The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-31

able for the moment, the reading of al
the letters was adjourned until tomor.
row.
Colonel Guerin followed Captain Antoine
and repeated his evidence before the
Court Of Cessation to the effect that Cap
tain Lebrun-R -Renault told him after tbs
degradation of the prisoner of the words
the latter had uttered.
After being asked by Colonel Jouausi
If he had anything to say Dreyfus de-
clared he could only repeat his reply te
Captain Lebrun- Renault
Another officer, NJ De Mitry, wearing a
pretty Hussar uniform, light blue tunic,
| trimmed with black and bright red trous-
ers, also testified that Capital Dattel had
declared he over heard Dreyfus con-
| fess
| Army Controller Peyrolles next repeat
ed his evidence as given before the Court
of Cessation, reeounting that Colonel
Guerin, the day Dreyfus was degraded,
told him Dreyfus had confessed
| At this point Dreyfus rose and denied
he had ever said there would be re-
vision of his case at the end OF three
years and speaking directly to Colonei
Jouaust, begged him to have the letters,
which he, the prisoners, wrote to General
de Boisdefre read in court. The prisoner
| said he mentioned the term three years
| because he realizd that the government
woud need time to carry out the necessary
| investigations.
Major Forzinetti, who was Governor OF
] the Cherche Midi prison during the time
| Dreyfus was imprisoned there, and who
testified in behalf of Dreyfus, declaring
he had never heard the confession Drey-
fus is said to have made, was the next
witness called. He repeated his testi-
inony before the Court of Cassation
adding that ne frequently met Captain
Lebrun-Rsnault and Captain Dattel and
that neither of them ever alluded to the
alleged confession. The witness declared
that he once taxed Captain LebrunRen-
ault, before General Gonse and. other wit
nesses, with saying he had spoken TO the
witness Major ForzinettD OF the con-
fession and Captain Lebrun-Renault did
not reply.
tWhereupon," Major Forzinetti said
:" I seized his arm and cried
If the words repeated as yours are
true, you are an Infamous liar. :"
Major Forzinetti then declared that on
visiting General de 8oisdeHre to express
fears about the health Of the prisoner,
the General asked him his opinion Of
Dreyfus and the Major replied
MY General, had you not put that
question to me l would have kept my
counsel. But, since you ask my opinion,
declare I believe he is innocent.
The witness then recounted Colonel Du
Patty de Clam's theatrical devices. to sur
prise Dreyfus, to which Forzinetti de-
clined to be party, and the Major also
said that on one occasion when Dreyfus
was in a crisis OF despair, he, the witness
remained with the prisoner, consoling
him until three O'clock in the morning.
Colonel Jouaust asked Major Forztnetti
if Dreyfus ever had ideas Of suicide and
the witness replied that Dreyfus had
asked him for weapon, and that also,
after his condemnation was read to him,
ne was with difficulty prevented from
dashfng his head against the wall.
After the last visit Of Du Patty de Clam
to Dreyfus continued Major acrzisaeftis
the prisoner wrote to the Minister Of War
a letter which concluded with the words
When am gone, let them seek the
culprit'
AT the conclusion of Major Forzinetti's
evidence, Dreyfas, on Colonel Jouaust's
invitation, and after reference to last in
terview with Patty de Ciarn said, looking
with gratitude at the Major
There is matter which Major Forzi-
netti has just recalled. which has greatly
moved me and which wish to recall, for
wish to say to whom I owe the fact
that / have done my duty, to whom |
owe having done it for five years after
my condemnation. I had determined to
kill myself I had made up my mind
not to undergo the frightful torture of
a soldier from whom they wished to tear
the insignia of honor Well, then, let me
say this. That, if / went to that torture,
can say here that it was. thanks to
Madame Dreyfus. who showed me my
duty and who told me that If was in
nocent ought to go to 1t for the sake of
her and our children. If am here, it is
for her I owe it, my Colonel."
Here Major Farzinetti said
1T is quite true. In his last interview
with his wife Dreyfus said
. For her and for my children I will
undergo the torture OF tomorrow.
The declaration of Dreyfus that his life !
was due to his wife deeply stirred all his
uedIeTS- N1e SPOKE III d DfOk6H VOICE, |
with emphatic gestures swaying to and
fro with emotion and when he had
finished he sat down abruptly. evidently
TO conceal his discomposed features from
the gaze of the spectators in court, who
when he is seated, are only able to see
the back of his seat. Tears were glisten-
ing in his eyes and he was clearly sup
pressing an outburst of sobbing.
The session concluded with the con-
formations of Captain Lebrun-R Renauit |
and General de Boisdeffre. the former ex-
planning that he did not speak to Major
Forzinetti of the Dreyfus confession De-
cause he had received instructions to !
keep quiet.
General de Boisdeffre denied that Major |
Forzinetti had expressed to him his con-
viction that Dreyfus was innocent. But |
the Major maintained his assertion
The Court then adjourned until tomor-
row
Following are the proceedings in detail /
When the public session of the Dreyfus
court martial was resumed at $3.50 this
morning there was a stir In the audience
and considerable curiosity was manifest
ed as the name Of Captain Lebrun-R Re
nault Of the Republican Guard, the re-
cipient of the co-called confession of
Dreyfus was called and the officer walk
ed smartly to the witness box, saluted |