Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-31
HE DID NOT CONFESS
Dreyfus Denies the Statement of Capt.
Lebrun-Renault.
HIS WORDS WERE hISCOESTRUED
The Alleged Confession at Cherche
MIDI Prison Up Again.
THE MEANING EXPLAINED

THE MEANING EXPLAINED
RENNES. August 31.-The trial Of Cap
tain prcyfus opened behind closed doors
IN the Lycc today, continuing until 9:15
am Majors Hartmann and Ducros and
General Leioye. all of the artillery, were
present. The court discussed the secret
documents relating TO the artillery SUBJ
jccts OF the bordereau.
The pubic was ADMITTED to the court at
$50 a IN.
The first witness called after the public
session began was Captain lebrun-Ren-
auit OF the republican guard, who reiterat-
ed his testimony siven before the court Of
cessation. repeating the terms of the al
legged confession of Dreyfus:
Il ain innocent. In three years they will
recognize my innocence. The minister
knows it. If l delivered documents to Ger
many, 1t was to have more important ones
in return
The witness explanation that he did not
refer to the confession of Dreyfus during
his interview with President Cas- mir-Per-
ier because he overheard Il conversation
during the course OF which he was called
traitor" .canaille" and cur came as
d pTtsS, lOI ne uiu not mention tnlS In
lis evidence before the court OF cessation.
as Maitre L2bori. leading counsel for the
defense, pointed out.
NJ. Labori also laid stress on the fact that
Captain Lebrun- Eonault should have kept
his note book, in which, he asserts. he
made note CT his conversation with Drey-
fuS, for four years and have DESTROYED II
on the very day the matter was brought
In leblie in the oh nlhar nj
The captains reply that he looked upon
the copy made by NJ. Cavaignac. then
minister Of var. being sufficient was
considered rather lame. -
CAPITA n Lehrun- Renault is a wel-built
man OF medium height. broad shoudered,
and wearing a well-trimmed mustache. He
has queer eyes He spoke in a loud clear
voice.
Dreyfus Makes Reply.
Dreyfus. replying to the witness began
by calmly declaring that Captain Lsbrun.
Renauit's statement that a certain Captain
Dattel was present during his conversa-
ton with Captain Lebrun- -Renault was in
accurate. e.
The witness however, maintained that
Captain Dattei was present, whcreupon
Dreyfus said that If he was present he, tho
prisoner, did not speak TO him.
Dreyfus then raised his voice exciteily
and, accompanying his words with short,
emphatic gestures of the right hand and
quivering with emotion, protested that
Capt. Lebrun-Renault should have repeat
ed to his chiefs his utterance which began
with a protestation of innocence without
asking him to explain his words
Those are maneuvers cried the pris-
oner, which must fill all honest men with
Indignation"
This declaration of the prisoner made a
deep impression on the audience.
Dreyfu3 spoke the last words through his
teeth, and was evidently laboring under the
greatest excitement and Indignation. The
audience broke into ''bravos." which the
sendarmes Immediately suppressed.
Capt Antoine followed. and repeated
what Capt. Dattel had said confirming the
confession. Dreyfus replied that he had
not spoken to Capt. Dattel.
On being recalled. Capt. Lebrun- Rerault
said this true. but he added that Capt.
Dattel present and could have over
heard the conversation
NJ Labori here pointed out that Capt.
Dattel had not spoken to his chiefs on this
subject, and Gen. Mercier, who, like all
the military witnesses, followed the pro-
ceedinss today with the keenest attention,
IcsS anu duIllilitl lildl lHlS was COiItCl
Col. Jolaust told Dreyfus that ne had
not explained why he mentioned the term
of three years, to which Dreyfus replied:
Explained by Dreyfus.
II did not give three years the term
only said [ hoped that in the course Of
two or three years nv innocence would ba
recognize I'd. And I wish to state my colo
nel that. my letters to Gen. Gonss
show, my words did not have the sense
eYil minds have sought to give them
M Labori then had Gen. Gonse called to
the bar, and asked him ii he had not used
the alleged confession of Dreyfus in op-
posing Col. Pcquart's arguments in favor
of revision
Gen. Gonse replied that he had not.
whererpon NJ Labori asked that the let
tiers exchanged between Gen. Gonse and
Col Picuuart should be read The clerk of
the court began to read letter beginning
my Dear Picauart-" when Gen. Gonse
him and asked that Col. Pic
quarts previous letter be read first. but.
as the letter was not available for the
the reading of all the letters was
ad journed until tomorrow.
Mai Forzinetti who was governor of the
Cherche Midi prison during the time Drey-
fus was imprisoned there. and who testi-
fled in behalf of Dreyfus, declaring he had
never heard of the confession Dreyfus is
said to have made, was the next witness
called He repeated his testimony before
the court of cessation, adding that he fire.
quently met Capt. Lebrun-Renault and
Capt. Dattel, and that neither of them ever
alluded to the alleged confession. The wit
ness declared that he once taxed Capt.
Renault, before Gen. Gonse and
other witnesses, with saying he had spoken
to the witness (Maj. ForzinettD of the con-
ression, ard that Capt Lebrun-Renault did
not reply.
"Whereupon," Maj. Forzinetti said. 'T
seized his arm and cried, If the words re-
peated yours are true, you are an in
famous liar
Thought Dreyfus Innocent.
Maj. Forzinetti then declared that on Wis
ting Gen. de Boisdeffre to express fears
about the health of the prisoner, the gen.
eral asked him his opinion of Dreyfus and
he major replied:
My general, had you not put that ques-
ion would have kept my counsel. But.
since you ask my opinion, declare l be-
ieve he is innocent