The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-16

cognizance of previous proceedings M
Guerin proceeded to repeat his evidence
as given before the Court Of Cessation,
saying that 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 that. III
consequence of inquiries made, suspicion
attached to Dreyfus. General Mercier,
the witness continued, added that he was
convinced Dreyfus was the culprit. He
said he founded his conviction on three
facts: First, the Bordereau, the author OF
which was undiseoverable until Colonel
! Fabre, on returning from the manoeuvres
Immediately after he saw the document,
exclaimed
why, it is Dreyfus' handwriting
Secondly, the nature of the documents
enumerated in bordereau, in conjunction
with Dreyfus employment in different de-
partments, proved conclusively. according
to General Mercier, that Dreyfus alone
had cognizance of all these papers and he
alone could have disclosed them
Thirdly, the dictation test and Dreyfus'
perturbation at tho time.
General Mereier, M. Guerin then said,
in consequence of these convictions, de-
clared his intention to ask the Cabinet to
authorize the prosecution of Dreyfus. A
special Cabinet met November !, 1894, to
consider the matter. The witness forgot
whether NJ. Casimir-Perier or NJ Dupuy
presided. General MERCER handed the
Cabinet nothing but the bordereau. After
the Minister of War had related his
reasons for his suspicious the Cabinet
unanimously authorized the prosecution
of Dreyfus. NJ Hanotaux alone made
some reserves or diplomatic objections,
based on the place where the document
was found. But it was agreed that in the
event of court-martialing Dreyfus meas
ures should be taken to prevent mention
day the witness had learned nothing
whatever Of the case. personally, as it
was in the hands of the military authori-
ties 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 existence of the
alleged secret documents during the >Zola
trial and only learned of the alleged con-
fession of Dreyfus to Captain Lebrun-
Renault from the newspapers. General
Mercier never mentioned the confession
to the Cabinet.
Colonel Jouaust then questioned the
witness, saying:-
M. Colbert, an expert, has declared you
summoned him to your office to give you
information about the Dreyfus affair.
Do you remember the occurrence? Did
he not Jay, on entering, pointing to the
clock
4" Monster le Ministre de Justice, I fear
lest at this hour grave mistake is being
commit cd
rs it not a fact that you did not re-
ply, but when M. Colbert was leaving,
recommended him to observe extreme
caution, as the government was desirous
of keeping the treason secret, dreading
particularly indiscretions upon the part
of the press, and, above all, upon the
part of the "Lfbre Parole" as the sus-
pected officer was Jew?1
NJ Guerin replied:-sI cannot affirm
whether or not received M. Colbert, but
what can affirm is that if he came L
did not employ the Language mentioned
and I made none Of the statements he
attributes to me.''
NJ Lebon, former Minister of the Col
onies, was then summoned to testify re-
garding the treatment of the prisoner.
He said that when the Cabinet was asked
to intervene in favor of revision he
thought the Executive should not inter-
fere with the Judiciary, and his respect
for the Chose Jugee was strengthened by
his personal opinion of the culpability Of
the condemned.
ION my soul and conscience" declared
T1I,x1~
the measures l took relative to the pris-
oner on the Isle du Diable as warranted,
and if had to repeat them 1 would not
hesitate"
NJ. Lebon then explained the reasons
for the rigorous measures against Drey-
fus- Hefsaid a certain telegram sent to
French Guiana disappeared 1t was
traced out Of France, but Immediately
reached the English lines it disappeared
showing, the witness said that efforts
We're being made to enable the prisoner
to evade the regulations. Rigorous. even
painful measures We're therefore taken to
prevent his escape. M. Lebon issued or
ders that, If necessary, the prisoner was
to be fired upon. (Sensation)
| Continuing. NJ. Lebon said he also is
sued orders that only copies of the let
ters addressed to the prisoner should be
delivered to him, the originals being re-
tanned. The witness was informed Aug
ust 10 that an American vessel passed the
lies du Salut and orders were then is
| sued that Dreyfus was to be shot on the
slightest alarm.
referring to the Weyler forgery. M.
Lebon said he frankly admitted that he
believed in its authenticity, as did Colonel
Picquart, until long after its production.
| M Lebon next referred to the numer-
Gus rough drafts the prisoner made of
his letters before finally despatching
them.
AT this point, M Demange interrupted
| the witness and said
Il passed from surprise to surprise.
Yesterday it was witness playing the
part of prosecutor. Today, one witness
defends himself by saying his conscience
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? 1 ask again, why you
allowed the forged Weyler letter. in
which a handwriting was indicated to
reach Dreyfus?"
To this M. Lebon replied:-
I'VE could not give up the original But,
| the Idea never occurred to any agents of
/ the administration to subject Dreyfus to
| the savage and atrocious treatment which
| has been sopken of -