The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-07-05
Dreyfus' Own Story.

On Saturday. October 18th, re-
eeived letter directing me to be on
Monday, the 18th, at 9 a. 3D., at the
war Office for the general inspection.
reached the Office on the Monday. !
am ushered into the room of the head
of the general staff. There I see Maj,
Do Patty de Claim aud other persons in
civil dress whom l did not know.
am told to seat myself at table, and
Major Da Patty de Claim ai,s beside ma
looking savageiy at me. begin al
ready to be puzzled. The major then
invites me to write a letter from bis
dictatiou. [ arn more and more
puzzled. Suddenly be says to me -
Your hand ehakes." "Nos at ALL"
say, "ny fingers are cold" continue
writing, more and more amazed.
Scarcely have finished when he rises,
falls on me, aud 10 laundering voice
says: s.In the name of the law |
arrest you. You ara accused CT high
treason :" My blooa rushes to my hesd
At the same time two men in civilian
dress fall on me and search me- l
become mad and haggard. "An officer
is not arrested like that | exolaim.
ed "giye me at least and inkliDg Of
the infamy which you aIlege me to have
com missed. I am innocent am the
victim of an Internal plot" :" The
proofs are overwhelming" vas the
reply. "The President of che repub-
ic and the cabinet are informed Of
your arrest" My reason gave way.
I was questioned and know wot what
answered.
was then conveyed to prisou By
by Major Henry and detective. |
raved aud remembered nothing except
htas I was accused of treason. 10
prison I wss kept in solitary con6ne.
ment, treated like prisoner, left to
myself. Doring the seventeen days
which followed I underwent several
interrogations in my cell BY the judicial
officer. He came toward evening with
his clerk, hatred in his eyes. insult Oh
his lips, when my tortured brain was at
the last extremity. What l heard 10
those sad and gloomy days My heart
still thrills. did not know half the
time what answered. | was always
told i: 1T is all up with you +" But 10
my feverish brain | invented story after
story to explain a riddle, which,
simpleton chat I was. could not
guess.
constantly ssked for proofs Of the
accusation. bot these were refused me.
Is not criminal fast shown the weapon
of his crime, and asked whether be
Identifies it? The weapon of my
alleged crime was letter. Why was
it not shown to me The judicial
officer add bis clerk mads me say all
they choose. had 40 consciousness,
nor did I believe it necessary to de.
fend myself against such an aceusa-
.ioo. Oce evening. on asking to be at
leas, told the clerk replied Suppose
your watch was found in the pocket
where it had no business 10 be- The
judicial officer nodded assent then
understood that documents of mine had
been stolen. My Imagination wea; to
work. l remembered long CORES
popdence which had held with Capt.
Hsdamard respecting the preparation at
,ss war school "Osher documents" |
said to myself. "sill also have been
stolen from the second bureau re.
meubered closet looked with only one
key, and with DO secret paddock. %
these data constructed fresh story
I became mad with ,ndigDati and
grief. One day when l said to the
judicial officer ''How Gao you believe
that I. an Alsatiau. to whom the
Germans refuse all passports, can be a
traitor ?" be replied, ut was the better
to conceal your game" Another even.
ing the judicial officer said +:
They are on the track Of your
accomplices. Arrests are imminent,
and you will be sent accordingly before
the OWL or the military jurisdiction
| became literally mad, and saw myself
eu,aogled 10 40 inextricable pot
Another evening the judicial officer
said TO nae "Your arrest is secret,
We. it is known 10 all German con claves,
and they ,remble aud are throwing you
over" The night which followed was
the most fearful of all. | was near
killing myself. | had hours OF frenzy
In the widdlc of the night, in fever
ish moment, prepare to hang myself
to the window bars, but my conscience
was awake and said : elf thou diest
everybody will believe thee to be
guilty. Thou must live, whatever
happens to explaOio to the world that
thou ar. innocent"
NV brain sometimes refuses to COM