The age-herald., 1899-08-13


 which unfortunately. is not always the thing that l alone am aware of it. incidents and facts which might throw light and that I have not hitherto said all, justice ought to know that 1t is false. l will not leave this place without saying all. l in- tend to do this, not because I can add any, thing useful to what l have already said, but out of respect to my conscience and the judges and to take the opinion of men of good faith. 1 will not leave this place until I have left an unalterable conviction that know nothing which might throw light upon the case and that have said all that I know"
 The former president then in loud and distinct voice repeated the evidence he had given before the court of cessation. He leaned while speaking against the witness rail and referred to a scrap of paper which he held in his hand. The witness read the text of the dispatch received by Count von Muster-Leydenbudge, the German ambas- sador at Paris, from Prince Hohenlohe, the German imperial chancellor, which the former communicated to M. Casimer- Perier during visit tosthe Elysee Palace. It ran:
 His majes,yt the emperor having every confidence in the loyalty of the
 President of the Republic and gov ernment of the Republic desires your eX cellency to tell M. Casimer-Perier that 1t is proved the German embassy was never implicated in the Dreyfus affair. His maj esty hopes the government of the Republic will not hesitate to declare so. Without a formal declaration, the legend which here continues to spread regarding tine German embassy, would compromise the position of the representative of Germany.
 (Signed) "HOHENLOHE"
 M. Cassimer-Perer then recounted how he had expressed to the then premier and minister of war his astonishment and in- dignation at the interview which Cape Lebrun-Renaud gave to the Figaro in re- gard to Dreyfus.
 The witness then told of Colonel Pic quarts visit to the Elysee at the same time or the trial in 1894 to inform him that M. Bartoin's demonstrations had little effect on the judges He said: q received M. Bartollin on December If and 15 at the in- stance of the minister of war, who thought his demonstrations very curious interests and conclusive, but must confess" said M. Casimer-Perter, amid a general tttre in court that l judged them differently"
 He added: "AH that was done and said among the ministers was done without my knowledge .''
 The witness then related the facts in connection with the futile efforts of M Waldeek-Rosseau to prevent the first court martial in sitting behind closed doors and sad he (the witness), had never received any member of the Dreyfus family.
 4i' NdsAher-Herler concluded this part of hfs statement by raising his voice and speaking very excitably, with saving:
 tor the honor of the chief magistracy which l occupied. for the honor of the republic, will not allow it to be said that l exchanged word with a captain in the French army accused of treason" This statement caused applause in court, which Col Jouaust speedily suppressed, threat enlng to clear the han if there was any repetition of it.
 Many people in the court room thought M. Casimer-Perier was somewhat theatri- cal in his utterances, as the had turned and delivered as much to the audience as to the court.
 The former president ended by saying:
 Il affirm, before this tribunal of soldiers that my resignation was not connected with the diplomatic incident concerning Germany. It pains me not to be able to second the court in the work of justice conhded to it, for from this place must emerge at last for the sake of the country reconciliation and peace. I can do no more than tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. As chief of state or when citizen have always in my re- spect for France, regarded her as free to make decision as she is herself revered." Applause, which was quickly suppressed)
 Various questions were then asked M. Casimer-PeTier by the assistant judge and M. Demange, of the subject of Captain Lebrun RenaudS statement that Dreyfus had confessed to him, and the witness said emphatically that he never had from Captain Lbrun Renaud any communication such as a confession during the captains visit to him. He added that he was not prepared to deny that General Mercler had told Captain Lebrun Renaud to com- municate this alleged confession, but he affirmed that the captain did not speak of 1t to him.
 M. Demange then introduced the question of the letter which the anti-Dreyfusards wrote to M. Casimer-Perier, and in which 1t was claimed he spoke of engagements entered into by M. Casimer-Perier respect ing him.
 The witness empha tically replied that he had never entefed into such engagement as alleged and he asked that the letter which was published by the Eclaire of Paris should be produced in court and that the whole matter be cleared up. M. Casimer-Perier ended by this statement with A slap of his hand on the rail deck.
 Colonel Jouaust then asked Dreytus II ne had anything to say. Thereupon the prisoner rose and, accompanying his utter ances with gestures of his right hand, said:
 His Words Had Been Distorted
 My words have certainly been distorted for 1 have no recollection of such letter. The words the former president of the re- public has just uttered are exact. nave never, even in my mind supposed there was an engagement undertaken by hlm, and that he had not held the veto can well understand the indignation of M. Casimer-Perier, but such thing never crossed my mind.
 M. Demange had asked me at the time or the trial in conveying through M. Waldeck Rousseau my request for public trlal' that this publicity should only be on con ditton that the question of the origin of the document remained secret. gave my word of honor not to raise this question, and in that l bow before the superior inter- est of my country. In my mine it was with the defense and not with the president Of the republic that word of honor was given I never had an idea that an engagement was made between the president and my self. Never, never.
 Jouaust-Then you declare false those let l ters in which 1t is said the president or | the republic entered into certain engage | ments with you?
 Dreyfus replied: ''In any case, the sense has been completely distorted" NJ Casimer Perer gave his evidence with a blanched face, but in the determined tone