The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-05

Rennes, August 31.-DTeyfuS had b
most trying day he has yet gone
through. The strain proved too great
for him, and, for the second time in the
course of the trial, he gave way to his
feelings and sought relief in tears. The
generals nave branded him as a traitor
before the court; their subordinates
have pointed the finger Of scorn at him,
but he only finched once-when the Of
island was read before him and b
pictures of his sufferings, mental and
physical, were thrown wildly on the
screen of his memory. Then he hid his
features and wept.
He passed through another such cri-
Renault and witness after witness had
brought up before him again that cold
January morning which ushered in the
scene of his degradation, Major Force
netti, a man Of heart, told in simple
words and unaffected hammer, the story
Of Dreyfus' struggle with the madden
ing temptation to take his life and the
Intervention Of his wife, as an angel
pointing out the road of duty. Then
again the prisoners breast heaved with
emotion n tear drops trickled down
his cheeks. He rose, and after a forced
effort to remain calm as he spoke a few
words concerning his denial to Colonel
Patty de Clam that he wrote the Dor
dereau, he turned to ForZenetti with a
look of thanks for his consolation so
needed. Dreyfus then uttered these
words of heartfelt gratitude to his wife
for the courage with which she inspir-
ed him: "1t is due to her." he cried,
that 1 am alive today"
The prisoner could articulate no more,
but sat down abruptly to conceal his
The proceedings concluded a few min
utes later and he was taken back to
his prison where his wife visited him,
and, in the presence of Madame Drey-
fuS and the gendarme OF guard, he
broke down completely. The tension
had been too much for him. He sobbed
convulsively and the partner Of his sor-
joined him in a solace Of tears.
Captain Lebrun-Renault and b snn-
porterS of his assertion of the DreyfuS
confession had an inning lasting nearly
the entire session. their dispositions con-
tanning little but what had already
been stated before the court of cessa-
Captain Lebrun-Renault introduced
the new assertion that the fact that he
had not related the incident of the con-
to President Casimir-Perier was
because he overheard himself called
eur" and traitor" while
waiting at the Elysee. He, however,
could not explain why he kept this to
himself for so long a time instead of
recounting the incident before the court
of cessation. Nor, did his explanation
as to why he destroyed the page of his
note book containing the record of
Dreyfus' confession, sound very con-
vincing.
A NEW TURN IN THE CONSPIRACY
The other witnesses were a repetition
of Captain Lebran-Renault; but a very
question vas put to Colonel
by a member of the court Lieu
tenant Colonel Brongniart, who sits ut
Colonel Jouaust's right hand, always
puts pointed questions. He. has thor
oughly studied the Dreyfus case, and
is reputed to be one of the best author
tiles on the case. 1t is certain Colonel
Jouaust consults him frequently during
the proceedings. Brongniart is said to
be a rabid anti-Dreyfusard and he to-
day, in a quiet tone, asked Colonel Cue
rim if he thought M. We'll, who IS a
friend of E~sterhaZey, also knew Drey-
fuS. The latter at once arose and de-
clared he had never before heard of
We'll. The point of this question was
that EsterhaZey had written to Colonel
JOuaust, as announced, and has un-
mentioned We'll as a go-be-
tween for Dreyfus. If relations can be
proved between Dreyfus and We'll, and
admits obtaining treason
able information from Well, then he
could assume Dreyfus was a traitor. The
generals, if sufficient evidence of a
Dreyfus-W eil-Esterhazey connection
can be produced, can abandon the con-
that Dreyfus wrote the border
eau and admit Esterhazey is the au-
thor of it. This is possibly the
change o tactics on the part of the gen.
erals which had been limited at re-
Gently.
1t was reported this afternoon that
Generals MERCER, Roget and Gonse and
M. Cavaignac, who are staying quietly
at the house of a friend some miles out
side OF Rennes, met today at General
house and discussed the evil
dence Colonel SchwarZkoppen's house
keeper, Nine. Bastian, could give if she
was subjected to a severe examination,
with the result that it was decided her
evidence was not conclusive enough to
justify summoning her as a witness for
the prosecution.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
Following are the proceedings in de-
tail:
When the public session of the Drey-
fus court martial was resumed at $50
this morning there was a stir in
the audience and considerable curiosity
was manifested as the name Of Captain
Lebrun-Renault of the republican
guard, the recipient Of the so-called
of Dreyfus, was called, and
To those living