The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-10

viewed the well-known facts in the
case, showing Col SchwartZkoppen, the
German military attache at Paris, sup
piled information to his government,
years before, regarding the 'l2O short
field gun. He saii that only the internal
cons truetion of the brake of this gun
remained secret, but Dreyfus knew
nothing about it and never asked for
information on the subject from the few
officers knowing it. Therefore, Dreyfus
could not have betrayed this secret.
Continuing to plead with great
warmth and eloquence and with clear,
Reasoned arguments, which were fol-
lowed with breGthless interest by the
entire audience, NJ Demange declared
that he did not believe in the compiled
ty of Henry and Esterhazy, for Henry
was honorable and loyal If he had
been the accomplish of Esterhazy, Hen
~ would have destroyed the bordereau.
Possibly Henry had inadvertently di-
Nulged info- nation to EstarhaZY, under
the, impression that he was cOnversing
with an honorable, straightforward man
like himself, and, discovering in 1898
that he had placed his hand in a trait
sor's he committed crime upon which
counsel declined to enlarge. since the
perpetrator had already paid for it with
his life. What ether explanation could
F. be given of the suicide of this man, with
whom the whole army sympathized?
Continuing, NJ Demarge exclaimed
''Hear what the author of the bordercau
writes: L am going to the maneuvres.
Is that only q belief? Is it not rather a
certainty? Well, gentlemen, I have
shown you that Dreyfus could not
have written that On the contrary, Els
terhazys regiment was at the maneu-
VreS, regarding which information was
supplied"
''Was Esterhazy there? I do not
know But what is certain is that
Dreyfus, if he was the author of the
bordereau, could not have written at
r the end of August 7 am going to the
rnaneuvres,' since he knew the pFoba-
TONERS We're not going. I think have
shown that when all the points of the
accusation are examined they vanish
So much for the technical value of the
bordereau. l have argued. foot by foot
with my honorable friends on the other
side, and have shown the fallacy of
the mental process whereby they
reached the point that they were able
to affirm on their souls and consciences
that Dreyfus was guilty. l might,
therefore, say with pride that l have
demolished the case of the prosecution.
But I am not entitled to do so. l mere
" say to the court, be careful, You
must be certain, and before you can
say Dreyfus is guilty you must, on your
souls and consciences, be able to de-
clare that there is no doubt that no one
but he had the documents enumerated
in the bordereau. That is my last word
on this portion of the case. I have now
to deal with the material evidence"
Regarding the theory that Esterhazy
was a man of straw paid to assume the
guilt of the real traitor, M. Demange
showed this was absolutely untenable.
The question of motive must not be put
aside. Rich and happy. with wife and
children, why should Dreyfus risk all
this2 On the other hand, Esterhazy
had every Involvement
In conclusion NJ Demange, in impas-
stoned tones, asked the judges whether
they were going to declare Dreyfus
guilty of sending the documents, of
which they did not know the contents,
when there was man on the other
side Of the channel who was much more
open to suspicion. If there was any
doubt their verdict must be aequittal.
The lawyer also asked them to remem
Der the five years of cruel moral tor
ment which had failed to kill the pris
oner's lofty soul, which was the soul
of soldier whose innocence there was
no need to proclaim. He felt sure of
their verdict
Then, in a brilliant fight of oratory,
M. Demange prayed God to enlighten
their consciences and restore concord to
France Turning to the audience, M.
Demange appealed to all, whether for
or against him, Ito remember that they
were Frenchmen and that they must
be united in love Of country, love of
justice and love of the army"
A great outburst of cheering greeted
this eloquent peforation
Col. Jouaust, president of the court,
asked Dreyfus if he had anything to
adj in his behalf. The prisoner rose,
and, in a voice choked with emotion,
declared he had only one thing to say,
but of that he was perfectly assured.
He said Il affirm before my country
and before the army that / am inno-
cent. My sole aim has been to save the
honor of my name, the name borne by
my children. I have suffered five years
of the most awful torture. But today
at last, feel assured that / am about
to attain my desire, through your loyal
ty and justice.
Col Jouaust-"Have you finished,
Dreyfus?''
Dreyfus-"Yes Mr.. President
The court then retired to deliberate
and the prisoner left the hall, never to
return, as, in accordance with the law,
the verdict was rendered in his alb
sence.