The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-05
DREYFUS'S OWN STORY
FIRST HE WAS DRIVEN SERIOUSLY
TO CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE.
Then His Sole Desire Was to Live to
Patty De CLAIMS Brutality.
New York Journal.

New York Journal.
Alfred Dreyfus, the victim of the foulest
conspiracy that ever disgraced nation,
kept a record while in Jail of the manner
in which he was treated, and also of the
emotions which the charges against him
caused. Now that justice has triumphed
and Dreyfus is returning to fair and open
trial, it becomes of peculiar interest to read
what he experienced when his secret mock
trial began Dreyfus wrote these notes
while in the military prison of Cherche-
Midi in November and December, 1894. They
served as his defense at the trial before
the council of war, at which he was not
present. They were kept secret by the gov
eminent. but the Paris Figaro has obtained
them and published them.
On Saturday, Oct. IL, received a letter
directing me to be on Monday, the 18th, at
9 a. m, at the War Office for general in
spection. / reach the Office on the Monday.
1 am ushered into the room of the head OF
the general staff. There i see Major Du
Patty de Clam and other persons i'm civil
dress whom 1 did not know. / am told to
seat myself at table, and Major Du Patty
de Clam sits beside me, looking savagely
at me- 1 begin already to be puzzled. The
major then invites me to write letter
from dctation. am more and more puz-
lied. Suddenly he says to me:
Your hand shakes"
mot at ALL" say; my fingers are cold"
/ continue writing, more and more
amazed. Scarcely have finished when he
rises, falls on me and in laundering voice
says:
I'm the name of the law 1 arrest you.
You are accused of high treason"
Ny blood rushes to my head. At the same
time two men in civilian dress fall on me
and search me. 1 become mad and hag-
gard.
IAN officer is not arrested like that"
exclaim Give me at least an inkling of
The infamy which you aliege me to have
tim of an Internal plot
1.-The proofs are overwhelming" was the
reply. THE President of the republic and
the Cabinet are informed OF your arrest"
My reason gave way. i was questioned
and know not what / answered. j was then
conveyed to prison by Major Henry and a
detective. / raved and remember nothing
except that was accused of treason. In
prison / was kept in solitary confinement,
treated like prisoner. left to myself.
TORTURE IN A CELL.
During the seventeen days which followed
I underwent several interruptions in my
cell by the judicial officer He came toward
evening with his clerk, hatred in his eyes,
insult on his lips. when my tortured brain
was at the last extremity. What 1 heard
in those sad and gloomy days! My heart
still thrills. did not know half the time
what answered. was always told, 'It is
all up with you. Providence alone can ex-
tricate you" But in my feverish brain
invented story after story to explain a rid
die which, simpleton that 1 was. / could
not guess
1 constantly asked for proofs Of the ac-
ffnv, htrf Ic
not criminal first shown the weapon of
his crime and asked whether he Identifies
1T? The weapon of my alleged crime was
The judicial officer and his clerk made me
say all they chose. 1 had no consciousness.
nor did l believe it necessary to defend my
self against such an accusation.
told, the seen Clerk on reped suppose your
watch was found In pocket where it had
The judicial officer nodded assent then
understood that documents OF mine had
been stolen. My imagination went TO work
I remembered long correspondence which
had had while at the Second Bureau with
Captain Hadamard respecting the prepara-
ton at the War School.
"Other documents" / said to myself. will
also have been stolen from the Second
Bureau"
l remembered a closet locked with only
one key. and with no secret paddock. On
these data i constructed fresh story.
became mad with indignation and grief
One day. when said TO the judicial officer
How can you believe that i. an Alsatian
to whom the Germans refuse all passports
can be traitor" he replied. 1T was the
better 10 conceal your game
On another evening the judicial officer
said: They are on the track Of your ac-
completes. Arrests are imminent and you
will be sent accordingly before the civil
or the military jurisdiction"
7 became literally mad and saw myself
entangied in an inextricable plot. Another
evening the judicial officer said 70 me:
Your arrest is secret. yet II is known In
all German conciaves. and they tremble and
are throwing you over"
The night which followed was the most
fearful of all. i was near killing myself
I had hours OF frenzy. In the middle OF the
night, In a feverish moment. prepared 10
hang myself to the window bars. but my
diest everybody will believe thee to be gull