Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-08-31
TO-DAY'S TELEGRApHIC NEWS.
The DreYfuS Trial.

Anc DfeJtuS lFtdl.
Rennes. Aug. 81 The secret session
of the Dreylus court martial, called for
today, lasted two hours, after which
the public sitting was resumed.
General Deloye took the stand at
the secret session and reiterated his be-
lief in the possibility of the accused
having obtained the documents named
in the bordereau and dwelt at length
on their va ue to foreign powers.
Majors Du Cros ard Hartmann were
then called and claimed that it was i'm
possible for Dreyfus to have obtained
the documents in question. Du Cros
also testified that Dreyfus had many
opportunities TO obtain much more i'm
portant documents than those cited in
the borderesu, of which, however, he
did not avail himself. Major Hart
mann deposed that lecture on the
hydraulic brake was given at the
Military School when hundred Off
Gers had as much opportunity as
Dreyfus to learn all about it. The
Major also expressed the belief that
the documents mentioned in the Dor.
dereau came from an officer in the
War Office as the brake had not been
tested at the artillery school in 1894
He further testified that he had been
connected for eight years with the
technical section and never knew Drey-
fus to ask to see documents. There
was nothing about the Robin shell or
the 1920 cannan,'n he added, (which
foreign agent could not easily have
obtained"
at the public session Cap.
tain Lebrun.R enaud was the first
witness. He is the officer to whom it
has been alleged Dreyfus confessed his
guilt. General MERCER had alleged
that Dreyfus said to Lebruu Renaud {:
II gave these documents but only 70
get others in return" This Dreyius
denies. The witness said: "When |
visited the accused, he said to me: 4
am innocent; in three years my limo.
cence will be established. The minis
try knows it. Du Patty de Clam came
to my cell q few days ago to tell me-
that the ministry was aware that if |
had delivered documents to foreign
power they were unimportant and
it was done only to obtain more
important documents in return :"
1.-The Temps published statement
that Dreyfus had admitted his guilt to
me-" continued the witness, "and | was
summoned by MERCER to whom | re-
lated what Dreyfus had told me.
At Gonse's request l made out q
written statement of my interview
with the accused and few months pre-
viously l communicated to NJ. Cavaig
nae (then minister Of war the entry in
my note book concerning Dreyfus's
statement. He copied it ia extenso
and returned the original"
One of the judges here asked the
witness: "Have you this note book
memorandum now?"
No." replied Lebrun-Rensud, 81
destroyed it after Cavaignac had used
what he copied in a speech in the
chamber"
This statement was received with in
credulous murmurs by the audience.
Dreyfus here asked the witness:
"Where was this conversation be-
tween US held"
Lebrun- Renaud: SIN little hail."
Dreyfus: MY words, 4 am Innocent
were 10 reply to question. You have
transformed my words and altered my
meaning. I never had such thoughts,
much less uttered these words"
Captain Anthoine testified to con
versation with CAPTAIN D'Attel in which
he latter had described to him how
Dreyfus had admitted giving documents
to get others. Dreyfus on being asked
if he cared to speak, seid 81 never
said word to Captain D'Attel on on
the subject.
Col. Guerin also testified to hearing
OF Dreyfus's alleged confession from
LebruD Remand. Again Dreyfus rose
to make denial. Il can only repeat
that never uttered these words which
have been put into my mouth"
Major Forzinetti, who had charge Of
Dreyfus while he was lodged in the
Cherche- Midi prison, next took the
stand. The witness had heard moth
ing from Dreyfus but protestations OF
his innocence. Captain D'Attel had
never told him that Dreyfus had con
fessed. On the other band, Lebrun-
Renaud told him distinctly that Dreyius
had never avowed his guilt.
Forzinetti then told of the efforts
made by Dupaty de Clam to secure
confession from Dreyfus, who, he said,
was subjected to terrible prosecution.
Gen. de Boisdefre and Gen. Roget
both challenged the witness on some
minor points but were not able to
shake Major Forzinetti's showing.
The whole court was profoundly STIR
red when Dreyfus arose at the conclu-
sion of Forzinetti's testimony and said,
while he shook with emotion: "That |
am here today; aye, that am in this
world even, owe to Major Forznetti"
The court here adjoured for the day.
Rennes, Aug. 3l.-Captain Lebrun.
Reneud's testimony today is variously
commented on. The Dreyfusites claim
he showed he tattled TOO much to be
trustworthy. The lawyers for the de-
tense, however, regard the drift of the
evidence today to be against their client
Rennes, Aug. 31.-There is rumor to-
day OF another scheme on the part of
the military chiefs to stand oil or dis
credit the acquittal of Dreyfus. 1t is
the generals have q big col.
lection of reports from French spies
concerning escapades in the private
lives of Panizzardiand SchwartzkoppeD,
the Italian and German
attaches at Paris in 1894, who,
if permitted, could probably declare the
whole Dreyfus truth. These reports the
French generals have secretly threat
onnd To nj, hlirh thnc nrontirnx h,,no