Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-31

Rennes, Aug. 31.-The Dreyfus court
martial met behind closed doors this
morning and discussed the secret docu-
ments relating to artillery subjects of
! the bOrdereau. The secret session lasted
until 9:15, the public being admitted to
; the court at $50.
The first witness called after the pub
| lie session began was Captain Lebrun-
+! Renault of the Republic guard, who re-
iterated his testimony given before the
court of cessation. repeating the terms of
the alleged confession of Dreyfus:
| IT am innocent. In three years they
will recognize my innocence. The minis
| ter knows if l delivered documents to
Germany it was to get more important
ones in return"
| The witness explained he did not refer
! to the confession of D:eyfus in his in
| terview with President Cassimir- Perer,
because he overheard conversation.
during the course of which he was called
traitor 'canaille' and cur This
was surprise, for he did not mention
this in his evidence before the court of
cessation, as La abor pointed out.
Labor also laid stress on the fact that
the captain should have kept his note
book. in which he asserts he made a note
of his conversation with Drevfus, for four
years. and had destroyed it on the very
morrow the matter was brought up in
| the chamber Of deputies.
The captains reply that he looked upon
the copy made by Cavignac, then minis
ter of war, as being sufficient, was con-
sidered rather lame.
Dreyfus. replying TO the witness, began
by calmly declaring that Captain Le
brun- Rehault's statement that a certain
Captain D'Atten was present during his
conversation with Lebrun-R Renault was
! inaccurate.
Dreyfus then raised his voice exctedly,
and, quvering with emotion, protested
that Lebrun- Renault should have repeat
ed to his chiefs his utterances which be-
gan with protestatiOn of innocence,
without asking him to explain his words.
"Those are maneuvers," cried the pris-
oner which must fill all honest men
with indtgnation!'
This declaration made a deep impress
sion on the audience.
Dreyfus spoke the last words through
his teeth and was evidently laboring
under the greatest excitement and ndig-
nation.
The audience broke into ':pravo!" which
the gendarnnes Immediately suppress 1.
! 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 favor
Of revision.
Gonse replied he had not. whereupon
| Labori asked that the letters exchanged
! between Gonse and Picquart should be
read.
All letters on the subject not being
available. the reading of them was post :
poned until tomorrow.
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 cassa tion, adding that he fire.
quently met Captain LeBrun- Renaul,
, and Captain d Atte! and neither of them
ever alluded TO the alleged confession
, Forsenetti then declared that on visiting
General De Boisdeffre to express fears
I about the health of the prisoner the gen.
eral asked him his Opinicr of Dreyfus
and the major replied:
My general. had you not put that uues
tion to me l would have kept my coun-
' sci, but since you ask my opinion l de.
clare l believe he is innocent
i The witness then recounted De Clam.
, theatrical devices to surprise Dreyfus, tc
, which Forsenetti declined to be a party
and the major. also declared that on one
occasion when Dreyfus was in despair
the witness remained in prison consoline
him until o'clock in the morning
\ Jouaust asked the major if Dreyfu:
Y ever had any idea of suicide, and witnes.
|, replied that Dreyfus had asked him fol
|. a weapon and that also after his condem
v nation was read to him he was with diff
iculty prevented from dashing his heat
j against the wall.
u After the last visit of De Clam to Drey
y fus, continued Forenset1i, the prisoner
/ wrote to the minister of war lette
: which concluded with the words: "Whel
y l am gone let them seek the culprt."
At the conclusion of Forsenetti's evi
y dence. Dreyfus. on Jouaust's invitation
\ and after reference to the last interview
Il With De Clam, said, looking with graft
+ tude at the major:
There is a matter which Major For
y senetu has just recalled, which ha
greatly moved me aud which l wish t