Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-08-31
'DREYFUS INNOCENT.
Some Officers Getting Courage
Enough to Say They Always
So Believed.
His WIFE ADVISED HIM.
Prisoner Never Made Confession But Would
Have Killed Rimself-His Wife Ad-
vised Him to Do His Duty By
Living.

| RellHeS, august ol.-Ine DfeytuS trial
opened behind closed doors in the lycee
to-day, and so continued until 9:15. Ma
jors Hartmann and Lacros and General
Deloye, all of the artillery, were pres
ent. The court discussed secret docu-
ments relating to the artillery that were
subjects of the bordereau.
The first witness called after the pub
| lie session began was Captain Lebrun
Renault, of the republican guard, who
reiterated his testimony given before
the court of cessation, repeating the
| terms of the alleged confession by Drey-
fus: IL am innocent; in three years
they will recognize my innocence the
minister knows it; if I delivered docu-
ments to Germany it was to get more
important ones in return" He explained
| that he did not refer to the confession
of Dreyfus in his interview with Pres
ident Casimir rPerrier, because he over
heard a conversation during which he
| was called a TRAITOR" "canaille" and
cur" and came as surprise, for he
did not mention this in his evidence be-
fore the court of cessation, as Labori,
the leading counsel for the defense,
pointed out. Labori also laid stress on
the fact that Lebrun Renault should
have kept the note book in which he as
serts he made a note of his conversa-
tion with Dreyfus for four years, and
destroyed it on the very moment the
matter was brought up in a debate in
the chamber of deputies.
Dreyfus, replying to the Witness be-
gan by calmly declaring that Lebrun
Renault's statement that certain Cap
tain Dattel was present during the con-
versation with Lebrun Renault was in
accurate. The Witness however, MAIN
tained that Dattel was present, where
upon Dreyfus said if he was present he
(the prisoner) did not speak to him.
Dreyfus then raised his voice excitedly,
and quivering with emotion protested
that Captain Lebrun Renault should
have repeated his chiefs utterances,
which began with a protestation of in
nocence, without asking him to explain
his words. "Those are maneuvers,"
cried the prisoner, (which must fill all
honest men with Indignation The au-
dierce broke into "bravos."
Captain Anterne followed, and repeat
ed what Captain Dattel had said con-
firming the confession. Dreyfus replied
that he had not spoken to Captain Dat
fol T,oh ,n;1 h; t,,t1a
but added that Dattel was present, and
could have heard the conversation.
Labori here pointed out that Dattel
had not spoken to his chiefs on the
subject. General Mercier admitted this
was correct.
Colonel Jouaust told Dreyfus he had
not explained why he mentioned the
term of three years, to which Dreyfus
replied: II did not give three years as
the term. I only said I hoped that in
the course of two or three years my in
nocence would be recognized, and 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"
Major Forseneti, governor of Cherche
Midi prison during the time Dreyfus
was imprisoned there, testified in be-
half Of Dreyfus, declaring he never
heard Of the confession Dreyfus is said
to have made. He declared he once
taxed Captain Lebrun Renault before
General Gonse and other witnesses with
saying that he had spoken to witness
(ForsenetD of a confession, and Captain
Lebrun Renault did not reply, where
upon" Major Forseneti said, II seized
his arm and said if the words repeated
as yours are true you are an infamous
liar"
Major Forseneti then declared that on
visiting General De Boisdeffre to ex-
press fears about the health of the pris-
oner the general asked him his opinion
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 asked my opinion, I de-
clare believe he Is innocent"
Colonel Jouaust asked the major il
Dreyfus ever had any idea of suicide.
The witness replied that Dreyfus asked
him for weapon, and after his con-
demnation was read to him he was with
difficulty prevented from dashing his
head against a wall. After the last visit
Of Du Patty de Clam to Dreyfus, con-
tinued Forseneti, the prisoner wro-e to
the minister Of war letter, which con-
cluded with the words: when | am
gone let them seek the culprit."
At the conclusion of Forsenetis evil
dence, Dreyfus said: II wish to say to
whom owe the fact that I did my duty
and to whom I owe having done Il five
years after my condemnation. had de-
termined to kill myself. can say here
it was Nine. Dreyfus who showed me
my duty, and who told me If was in
nocent ought not to do it for the sake
of her and our children. If I am here
it is to her owe 1t, my colonel"
The declaration of Dreyfus that his
life was due to his wife, deeply stirred
all his hearers. Tears were glistening
in his eyes.
The session concluded with confrontd-
tions of Captain Lebrun Renault and
General De Boisdeffre, the former ex-
planning he did not speak to Major For
senetti Of the Dreyfus confession be-
cause he had received instructions to
kept silent. De Boisdeffre denied that
Forseneti had expressed to him his con-
viction that Dreyfus was innocent.
Dewey Sails Again.
villefranche, France, August 31.-The
United States cruiser Olympia, with
Admiral Dewey on board, sailed for
Gibraltar this afternoon.