The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-31
ALL FOR DREYFUS
Confession Story Badly Dam
aged By a Number Of
Witnesses.
REALLY PROTEST OF INNOCENCE
Strange Concealnents From
the President and Ministry
By Army officers.
PRISONER EXPLAINS CLEARLY
He Once Thought of Suicide
But His Wife Showed Him
His Duty TO Live.
TBy Cable to The Associated Press.l


TBy Cable to The Associated Press
REM SIS. aug. 81. 1888. The fourth ses-
sion OF the fourth week Of the second trla
by court martial OF Captain Alfred Drey-
fus. OF the artillery. charged with treason
opened behind closed doors in the Lyces
today ana lasted until e.l5 A. N. Majors
Hartmann and Ducros and General De-
loye. all OF the artillery, were present
The Court discussed the secret documents
relating to the artillery subjects Of the
bordereau.
The public was admitted to the court
at $3.50 A. NJ.
In addition to the usual cordons OF
troops in the streets leading to the hycee,
an extra guard was posted today so as to
completely isolate The hall in which the
Judges met in secret session.
There were the usual scenes on the ar
rival Of the prisoner and the Judges
After the Judges ana counsel came Gem
eral Deloye, Major Hartmann, Major
Dueros. and, later General Chamoin,
followed by q soldier. bearing the secret
artillery dossier.
The first witness called after the public
session was opened was Captain Lebrun-
Renault, OF the Republican Guard, who
reiterated his testimony given before the
Court Of Cessation, repeating the terms
of the alleged confession of Dreyfus.
Il am innocent. In three years they
Will recognizt my innocence The Min
lister knows it. If I delivered documents
to Germany it was to have more import
ant enes III return"
The witnesses explanation that he did
not refer 10 the confession of Dreyfus
during his interview with President Cast
mir-Perief. because he overheard a con-
versafion during the course Of which he
was called traitor, '.canalIe'' and
scur. came as surprise for he did not
mention this in his evidence before the
Court of Cessation. as Maitre Labori,
leading counsel for the defense pointed
out.
NJ Labori also laid stress on the fact
that Captain Lebrun- Renault should have
kept his note book IN which, he asserts,
he made note of his conversation with
Dreyfus. for four years and have destroy
ed it on the very morrow the matter was
brought up in debate IN the Chambers of
Deputies The Captains reply that he
looked upon the copy made by M. Cav
a.gnac then Minister of War, as being
Captain Lebrun-Renault, who is dressed
in the uniform of the Republican Guard,
is well built man of medium height,
broad shouldered, and wearing well
trimmed mustache. But he has queer
eyes. He spoke in loud, clear voice.
Dreyfus, replying TO the witness. began
by calmly declaring that Captain Lebrun-
Renaults statement that certain Cap
:,
yersation with Captain Lebrun- Renault
was Inaccurate.
The witness, however, maintained that
Captain Dattel was present, whereupon
Dreyfus said that If he was present he.
the prisoner, did not speak to him.
Dreyfus then raised his voice excitedly
and. accompanying his words with short,
emphatic gestures of the right hand,
which was quivering with his emotion.
he protested that Captain Lebrun- -Renault
should have repeated to his chiefs his ut
terance, which began with a protestation
Of innocence, without asking him to ex-
plain his words.
Those are manoeuvres.n cried the
prisoner, (which must fill all honest men
with Indignation"
This declaration Of the prisoner made
q deep impression on the audience
Dreyfus spoke the last words through
his teeth and was evidently laboring I'M
der the greatest excitement and indigna-
ton. The audience broke into 'sbravos,''
which the gendarmes Immediately sup
pressed.
Captain Antoine followed and repeated
what Captain Dattel had said concerning
the confession. Dreyfus replied that he
had not spoken to Captain Dattel
On being recalled Captain Lebrun-Re-
nault said this was true but he added that
Captain Dattel was present and could
have overheard the conversation.
Il. Labori here pointed out that Captain
Dattel had not spoken to his chiefs on
this subject and General Mercier.. who,
Ike all the military witnesses, followed
the proceedings today with the keenest
attention. rose and admitted that this was
cererct.
Colonel Jouaust told Dreyfua that he
had not explained why he mentioned the
term OF three years, to Which Dreyfus re-
Piled
4 did not give three years as the term.
only said hoped that in the course Of
two or three years my Innocence would
be recognized. And. I wish to state. NV
CDtCaAS4, tAttts a. my 3tttefa TO General
Gonse show, my words did not have the
sense evil minds have sought to Give
them.v
AZ Labori then had General Gonse call
ed 10 the bar and asked him If he had not
used the alleged confession Of Dreyfus
in opposing Colonel Picquart's arguments
in favor Of revision
General Gonse replied that he had NOT
whereupoa ~. Labori asked that the LETT
ters exchanged between Gen. Gonse and
Colonl Piequart should be read The
Clerk Of the Court began 20 read letter
beginning Ny dear Plcauart- when /
General eonsa interrupted him and asked
that Colonel Picquart's previous letter be /
Esad tirst b,5t as the letter was not avail- |