The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-01
SOUGHT
RELIEF
In TEARS.
Dreyfus Experienced the Most
Trying Day he has Been Conn
PEELED to go Through.
SCENE OF HIS DEGRADATION
Recalled by Witness Story of
His Struggle With Suicidal
Temptation.

RENNEs. August s1.-Dreyfus had
the most trying day he has yet gone
through. The strain proved too great
for him, and for the second time in
The course OF the trial he gave why to
his feelings. aud sought relief In tears
The generals have branded him as
traitor before the court, their subordi-
pates have pointed the finger OF scorn
Mt him, but he only once flInched-when
the official report of his treatment on
DEVILS Island was read before him, and
The picture OF his sufferlngs, mem
tai and physical. was thrown vlvldly on
the screen of his memory. Then he
hid his features and wept.
He passed through another such cri-
sis to, day, when, after Captain Lebrun-
Renault and witness after witness had
brought up before him again that cold
January morning which ushered In the
scene Of his degradation, Major Forsen-
iui, q man OF heart, told In slmple
words and unaffected manner, the story
OF Dreyfus' struggle with the madden
ing temptation to take his life. and the
intervention Of his wife, as an angel.
pointing out the road Of duty. Then
again the prisoners breast heaved with
emotion and tears trickled down his
cheeks. He rose, and after a forced
effort to remain calm, US he spoke a
few words concerning his denial to
Colonel Du Patty de Clam that he wrote
the bordereau. he turned to Forsenettl
with q look of thanks for his consola-
tiOn so needed. Dreyfus then uttered
these words OF heartfelt gratitude to
his wife for the courage with which she
inspired him:
Tribute to His Wife.
ut is due to her." he cried, "that
am alive to-day"
The prisoner could artIcuiate no
more, but sat down abruptly to conceal
his distress
The proceedings concluded a few min
utes later, md nc was taken back to
his prison. where his wife visited him.
und, in the presence OF Nine. Dreyfus
and the gendarrne on guard. he broke
down completely. The tension had
been too much for him. He sobbed
convulsively, and the partner OF his
sorrows Joined him in a solace Of tenrs.
Captain Lebrun- Rennult and the sup
porters Of his assertion Of the Dreyfus
confession had an inning lasting nearly
the entire session. Their deposition con-
taincd little but what has already
been stated before the court Of casa
tIon.
Captain Lehrun-Renault introduced
the new assertion that the fact that he
had not related the Incident of the con-
fessIon to President CaslmIr-Perler was
because he overheard himself called
''canallle," eur" and traitor" while
waiting at the Lycec. He, however
could not explain why he had kept this
TO himseif for so long n time instead
OF recountlug the Incident before the
court OF cessation. Nor did his ex-
planatIon as to why he destroyed the
page OF his note book containing the
record OF Dreyfus' confession sound
very convincing.
A Significant Question.
The other witnesses were a repetition
Of Captain Lcbrun- Renault. But n
Very significant question was put to
Colonel Guerin by a member OF the
court, Lieut.. Col. Brongnairt. who sits
at Colonel Jouausts right and always
puts pointed questions. He has thor
oughly studied the Dreyfus case. and
IS rcputed to be one of the best author
tiles on the case It Is certain that
Colonel Jouaust cousults him frequent
Iy during the proceedings BrongnIart
IL said TO be n rabId anti-Dreyfusard,
and he to-day, in n quiet tone. asked
Colonel Gueriu II he thought NJ. Well,
who IS friend Of Esterhazy, also knew
Dreyfns The latter nt once arose and
declared he had never before heard Of
Well.
The point OF this question was that
EsteThazy has written to Colonel
Jonans' as announced, and hns un-
uoHhtedly mentioned Well as n go-be-
tween for Drcyfus. This is the per-
son referred to In Yesterdays dispatch
us w. a mistake for wv" IF rela-
lions can be proved between Drcyfus
and We'll, and Esterhazy eImlts OBJ
taInlng reasonable Information from
Wcil' then he could assume Drcyfus
was traitor.
Possible Change Of Tactics.
The generals, II sufficient evidence Of
DFeytus-Wcil-Estcrhpzy connection
can be prouced. can abandon the con-
'A''on that Dreyfus wrote the borde-
iran' and admIt Esterhazy is the nu-
Nor Of 1t. This Is porsIbly the change
NJ tactics on the part Of the generals.
winch has been hinted at recently.
j. "aH reported this Afternoon that
Generals Merclor. Roget and Gonsc
"nd NJ. cnyaIgnac, who are staying
'lle'Iy nt the house Of u friend, some
in"ea outside llenncs. met to-day nt
u'H'Fnl McrcIer's house, and discussed
Nv evidence Colonel schwarzkoppen's
h'''ekoepcr. Nine, Badtlan, could give
" aAo was subjected 10 II severe cross
examination, with the result that It
was decided her evidence was not con