Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-25

absolutely innocent.
81 replied verbally TO Du Patty Dc Clam
and in writing to the minister that l was
perfectly innocent That was what
meant by the words. the ministry is wen
aware that ! am innocent
Then / reverted to the visit Of On Patv
de Clam and told Capt Lebrlin- Roman.
that Du Patty de Clam asked me n T ba,
not given documents of no Importance in
order to obtain others in exchange ana
that l replied that not only I am ,hso.
lutcly innocent. but desired tbc Who'll,
matter should be cleared up Then
added that | hoped that within two q,
three years my innocence would ho oet,,,
lishcd / told Du Patty dc Clam IA,
wanted full light on the matter. that in
iquity had been done ana that it was i'm
possible for the government to fail to use
its influence to secure the whole truth
1.-The government. | said, has means
either through military attaches ar
through diplomatic channels. tn roach tn.
truth. And. | also said. 1t Is awfuI thar
a soldier should be convicted Of such !,
fright1ul crime Consequently ii seems to
me that as ask only for truth and light.
the government should use all the means
at its disposal to secure that Ught
"Du Patty de Clam replied: There are
interests at stake higher than yours
These channels cannot be employed
'fle added. however. that the inouirios
would be continued. Il was IN IT,.
strength of Du Patty de CLAIMS promis,
70 Try what means could be found to
reach the truth ana END this awful In
iquity that / said | hoped that IN iva or
three years my innocence wo,Id no
proved, for Du Patty de Clam told me thar
the investigation which womb H. of M.
most delicate nature. could NOT h. irn,p,..
diately undertaken. think / have cx
pressed my whole mind. II van shouIJ
have any doubt. | ask you, my colonel ~
present it 10 me"
The prisoners remarks dec,Iv i'm
pressed his hearers.
At the request of NJ. D.u,r,., Con
Mercier was recalled ana asked +, ox-
pam Why having sent Du Patty de
nam !" ORGY rus - discovcrthc amount
OF the injury Drcyfus had done. he had
not followed up his INVESTIGATIONS.
Cen Nercinr-"I did not feel called
upon To 90 So"
Col. Jouaust-'Tcll US general WHY.
when yen were appraised of the con-
fession. you lid not send some one tn
Drcyfus 10 try to get substantiation
and discover what hc had not told Du
Patty de Clam"
Gen. Dreyfus E1d written
me that H. refua 4 to discuss the con
fessions with Du Patty lie clam and |
took no furthvr stems
COL. Jouaust-'B ui since the prison
er seemed to have begun making avow-
ais Of his guilt, why did you not fol-
low the matter up
Gen. Mercier-"I might. perhaps.
nave thought Of il. but it did not oc-
cur u ne"
The prisoner again protested that the
inquiry ought L. have been followed up.
because it would have served to de-
stroy tn" fiction At confession 10
which such Importance is now at
tachcd. tSensauon) Continuing
Drcyfus said:
viii YOU permit me. my colonel. t.
make small remark with reference 10
the fiction of my confessions. I re-
manned in the prison Of Lasantc for
two or thrc" weeks ana saw NJ. De
mango during that period ana also then
and while | was at the lie de Re |
wrote to the minister of war and
others. | believe the letters | wrote
are contained in the secret dossier. |
believe ] also wrote To the head of the
state. How is 1t | was never asked
about the legend Of my confession
which | was in q position to destroy
! never heard q word of
it. Il was only four years later in
january. 1892 when intcrrogatcd by the
sent by the court of
cessation that | heard Of this fiction.
What | do not understand is that
while ! was still in France no one spoke
to me of this fiction, which could have
been disposed of bcfor" the egg was
Matched. by proving it 4 false legend
and nothing more
NJ. jules Roche. a deputy ana former
minister, testified to his acquaintance
with Esterhazy in 1894, when the Wit
ness was studying the question OF the
of the effective strength of
the army. which had become more i'm
portant in consequence Of the rev Ger
man law of 1898. adding S0.oG0 men to
the German army. Esterhazy. it ap-
pc9rcd. afterwards visited NJ. Roche
and wrote To him on various occasions
until 1897. one letter referred to the
fact that the late Lieutenant Colonel
Henry was indebted to him. N. Roche
also described the steps he took to pro-
cure the admission Of Estcrhdzy into
he war office.
Replying to the government commits
Sary NJ. Roche declared that Gen. Bill |
lot, who was then minister Of war told
him he must cease To interest himself
in EsterhaZy not only FOR private and
legal reasons. but for other reasons
still more precmptory." tScnsa tom
NJ. Labori insisted upon having fur
Their details of Ger. Bilot's statement
The witness said he could not recall the
exact words of the MONSTER but their
effect then was such that he felt under
4 moral obligation to cease to interest
himself in Esterhazy.
After a brief suspension Of the SEES
sion, NJ. De Neruinee, special commits
Sary of the minister of war dcposed
hat Col. Picquart was ordered to have
Esterhazy attached. On several occa-
sions, witness continued: "Esterhazy
was seen entering the German embas-
sy, always quite openly. but dressed
in civilian clothes. NJ. De Veruinec
saw ESterhazy enter the German en-