The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-17

ne also issued orders that only cople
OF the letters addressed to the prisone
should be delivered to him, the original
being retained. The witness was in
FORMED Aug. 10 that an American vesse
passed the lies du Salut and order
were then issued that Dreyfus be sho
on the slightest alarm
Referring to the Weyler forgery
Which was intended to convey the i'm
preston that Dreyfus was in commu
nication with outside sympathizers, M
Lebon said he frankly admitted that h
believed in its authenticity, as did Col
Picquart, until long after its produc
ton. NJ. Lebcn next referred to tn
numerous rough drafts the prisone
made Of his letters. before finally dis
patching them. AT this point, NJ De
mango interrupted the witnes
and said: 81 pass from sur
Prise to surprise. Yesterday i
was a witness playing the part of pros
ecutor. Today one witness defends
himself by saying his conscience is
tranquil. He is welcome to a tranquil
conscience. But ask him if he finds il
surprising that this man, alone out
there, on a lost island, should have
poured out his soul on paper. ! ask
again why you allowed the forged
Weyler letter 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 spoken Of"
Col. Jouaust, addressing Dreyfus,
asked: Did you receive the letter just
referred to?"
Dreyfus replied: Yes, my colonel"
What impression did it make on
your
II understand nothing of what it
contained" answered the prisoner.
AT this junotgre some time was oc-
cupied in reading long report from
the minister of the colonies to the min
lister of war, giving the various reports
OF the governor Of French Guiana. Pas
sages describing the dread the prisoner
expressed to the doctors when he feared
he was losing his reason caused an inn
mense impression. Tears were seen to
glisten in the eyes of even Gen. Billot,
the former minister of war At the
conclusion of the report, M. Lebon
asked leave to explain.
He said: II do not dispute the accu-
racy of the report but it is partial.
Reference has been most carefully
made to the precariouA health of the
prisoner. But the doctor never made q
communication to me on the subject. |
do not hesitate to say that, if he had
done SO, l should have given orders to
nave the prisoner treated as all IN
valids should be treated"
Col Jouaust, turning to Dreyfus. then
remarked: Have you anything to say
in regard to this disposition?"
Then the prisoner said: ''No, my
colonel: l am here to defend my honor
do not wish to speak here of the afro
cious suffering, physical and mental,
which for five years l. q Frenchman
ana an innocent man, was subjected to
on the lie du Diable."
The prisoner uttered the words in a
loud voice, and with tremendous ener-
gy which created a profound sensation.
The audience had not recovered from
the emotion caused by this scene when
Nine. Henry, in deep mourning, ap-
peared in court, and entered the wit
ness box amid profound silence. Col.
Jouaust, addressing this witness, said.
we thought, madame, that your life
In common with your husband had
placed you in position to give inter-
estlng information. I beg YOU to tell
the court what you know"
Nine. Henry deposed that towards the
END OF September, 1894, after dinner one
evening, her husband told her a paper
nad been handed him, as being very
important. The witness added: "As he
did not return, I retired about II
O'Clock, and I asked him, when he re-
turned, why he was later than usual
lie undid narrow, transparent roll of
paper, and said: There is a. serious
matter here, which have been request
ed to investigate this evening" Short
~ afterwards he re-entered the room
holdlng papers and a letter which he
had just pieced together He placed
tnem IN his hat in order not to forget
them IN the morning. He left on horse
pack, as is customary, the following
morning, saying he had to see Col.
Sandherr as soon as possible
nat was his impression on seeing
the poruereau?" asked Col. Jouaust.
Inc witness replied that Col Henry
did not know the author of II b,1t said
perhaps Col. Fabre or Col. D'AbeyilIe
knew. Continuing Nine Henry said.
When my husband returned from tbe
Nhercae-Midi prison, after taking
1reyfus there, asked why he was on
quty and he answered.: at have lust
carried out the most painful task an
orncer can have. have taken to the
Cnerche-Midi an officer accused of the
1rigntIul crime of treason Without
naming Dreyfus he added: I beg YOU
not to speak of it for some time. He Is
an unfortunate fellow"
In the last letter your husband wrote
you before his death" said Col. Jou-
aust, he used the words, what mis-
fortune to have met such. a wretch .
eA'S' Liz WALliSSS TtplleQ. NO, he did
not say that. He said: You know very
Wen IN whose interests acted mean
ing that he acted in the interests of the
country. He used to say TO me, For 80
years have never acted except in the
interest of the country
Nine. Henry then remarked: "You
knew his sentiments gentlemen. He
committed forgery on account Of Col.
PlcquartS proceedings, and 1t was in
order to save the army compromised bv
the dishonesty of its enemies"
MadamesHenry, before concluding her
testimony. returned to the subject of
the. forgery. She evidently thought she
could exonerate her husband. by saying
he believed he was justified, in the in
terests OF the country in inserting in the
existing dossier, new and convincing
material, proof Of which had reached
him verbally few days before
turning to NJ. Demange, the witness
added:
You understand what / mean.''
NO" promptly replied Demange.
In answer to question of Col Jou-
aust. Madame Henry declared she did
not know the name of the person who
had given her husband this verbal in
formation.
On leaving the witness box, Nine.
Henry looked sternly at the prisoner
Gen. Roget followed. He traversed the
old ground, giving his reasons for his
conviction OF the guilt Of Dreyfus. He
declared there was no charge against
Esterhazy with the exception Of re-
semblance OF his handwriting to that of
the bordereau. Moreover, the witness
added there had been new fact since
the Judgment Of the court Of cessation.
namely Esterhazy's confession that he
wrote the bordereau. But, he added
lsterhazy advanced and withdrew
his confession internationally. II Es-
terhazy had rendered services to the
intelligence department, there would
nave been tranas of than q, AZ. ..,..h