The record-union., 1899-09-01
The Accused for the Second Time
During the Trial
Gives Way to His Feelings and Seeks Re-
lief in Tears.
The story of His Threat to Commit
Suicide After Being Degraded,
and His Suff erings at the Devil
Island Prison Breaks Down the
Prisoner.

4SAdAu oECAAS OOWA INC
Prisoner.
+ RENNES, Aug. 31.-Dreyfus had the
most trying day he has yet gone
through. The strain proved too great
for him, and for the second time in
the course of the trial he gave way
to his feelings and sought relief in
tes-rs The Generals have branded him
as a traitor before the court, their sub
rdinates have pointed the finger OF
rn at him, but he only once flinched,
en- the official report of his treatment
,t Devil Island was heard, and the
? JieJure of his sufferings, mental and
hysical, was thrown viVidly on the
reen of his memory. Then he hid his
}tures and wept.
He passed through another such cri-
to-day, when, after Captain Lebrun-
nault and witness after witness had
ught before him that cold January
.rning which ushered IN the scene of
IS degradation, Major Forsenetti, a
PCS of heart, told in simple words and
affected manner the story of Drey-
- struggle with the maddening tempt
"a l to take his life, and the inter-
u'lon of his wife, an angel, pointing
opt the road of duty. Then again the
oner's breast heaved with emotion,
teardrops trickled down his cheeks.
y rose, and after a forced effort to
e lain calm as he spoke a few words
concerning his denial to Colonel Du
Patty de Clam that he wrote the bor-
dereau, he turned to Forsenetti with a
look of thanks for his consolation SO
needed. Dreyfus then uttered these
words of heartfelt gratitude to his wife
for the courage with which she in
spired him: 1T is due to her." he
cried, that I am alive to-day" The
prisoner could articulate no more, but
sat down abruptly to conceal his dis
tress.
The proceedings concluded few min
utes later, and he was taken back to his
prison, where his wife visited him. and
in the presence of Nine. Dreyfus and
the gendarme guard he broke down
completely. The tension had been toe
much for him. He sobbed convulsively
and the partner of his sorrows Joined
him in a solace of tears.
Captain Lebrun- Renault and the sup
porters of his assertion of the Dreyfus
confession had an inning lasting nearly
the entire session, their depositions con-
tanning little but what has already
been stated before the Court of Casa
ton. Captain Lebrun-Renault intro
duced the new assertion that the fac;
that he had not related the incident
of the confession to President Casimir-
Perier was because he overheard him,
self called "Canaille," cur and trait
or while waiting at the Elysee. He
however, could not explain why he kept
this to himself for so long a time, in
stead of recounting the incident be-
fore the Court of Cessation. Nor die
his explanation as to why he destroyed
the page of notebook containing the
record of Dreyfus' confession sound
very convincing
The other witnesses were a repetition
of Captain Lebrun-R -Renault. But z
very significant question was put tC
Colonel Guerin by a member Of the
court, Lieutenant Colonel Brongniart
who sits at Colonel Jouaust's right
hand, and always puts pointed ques
tions He thoroughly studied the Drey-
fus case, and is reputed to be one OF
the best authorities on the case. il
is certain Colonel Jouaust consults hin
frequently during the proceedings
Brongniart is said to be rabd anti
Dreyfusard and he to-day. in a quiet
tone, asked Colonel Guerin if he thought
that Weyl, who is a friend of Ester
hazy. also knew Dreyfus. The latter
at once rose and declared he had never
Of NNax-1 inf n
this question was that Esterhazy haC
written to Colonel Jouaust as an
nounced. and had undoubtedly men.
toned Weyl as a go-between for Drey
fus. This is the person referred TO II
Yesterdays dispatch as "V.," mistake
for "W." If relations can be prover
+ between Dreyfus and Weyl, then M
could assume Dreyfus was a traitor
The Generals. If sufficient evidence of {
Dreyfus Weyl Esterhazy connection
could be produced, can abandon th'
contention that Dreyfus wrote th'
bordereau, and admit Esterhazy is th'
author of it. This is possibly the change
of tactics on the part of the Generals
which has been hinted at recently.
It was reported this afternoon tha
Generals Mercier. Roget and Gonse anC
NJ Cavaignac, who are staying quietl!
at the house of a friend some mile
outside Rennes, met to-day at Genera
Mercier's house and discussed the evi
dence Colonel Schwarzkoppen's house
keeper. Nine. Batkin, could give if sh
was subjected to a severe examination
with the result that her evidence wa
not conclusive enough to Justify sum
moning her as a witness for the prose
cution.
TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.
RENNES, Aug. 31.-The fourth ses
sion of the fourth week of the secont
trial by court-martial of Captain AL
fred Dreyfus of the artillery, charged
with treason, opened behind CLOSED
doors, so continuing until 9:15 a. m. II
addition to the usual cordons of troop
in the streets leading to the Lycee, al
extra guard was posted so as to com
pletely isolate the hall in which tn
Judges met in secret session.
There were the usual scenes on tn
arrival of the prisoner and the Judges
After the Judges and counsel, cam
General Deloye. Major Hartmann, M ajo
Ducros and later. General Chamoin
followed by soldier bearing the Sc
cret artillery dossier.
In closed session the court discusse
the secret documents relating to tn