The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-31

fus declared that when he was at the
Military School on the day Of his degra-
dation. Captain Lebrun- Renault did not
| leave him.
/ 1T is possible continued the prisoner,
shat Capain Battel entered the guard
room. But SO far as l can assert after a
five years interval, no other Office but
Captain Lebrun-Renault entered the room
| in which was''
| Replying to Colonel Jouaust. Captain
Lebrun-Renault reiterated that Captain
Dattel entered the room and remained
there five minutes.
| Dreyfus. replying said that in any case
he certainly did not speak to Captain
| DatteI He added that he had already
explained to the Court that the words
| actually used on that occasion referred
| to the steps taken in rekard to him, the
| prisoner. by Colonel Du Patty de Clam, to
| whom he had expressed desire that
full light should be thrown upon his
case.
ALLOW, me- continued Dreyfus. ito
express the emotion and surprise feel
today-atfer five years, when see wit
ness, who, hearing such words, beginning
with protests of innocence. reported them
to his chiefs without asking the most
concerned person for an explanation OF
them. These are proceedings in the face
of which all honest people can only ex-
press Indignation. Great sensaccrl-)
Captain Anthoine. who was present at
the degradation of Dreyfus. was the next
witness. He testified that on leaving the
parade ground he met Captain Battel.
who informed him that Dreyfus had made
remarks in his presence. the meaning or
which to his mind, clearly, was:--Flrst.
formal confession that he had delivered
documents; second, an allegation that the
documents were unimportant third, that
the prisoners object was to obtain more
important documents in exchange.
Replying to Captain Anthoine, the pris-
oner said he had only one observation to
make, that he maintained positively that
he only spoke to Captain Lebrun- n-Renault
and that he had nothing to add to his
reply to the latter.
Captain Lebrun- Renault, recalled, ad-
nitted Captain Dattel did not speak to
the prisoner But, he added. as Dattel
was in the room, which was very small,
he certainly heard the words uttered by
Dreyfus.
NJ. Labori-"What Is very certain is
that Captain Dattel made no report of
the incident to his chiefs.
General Mercier-" Mo-
Lieutenant Colonel Guerin, whom Gem
eral Saussier ordered to attend the degra-
dation and report upon it, was next .ex-
amined. Ire said:-
.'At about 7:45 / saw the prison van ar
rive, Dreyfus alighted and was taken to
the Office where he was guarded by Cap
tain Lebrun- Renault. whose name did
not know at that time. At $50 the adju-
tant Of the garrison relieved Captain Lee
-Renault. with four military men and
corporal composing the guard which
was to coduct the prisoner to the place OF
degradation At that moment ! was at
the door Of the building.
Captain Lebrun- Renault, when relieved
from ~ me and ediateiy pe-
gan to relate what Dreyfus had said.
The three statements which struck him,
because Of their Importance, remained SO
craven in my memory that could never
forget Them. namely. first, the prisoners
pride in the facing he had lost second,
his confession that he had delivered docu-
ments to foreign power; third, that in
three years justice would be done him.
"A group Of officers were standing near.
and as Captain Lebrun- Renault conversa-
ton was not confidential and the state
ment he had made me was Of great inn
portance and interest to US, T begged him
to repeat to the officers what he had
just told me-
Il must add that Captain Dattel had
been ordered to superintend matters, and
his special duty required him to report
everything which occurred In the office
OF the Addutant While Dreyfus was
there. and until Dreyfus was conducted
to the place of degradation. Through-
out the ceremony the prisoner walked
automatically Afterwards, when he was
conducted to the prison van, stood. IN
company with some officers, in the pas
sage Dreyfus traversed and Dreyfus, adj
dressing the officers, repeated that in
three years justice would be done to him.
He then entered the van aud disappeared.
After the ceremony, verbally reported
to General Saussier the incident OF the
morning, particularly the statements
made by Dreyfuz to Captain Lebrun-
Renault
During the day Captain Dattel also
told M. Wunenberger, archivist of the
Paris Headquarters, tha Dreyfus had
confessed"
NJ. Demange- How do you reconcile his |
protests of innocence with his alleged
confessions n
Colonel Guerin-' That is not my busi-
ness"
NJ. Demange-s you reported the CON
fession to General Saussier2
Colonel Guerin-s Certainly"
NJ Demange- WAS 1t suggested that
steps be taken to verify the alleged con-
fession?"
Colonel Guerin-'I do not recollect"
M. Demange-"S So there was not at
tempt to interrogate Dreyfus in regard to
the alleged cenfession2'
Colonel Guerin The case had passed
out of the hands Of the military authori- /
ties. the prisoner having been handed /
over to the civil authorities
Dreyfus. when the usual question was /
put to him, said he had nothing to add T
TO the reply he had made to Captain Le- I
brun- Renault. +
One of the Judges asked the witness I
whether M Well, when attached to the
Army Headquarters, had relations with
Esterhazy. to which Colonel Guerin re-
Piled that he believed M. Well had known
Esterhazy for long time.
The Judge--@Do you think Esterhazy
knew the Drisoner2'
Colonel Guerin-@I do not know.
Major De Mitry Of the Hnssars fesff- l.