The record-union., 1899-08-17

ceded to repeat his evidence as given
before the Court of Cessation, saying
at the end of October, after a Cabinet
Council, the Premier invited him to
his room, where General Mercier joined
them, and explained that for some time
past documents had been missing from
the headquarters staff, and in conse-
quence of inquiries suspicion attached
to Dreyfus.
General Mercier, the witness contin-
ued, added that he was convinced
Dreyfus was the culprit. He said he
founded his conviction on three facts:
The bordereau, the author of which
was undiscoverable until Colonel Fa-
bre, on returning from the maneuvers
Immediately as he saw the document,
exclaimed: why, it is Dreyfus' hand
writing" Secondly, the nature of the
documents enumerated in the border
eau, in conjunction with Dreyfus' en-
ployment in different departments,
proved conclusively, according to Gen
eral Mercier that Dreyfus alone had
cogniZance of all those papers, and he
alone could have disclosed them. Third
ly, the dictation test and Dreyfus' per-
turbation at the time.
General Mercier, NJ Guerin then said,
in consequence of these convictions, de-
clared his intention to ask the Cabinet
to authorize the prosecution of Drey-
fus A special Cabinet meeting was
held on November l, 1894, to consider
the matter The witness forgot whether
M CaSimir-P Perier or NJ. Dupuy preSId-
ed. General Mercier handed the Cab
met nothing but the bordereau. After
the Minister of War had related his
reasons for his suspicious the Cabinet
unanimously authorized the prosecu-
ton of Dreyfus.
NJ Hanotaux alone made some reser-
vations or diplomatic objections, based
on the place where the document was
found, but it was agreed that in the
event Of court -martialing Dreyfus,
measures should be taken to prevent
the mention of any Power
From that day on the witness had
learned nothing of the case personally,
as it was in the hands of the military
authorities NJ. Guerin at that time had
never heard of the secret documents,
and none was ever communicated to
the Cabinet He only learned of the ex
during the Zola trial and only learned
of the alleged confession of Dreyfus to
Captain Lebrun-Renault from the
newspapers. General Mercier never
mentioned the confession to him.
Colonel Jouaust then questioned the
witness, saying: IN. Colbert, an ex-
pert, has declared you summoned him
TO your office to give you information
about the Dreyfus affair. Do you re-
member the occurrence?
Did he not say on entering, pointing
70 the clock: Monsieur lie Minister de
Justice, fear lest at this hour a grave
mistake is being committed Is it not
a fact that you did not reply, but when
NJ Colbert was leaving recommended
him TO observe extreme caution, as the
Government was desirous of keeping
the treason secret dreadfng indiscre-
stion on the part of the press, and,
above all, upon the part of 'Libre
Parole as the suspected officer was
Jew?"
NJ. Guerin replied: "I cannot affirm
whether or not I received NJ Colbert.
but what I can affirm is that if he came
I did not employ the language men
toned, and made none of the state
ments he attributed to me-"
NJ. Lebon, former Minister of the
Colonies, was then summoned to testify
regarding his treatment of the pris-
oner He said that when the Cabinet
was asked to intervene in favor of
a revision he thought the executive
should not interfere with the judiciary,
and his respect for the chosen Judge
was strengthened by his personal opin-
ion of the culpability of the condemned.
ION my soul and conscience" de-
clared NJ. Lebon, Il say / regard the
measures l took relative to the pris-
oner on the lie du Diable as warranted,
and if I had to repeat them I would
not hesitate"
NJ. Lebon then explained the reasons
for the rigorous measures against
Dreyfus. He said that a certain tele
gram sent to French Guiana disap-
peared. 1t was traced out of France,
but if it reached the English lines it
disappeared, showing, the witness said,
that efforts were being made to enable
the prisoner to evade the regulations.
Rigorous, even painful, measures
We're therefore taken to prevent his es
cape. NJ. Lebon therefore issued orders
that, if necessary, the prisoner was to
be fired upon. (Sensation.)
Continuing, NJ. Lebon said he also
issued orders that only copies of the
letters addressed to the prisoner should
be delivered to him, the originals be-
ing retained The witness was informed
August 10th that an American vessel
passed the lies du Salut. and orders
were then issued that Dreyfus was to
be shot on the slightest alarm.
Referring to the Weyler forgery,
which was intended to convey the i'm
preston that Dreyfus was in communi-
cation with outside sympathizers, M.
Lebon said he frankly admitted that he
believed in its authenticity, as did Colo
mel Picquart, until long after its pro-
duction.
NJ. Lebon next referred TO the numer-
Gus rough drafts the prisoner made of
his letters before finally dispatching
them.
At this point NJ Demange interrupted
the witness and said:
Il pass from surprise to surprise.
Yesterday it was a witness playing the
part of prosecutor. To-day one wit
ness defends himself by saying his con-
science is tranquil. He is welcome to a
tranquil conscience. But ask him if he
finds it surprising that this man alone
out there on a lost island should have
poured out his soul on paper? / ask
again why you allowed the forged writ
ten letters in which the handwriting
was initiated to reach Dreyfus?"
To this NJ. Lebon replied:
I'VE could not give up the original
Pnt the idea never occurred to anu