Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-09-01
DREYFUS CHOSE DEATH
Declares In Court That He Had
Planned to Kiln Himself.
WAS SAVED BY HIS WIFE.
Captain Lebrun-Renaud Testihes a.
to Alleged Confession, but Cow
ers Before n Fierce Denun-
citation by the Accused.

| LcStlluOAy Va SCASloA DSAoJS NAO ~"~~S~
Hartman upon technical war office Sc
crsts, the question being whether Drey
fus could have obtained the information
specified in the bordereau and whether
certain points we've public property al
the date Of the bordereau.
The doors were then opened, and, te
everybody's surprise, Captain Lebrun
Remand was called out Of the regular
order to tell the notorious story Of guilty
admissions by the prisoner on the day
of his degradation. 1t should be remem'
bered that there have been two distinct
versions of Dreyfus communication ia
Renaud. The first one, which General
Mercier and his associates give al
| Renaud's original report, Is that the
prisoner saids IF have given up docu-
ments to foreign power, they were OF
| no consequence and were delivered In
| order to obtain more important ones"
Dreyfus' version, given on the first day
of the present trial, is that he never did
anything but protest his innocence. He
did tell Captain Renaud that Colonel
Du Patty de Clam came to him in his cell,
urging him to admit that If he gave doc
uments it was in order to obtain others,
but he had emphatically repudiated Colo
mel Du Patty de CLAIMS suggestion.
Now comes Renaud, and he gives an
account of the incident differing from
both of these. Dreyfus began, he said,
by protesting his innocence, saying that
with his private fortune and position he
could have no possible motive for trea-
p,,c oI6aI sold tho u{fnpaa
II am innocent, and in three years my
innocence will be recognized. The min
lister knows it, Colonel Du Patty de Clan
came to see me in my cell. He said to
me that if l had given documents to
Germany they were OF no importance,
and they were given in order to obtain
more serious and important ones" Cap
tain Attel was present when this dec
iaration was made by Dreyfus. The wit
ness added that Dreyfus requested that
the degradation ceremony be as brief as
possible because of the terrible ordeal.
A Variation.
1t will be seen that, although Captain
Renaud's story closely approaches Drey
fus' version, it implies that the prisoner
tacitiy admitted Du Patty de CLAIMS sug-
gestion Of an explanation Of his conduct.
The witness related how General
Gonse sent him to General MERCER with
a story, and MERCER sent him to the
Elysee, where Premier Dupuy scolded
him for indiscretions in The Figaro. 1t
was not until two years later, at General
Gonses request, that the witness put the
facts in writing. He destroyed this
memorandum after showing it to M.
Cavaicnac, minister Of war, year ago.
Captain Beauvais and some Of the 9TH
err judges sharply cross questioned the
witness, whose direct testimony had been
gwen without hesitation, but who was
slow and embarrassed under the fire of
cross questions.
NJ. Dnmange read extracts from the
testimony Of the witness before the court
Of CESSATION wherein he refused to say
that Dreyfus made any confession OF
guilt and asked Renaud how he recon
ciled the prisoners professions of inno
cence in the same breath with his tacit
admission of guilt.
Captain Lebrun-Renaud said that he
had no opinion Of the significance of |
Dreyfus' words.
Maitre Labor sharply demanded an
explanation from the witness of the de-
of the memorandum, but Lee
brun Renaud could only say he consider.
ed 1t no longer valuable.
Dreyfus arose amid intense silence in
the courtroom to confront Captain Lee
brun- Renaud, who stood with downcast
eyes. Dreyfus spoke quickly and dra-
addressing his words to the
court, but frequently turning toward the
who did not meet his eyes.
Statement by Dreyfus.
II have already said," the prisoner be.
gan, that 1 proclaimed abroad my in.
nocence on the day of my degradation. ]
never said to Captain Lebrun- Renaud
that l had delivered up documents.
to him the story of Du Patty de
CLAIMS visit to my cell and what was
Imagine the circumstances wherein |
'ound myself! My protestatfens of in.
locence were not understood. They were
lot interpreted, and yet the chiefs to
whom they were repeated had not the
airness to come and ask me their true
significance. But l declare now," and
lere Dreyfus turned with superb scorn
o Captain Lebrun-Kenaud, who literally
lung his head before him, II declare it
Unworthy Of Il French officer to have
visited the words which l uttered"
For moment the conditions were sud.
emily reversed, the accuser literally cow. .
ring before the accused. Again, as in
hat first great scene, when Dreyfus in
he intensity of his righteous wrath re !
uked General Mercier, the audience was ;;
nable to restain its emotion and burst
ito applause.
Captain LebrunR enaud silently re.
red, and then came Al. Antoine, who re. ),
Gated at second hand Major Attel's yer. 4
on of Dreyfus' avowals on the day of 1
is degradation. This was to the effect i
lat Dreyfus admitted delivering three 3
ocuments, two Of which We're important a
nd the third given in exchange to a II
'reign power. Dreyfus denied speaking Y
Attel.
M. Labori turned to General Mercie,
Id asked him if Major Attel had made
ny report of this matter to him. Mer.
er replied NO"
Colonel Guerin repeated his Testimony c
ven before the court of cassation. saw. v
= that Captain Lebrun- Renaud told him 4
at On the day of his degradation the o
isoner admitted delivering documents c
he witness personally only heard Drew a
$ protest his innocence. t,
Major Forzinetti, who was governor OF il
Cherche Midi prison during the time G.
reyfus was imprisoned there, and who h
stified In behalf of Dreyfus, declarine
had never heard of the confession
'eSfus is said to lave made, was the
xt witness called. He repeated the A,
thiiohH gwen before the court of cas- Az
ion. al
Dreyfus Wanted to Die, d'
u the conclusion of Major Forzinetti's a
oence Dreyfus, on Colonel Jouaust's n
ltation and after reference to the III
interview with Du Patty de Clam, W