The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-22

worse than this. he was compelled to
live i'll huge iron cage that it cost S12,-
ooo to build. SO fearful was the govern
ment that he might escape. There he
lived Il life of horrible suffering. Ills
guards were not permitted to speak to
him.
but there was some sympathy for the
lonely prisoner on DcvirS island. There
were people who did not believe him
guilty, md among them many thinking
Frcnch'LCn.
There were sporadic efforts made in
his behalf during 1890 aud 1S0G. but
they came to nothing. The army officers
and others constantly kept alive the anti
Semitic feeling. which has grown stron-
ger and stronger each year in France.
Now and then the government was qucS-
toned, hut the inuuircrs wcrc silrnccd.
over and over again it waS declared that
the government had in its possession cv-
idcncc which proved Drcyfus guilt be-
yond all question.
Du Patty dc Clam waS promoted to Il
majOrShip. tulumrl pirluurt WAS placed
IN charge OF the secret service depart.
mrnt. And this was an important event
for Drey!u$. for Colonel i'iruuart is Il
fair man and an honest nnr who believes
that truth and Justice cone hrfnrc the
honor of the army and his own free
dom.
1t came ont that Emperor William OF
Germany had writtrn 10 !"eSi,lrnt Cash
mir-pcricr ut the time of DrcyfuS' trial
giving his word OF honor as II man that
Drryius had not betrayed Franco to the
Grrman government and adding that he
would if necessary ;;ivr his word us an
emperor with all It's consequences" 1t
trnnSpirCh that the Italian ambassador
had made IL similar denial. Both he and
the German ambassador were compelled
to leave Paris because of the attacks
upon them made by the Paris ncwsDa-
pcrS.
October, 1888, saw the beginning Of
the real fight for the condemned man on
Devils island. SO far rs public knOwl-
edge goes, ii WAS opcnc'i by NJ. Schcu-
rer-KcSinrr. Ills mere aLTocucy OF the
condemned captains innocence meant
much. NJ. SchrurerK Kcstncr wrote Il let
ter to the minister for war. presenting
documents proving Drcyfus' innocc zee
and asking that his case he rcopcI cd.
lie declared that the minister for war
promised 10 lOol; into the matter and
make reply within two weeks. Moth
ing was done. and he sent letter to the
newspapers telling about it.
lhc senator also sent y letter to Gen
crnl Billot declaring that Il rich and well
known officer, prominent in society, had
been requested to resign in consequence
Of the continued leaking OF military So
crcts after nrryfua' deportation. NJ.
Schcurcr- Is esther declared that this per-
son was the author OF the bordcrcau.
This letter made Il stir in Paris, II
drew Major Fstcrhazy into the case. In
fact, he denounced NJ. Schcurcr- Kcstncr
and denied the charge. Further, he de-
ciarcd that he had gained additional
proofs of DrcyfuS' guilt, which, he said
were placed in his hand by "a yelled
lady"
Captain Drcyfus' brother published n
direct accusation that Major EsterhaZy
was the author of the hordereNu. And
thcrG came TO light many curious letters
among them one in which IstcrhaZy OK
pressed the httcrrSt hatred for the Jews
and said he would like to slay all Of them
he coulA. There were also letters attack
ing Nrancc. Major Estcrhazy's hand
writing bears q strong resemblance to
that upon which Drcyfus was convicted.
Accusations against Estcrhazy grew so
many that he WAS compelled to request a
court martial. lie was placed on the re-
tired list few months before the court
MARTIAL although he was perfectly well.
EstcrhuZy was. Of course, acquitted by
the court martial. Matthew Drcyfus, q
brother Of Captain Drcyfus, was the
principal accuscr Major Henry was the
principal wi,n"', for the dcfchsc, and lie
vas @nnportrd also by Du Patty dc Clam
Ihe attempt to open the Drcyfus case
failed, but the evidence which Senator
Scheurcr- Ksstncr presented to General
l}illot, the minister Of war, was still in
the possession OF the accused mans
friends.
The strangely dramatic affair Of nrcy-
fus was destined to soon break out again.