Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-01

clare / believe he is innocent"
The witness then recounted Col. Du
Patty de CLAIMS theatrical devices to
surprise Dreyfus to which Forzinetti
declined to be party, and the major
also said that on one occasion when
Dreyfus was in crisis of despair, he,
the witness, remained with the prison
er. consoling him, until 3 o'clock in the
morning.
Col. Jouaust asked Maj Forzinetti
If Dreyfus ever had ideas of suicide,
and the witness replied that Dreyfus
had asked for a weapon, and that also,
after his condemnation was read to
him, he was with difficulty prevented
from dashing his head against the
walls. After the last visit of Du
Patty de Clam to Dreyfus, continued
Maj. Forzinetti, the prisoner wrote the
minister of war letter which conclud-
ed with the words: when am gone
let them seek the culprit'
At the conclusion of Maj. Forzinettfs
evidence, Dreyfus, on Col. Jouausts
invitation, and after reference to his
last interview with Patty de Clam, said,
looking with gratitude at the major:
There is a matter which Maj. Forzi-
netti has just recalled, which has great
ly moved me- l wish to say to whom
owe the fact that l have done my duty
ard to whom | owe having done it for
five years after my condemnation. L
had determined to kill myself. had
made up my mind not to undergo the
frightful torture of soldier from
whom they wished to tear the insignia
of honor Well, let ME say this: That
if l went to that torture | can say here
that it was thanks to Madame Drey-
fus, who showed me my duty and who
told me that if l was innocent | ought
to go to it for. the sake of her and
our children. If am here, it is for her
l owe it, my colonel"
Here Maj. Forzinetti said: 1T is quite
true. In his last interview with his wife
Dreyfus said: For her and for my
children l will undergo the torture OF
tomorrow
The declaration of Dreyfus that his
life was due to his wife deeply stirred
all his hearers. He spoke in a broken
voice, with emphatic gestures, sWaylng
to and fro with emotion, and when ne
had finished he sat down abruptly, evil
IDENTIFY to conceal his features from the
gaze of the spectators, who, when he
is seated are only able to see the back
of his seat. Tears were glistening in
his eyes and he was clearly suppressing
an outburst of sobbing.
In describing the events of the day OF
the degradation of Capt. Dreyfus, Capt.
Lebrun-Renault said: "On Saturday,
January 5, 1895, was ordered with my
squadron to proceed to the Cherche
Midi prison and take charge of Dreyfus,
who was to be degraded at 9 O'Clock
in one of the court yards of the military
school, Starting at 7:15, | arrived at
the place indicated at 7:45. The office
of the garrison adjutant was pointed
out to me as the place to keep the pris-
oner until the hour of the degradation
parade. He began to protest his lnno-
cence and to say that, with considerable
means at his disposal and a bright fu-
ture in store for him, he could have no
motive in being guilty of treason. He
my innocence will be acknowledged.
The minister knows it well. He told
Drl Patty de Clam to tell me so, some
days ago, in my cell. He knows that If
l communicated documents to Germany
they were of no Importance and it was
to obtain more serious and more i'm
portant documents. f"
The witness added that Capt. D'Attel
was present when the statement was
made Continuing, Capt Lebrun-R Rem
ault said that as soon as four artillery
men, commanded by a corporal, came
to take the prisoner to the courtyard
for the ceremony Of degradation he
(witness) left the office and was imme-
diately surrounded by several officers,
to whom he repeated Dreyfus' remarks.
He also reported them at the captains
mess of the Republican guard.
A Judge-What did Gen. MERCER tell
you when you mentioned the confession
to him?
Capt. Lebrun-R enault-He asked
what Dreyfu5 had said and then told
me to go to the Elysee and describe the
confession. But l was given no time
to mention it then.
The Judge-It is a great pity you said
nothing on the subject.
Capt. Lebrun-Renault- had no time
to speak of it. The president, more
over, seemed much more concerned
about a remark by Dreyfus concerning
the writing of thesbordereau. which had
been published in newspaper.
A Judge-Did the president know
why you came to the Elysee?
Capt Lebrun- Renault-T presi-
dent was notified that l was coming.