The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-01

the very morrow the matter was
brought up in the chamber of deputies.
The captains reply that he looked
upon the copy made by Cavaignac, then
minister OF war, as being sufficient, was
considered as rather lame
When asked if he had any observa-
tions to make, Dreyfus replied:
Yes, my colonel, there were two
rooms in the military school. l was in
the further one and Captain Lebrun-
Renault never left me. He alone was
with me. 1t is possible Captain d'Attel,
whom l did not know, or other officers
entered the adjoining room. But l can
not swear (for after four years / can
only affirm matters upon which l am
positive) that another officer entered
the inner room"
Colonel Jousaust to Captain Lebrun-
Renaut-Did Captain d'Attel enter the
room you occupied with the accused?
Captain Lebrun- Renault - Captain
d'Attel spent five minutes in one of the
rooms. Both of them are very small.
Dreyfus-I do not believe Captain
d'Attel or any other officer entered the
inner room. l do not remember that
any one but Renault was present AS
regards the words, l will not repeat
the conversation of Captain Lebrun-
Renault, nor the words he used. l will
confine myself to repeating to the court
what ] said and the explanations l had
the honor to give. My words We're as
follows: Il am innocent and l will cry
out aloud to the whole people. The
minister well knows it, l have al
ready explained to the court what
meant 1t was the reply l had given
to Du Patty de Clam when he visited
me in the prison, in the course of which
! protested that l was innocent. / COM
pleted that declaration by letter l
wrote to the minister redeciaring that
was innocent. Colonel Du Patty de
Clam asked me whether had not given
unimportant documents in order to get
more important ones in exchange for
them. ] replied, word for word, NO."
that l wanted the matter cleared up
and concluded with saying that before
two or three years my innocence would
be acknowledged.
THE court will understand that in
the state of nervousness and agitation
in which l naturally found myself, l
did not fully express what was on my
mind
Dreyfus spoke the last words through
his teeth and was evidently laboring
under the greatest excitement and in
dignation.
The audience broke into "bravo!"
which the gendarmes Immediately sup
pressed.
Captain Anthoine followed and re-
confirming the confession. Dreyfus re-
piled that he had not spoken TO Cap
tain d 'Attel. On being recalled, Cap
tain Lebrun- Renault said this was
true, but he added that Captain DAT
tel was present and could have heard
the converse tion.
NJ. Labori here pointed out that Cap
tain d'Attel had not spoken to his
chiefs on this subject, and General
Mercier who, like all the military wit
nesses, followed the proceedings with
the keenest interest, rose and admit
ted that this was correct.
Colonel Jousaust told Dreyfus that he
had not explained why he mentioned
the term of three years, to which Drey-
fus replied:
Il did not give three years as the
term. / only said l hoped that in the
course of two or three years my in
nocence would be recognized. And I
wish to state, my colonel, that as my
letters to General Gonse show, my
words did not have the sense evil minds
have sought to give them"
Colonel Guerin followed Captain An
thoine and repeated his evidence be-
fore the court of cessation to the Ell get
that Captain Lebrun-Renault told him,
after the degradation of the prisoner,
of the words the latter had uttered.
After being asked by Colonel Jous-
aust If he had anything to say, Drey-
fus declared he could only repeat his
reply to Captain Lebrun- Renault.
Another officer, Major Demitry,
in pretty hussar uniform, a light blue
tunic trimmed with black braid, and
bright red trousers, also testified that
Captain d'Attel had declared he over
heard Dreyfus confess.
Army Controller Peyrolles next re-
peated his evidence as given before the
~ ~ n q
Colonel Guerin, the day before Drey
fus was degraded, told him Dreyfus
had confessed.
At this point Dreyfus rose and de-
MED he had ever said there would be
a revision of his case at the end of
three years and, speaking directly to
Colonel Jousaust, begged him to have
the letters which he (the prisoner)
wrote to General Boisdeffre read in
court. The prisoner said he men
toned the term three years because he
said the government would need time
to carry out necessary Investigations
Labori then had General Gonse called
to the bar and asked him if he had not
used the alleged confession of Dreyfus
in opposing Picquart's arguments in ia
vor of a revision.
Gonse replied that he had not, where
upon Labori asked that the letters ex-
changed between Gonse and Picquart
should be read.
Major Forsenetti, who was governor
of Cherche Midi prison during the time
Dreyfus was imprisoned there, and who
testified in behalf of Dreyfus declaring
he had never heard of the confession
Dreyfus is said to have made, was the
next witness called.
He repeated his testimony before the
court of cessation, adding that he fire.
quently met Captain Lebrun- Renault
and Captain D'Attel. and neither of
them ever alluded to the alleged con-
fesson. Forsenetti then declared that
on visiting General Boisdeffre to eX-
press fears about the health of the
prisoner the general asked him his opin-
ion of Dreyfus and the major replied:
MY general had you not put that
question to me I would have kept my
counsel, but since you ask my opinion,
declare I believe he is innocent"
The witness then recounted de CLAIMS
theatrical devices to surprise Dreyfus.
to which Forsenetti declined to be
party, and the major also declared that
on one occasion when Dreyfus was in