The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-09
NJ. DEMANGE's ADDRESS.
The Lawyer Reviews the Case I'm a
C0nciliatory Manner.

COnciliatory Manner.
RENNES, Sept. S.-Amid intense silence
| and holding the keenest attention from the
audience, Maitre Demange. shortly after
the opening of the proceedings OF the Drey-
fus court-martial to-day. arose TO make the
speech for the deferse. His opening re-
marks seemed TO meet with approval.
However solemn the occasion may be-"
he declared, II must at the outset protest
with all my soul against the allegation
which one Of the witnesses did not shrink
from uttering. This witness did not hest
tate to declare that whoever advocates the
revision OF this case-that is to say, who
ever believed in the innocence of Dreyfus-
was working ar inst the army and against
the country. I here declare that he does not
know me and that he does not know Maitre
Labor. Neither M. Labori ror myself
would be here IL these statements were
true. Let me tell you simply this:
THE day on which, amid the shock of
furious political passions. I saw let loose
over our country this tempest of madness,
when I saw everything 1 had learned TO
revere and love since childhood imperiled,
j, Frenchman, the son of soldier, en-
dured every torture When turn my eyes
toward Devils island. where was buried
alive one who. from the bottom of my heart
believed to be martyr, began TO won
der IL divine justice had not abandoned
him. Since then 1 have recovered. have
hearkened to the voice of my conscience.
and have pursued an undertaking course,
free from anger passion. not needing
hatred Or prejudice. have done my duty.
You will do yours. which Is to mete out
justice"
Continuing. M. Demange said he wished
to clearly define the prisoners position,
saying: When the case of the revision
began Dreyfus was a convict, and serious
assumptions Of his innocence were neces-
sary before the case could be taken up by
the Court of Cessation. To-day it is for
the public prosecutor to prove his guilt
Let no one blame us, therefore, If we have
not proved the innocence of our client. The
task was not incumbent upon us. 1t is for
the government commissioner to show he
is guilty Of the abominable crime imputed
to him..
NJ. Demange then protested against the
suggestion that it had been attempted to
put Esterhazy on trial, explaining that all
the defense desired was that the innocence
OF Dreyfus should appear. dazzling and
complete and that the court-martial
should proclaim It. Counsel was satisfied
that the judges Of 1894 were honest, like the
present judges. But il the former had
seen Esterhazy's handwriting they would
have pronounced different verdict
Counsel then entered into details dealing
with the information collected regarding the
prisoner In 1894 He said: 1.-The only real
Information Is that found I'm the cries from
his soul. Even before his conviction what
was his first cry? 4 will not take my life.
because i am innocent
DREYFUS'S LETTERS.
NJ Demange dilated on the prisoners in
creasing protestations of innocence and his
touching letters to his family, exclaiming:
In them you see his soul, which speaks.
Alone In his tomb. he communes with him
self. He cherishes the hope OF seeing his
| innocence acknowledged"
Among the letters OF Dreyfus read by
NJ. Demange was one in which, after assert
ing his innocence and declaring he always
served the tri-color with devotion and honor,
| the prisoner complained that he was treated
on Devils island like an ordinary convict.
1t concludes with the words: IT wish to
live"
THAT Is a soldiers SOUL" exclaimed NJ
Demange. land 1t is that man you call a
traitor. 1t is that man, who in your pres
ence. restraints his sobs and emotions. All,
gentlemen. I would rather defend guilty
men who are clever dissemblers than an
innocent man who is too sincere
Other letters Of the prisoner were read,
all breathing the same desire to live to see
his honor disclosed. though the writer was
broken down in health and spirit One let
ter. written in 1897, appeals to General De
Boisdeffre to lend his generous aid In secur-
Ing the writer's restoration to the liberty
OF which he had been robbed.
Writing to his brother, the prisoner said:
While one or more scoundrels are walking
free. 1t would be happy release for me to
die. but 1t would be a disgrace to Lucille
and my children" In this letter the writer
urged his brother to find the culprits, while
carefully protecting the interests of the
country.
rs not that the cry of an innocent man?"
| asked M. Demange. adding: yet. though
General De Boisdeffre received the letter he
did not forward 1t to Matthew Dreyfus
Five ministers OF war" said NJ. Demange.
pronounced Dreyfus guilty. while admitting
IL was impossible to produce proofs General
De Boisdeffre. General Gonse and General
Roget also affirmed their belief in his guilt.
But. happily. they stated reasons and in
stead OF proofs only accumulated presump-
tons"
After pointing out that the generals only
studied the case at the very moment when
public alteration had reduced the whole
question TO conflict between Dreyfus and
the army. thus making il impossible that the
generals should not be prejudiced. and prob
abilities and Prescriptions seemed to them
TO be proofs. NJ. Demange said. 'I must
acknowledge. however. the honesty and hon.
orable conduct of the generals. who could
rot hare acted otherwise than they have
DONE" Counsel then paid an eloquent trib-
rte TO 1.-THE honesty OF purpose" manifested
| by the generals.
THE ALLEGED CONFESSIONS.
Dealing next with the confessions, counsel
read the report OF Captain Lebrun- Renault.
OF the Republican Guard. who had the pris-
oner in custody previous 10 his degradation
and maintained that the exact words OF
Dreyfus. which were now known, only re-
fected ideas Colonel Du Patty de Clam had
previously expressed TO the prisoner. adding
that. although Du Patty de Clam
maintained the certainty. Imagination
had played a much greater part than
reason In the acts Of Du Patty de
Clam IL was also significant that the
Continued on second Pase)