such.testimony as was adduc-
ed against Dreyfus. 1t was practically
men to dungeons for life without the
form of a trial
In 1894 "a secret agent of the French
War Department purloined "a letter from
the German embassy. This was the cele-
brated bordereau. This was memoir
andum of documents which the author
had sent to Colonel Won Schwarzkoppen,
q Prussian officer These documents were
military secrets a knowledge of which
was of great value to any country on I'M
friendly terms with France The borde-
reau was turned over TO du Patty de Clam
who was reputed to be IN expert in de-
tecting handwriting. After an exam
nation he affirmed that the letter, which
was unsigned. was the handwriting
Captain Alfred Dreyfus, "A Jewish officer
ON the general staff. Col Sandherr the
chief of the bureau of information APP
proved du Paty's conclusions. An ex-
pert of the Bank of France decided the
bordereau was not in the handwriting
of Dreyfus, but his report was ignored
On Patty de Clam was appointed by the
minister of war to hold private exam
ination, but Dreyfus was foredoomed a.
the superintendent of the prison was or
dered to have cell in readiness.
Dreyfus was sent for. DuPaty dlotat
ed letter similar to the bordereau and
accused Dreyfus of trembling while writ
ing and set this down as proof of his
guilt. A search of Dreyfus's house was
made and nothing of an discriminating
character being found the conclusion
was reached that everything of "a com
promising nature was destroyed, SO that
the absence of proof was regarded us
proof concealed On one occasion du
Patty asked Dreyfus question and no
ticing that Dreyfus moved his foot when
the question was asked, this involuntary
movement was deemed conclusive of his
guilt Dreyfus was confined in cell
ignorant of the charge against him
Here he was grossly insulted by du Patty |
This is the same cell in which du Patty
is now confined. The Minister of War
hesitated to condemn Dreyfus on such |
absurd findings and then Commandant |
Henry appeared on the scene The pro
ceetlngs up to this time We're secret.
Henry had published in "A leading paper
the arrest Of Dryfus on charge of re-
yealing military secrets The anri-semi-
tic feeling demanded no proof. 1t was
sufficient that Dreyfus was Jew. The
minister yielded to popular clamor.
The trial of Dreyfus was worse than a
fare, IS the accused had no opportunity
for defense and secret and forged docu
ments were admitted and influenced the
decision He was degraded and condemn
ed to exile in Devils Island off the coast
of French Guiana in South America.
The manner of his confinement was the
refinement of cruelty.
There was one French officer, Colonel
Picquart whose conduct is i'll striking
contrast with that of those who bounded
Dreyfus. He discovered by the seizure
of telegram from Schwarzkoppen that
Esterhazy was the author of the borde-
reau He7had been in the pay of the Ger
man attache since 1892. He denounced |
Esterhazy but the French officials would |
pay no heed to the proofs he produced, |
and employed every means in their pow
Ell TO convince the public mind that |
Dreyfus was properly condemned. They |
induced the Minister of War TO dismiss |
Colonel Picquart Then du Patty and !
Henry sought to crush Picquart by forg-
ing kilograms which they sent TO him i'll
the name of some of his friends and had
these kilograms seized by government
officials On their face they acknowledge
ed plot in which Picquart was leader.
Some of the papers published the details
of the private examination which result
ed in the condemnation of Dreyfus and
ba fn,paI documents