Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-08
Letter Avowing Innocence to
Du Patty De Clam Was
Written in 1895.
QUESTION CLEARED UP.
Prisoner ut DEVILS Island Reminds
Colonel of HIS Promise to Sock
Favorable Evidence and
Warn Him.

uuce QueSnay ue Beaurepalre S collec-
ton of documents has practically con-
WINGED even his enemies that Dreyfus
made no avowals of guilt, but an inter
esting letter from the prisoner to Du
Patty de Clam shows how foreign to
him was any idea of avowing guilt. In
1895 from DEVILS Island Dreyfus wrote
to Du Patty:
after my condemnation you came
and found me; you were delegated by
the minister of war. i declared to you
again that I was innocent and that I
had never written the letter reputed
to me.
You then promised in the name of
the minister to undertake researches,
and in addition you promised me in
your own name to warn me if any fact
was revealed which could bring any
doubt as to my culpability. The word
given is sacred for soldier, and,
strong in my innocence, l awaited the
result of your promises
This letter is in Dreyfus' own hand
writing and gives final and over
whelming proof that he never made
any avowals. 1t settles one OF the
most difficult questions in the case.
A wave of disappointment has
swept over the persons interested in
the Dreyfns case upon the announce
ment that the secret dossier will form
the commencement of the trial, and the
discussion of which only Dreyfus. his
lawyers, and the council of war will be
allowed to hear. 1t is believed the
study of the documents will last some
days, and practically postpone the pub
lie triad at least a week, although the
witnesses and the public audience will
be present in the large hall while
the dossier is revealed in an adjoining
room.
General Chanoine is Entrusted by the
minister of war with the charge of the
ultra-secret dossier. which, as already
tcabled, ranks third in importance as
proof of Dreyfus' culpablity, and
is composed mainly of a mass of forge
ries.
1t is reported that Carriere will
make no definite personal conclusions
in the Dreyfus' case, but limits himself
to citing everything, both favorable
and unfavorable, to Dreyfus, and leaves
the conclusions to be drawn by the mil
itary court. The latter is inclined not
to give a definite, Judgment, but in
stead to order a new inquiry, which
would take all the responsibility OIL
their shoulders, but leave the Dreyfus
case exactly where it is today. thing
that could only be regarded as u public
calamity.
MERCER is growing savagely menace
ing upon the approach of the trial,
and repeats that Dreyfus will be sure
ly condemned again. He says:
In This affair there is surely culpa-
BILE one. This culnable person is either
Dreyfus or myself. As it is not l, it is
Dreyfus.
Secretly CIR publicly | will speak
and tell all.
'Dreyfus is traitor and l will prove
it,"
Mercier's opinion has great signifi-
denim either Dreyfus or MERCER. Will
the military judges have the courage
to condemn MERCER? The military
careers of the Rennes Judges may be
considered as hcpelesslv compromised,
as whichever way they decide they will
be blamed. If they decide against
Dreyfus they defy the government, and
if they decide for the prisoner they will
be under the ban in army circles. The
Figaro says that if MERCER. under oath,
in the Dreyfus trial atfirms that Count
von Munster told him that Dreyfus
was guilty, but said he would deny the
fact if publicity were given it, it will
be the act of a coward.
The UNDERGRADUATES are rejoicing
at an attempt on the part of certain
Dreyfus synipathizers to bride some
important Witnesses. NJ. Hennion, the
director of surety, saws the alleged at
tempt is purely personal affair on the
part of the briber.