The San Francisco call., 1899-09-01

Cined to be a party, and the major also
declared that on one occasion when Drey-
1us was in despair the witness remained
in prison cOnsoling him until O clock in
the morning.
Colonel Jouaust asked the major if
Dreyfus ever had any idea of suicide and
the witness replied that DTeyfus had
asked him for a weapon and also that
after MS condeImlnatlon was read to him
dashing his head against the wall.
After the last visit of Du Patty de Clam
to Dreyfus, continued Major FOrZinetti,
the prisoner wrote to the Minister of War
q letter which concluded with the words
Culprt."
At the conclusion of Major Forzinetti's $
evidence Dreyfus, on Colonel Jouaust's s
invitation and after reference to the last
interview with Du Patty de Clam, said,
locking cki,I with gratitude at Il the major
There IS a matter which Major For
zinetti has just recalled which has great
" moved me and which l wish to recall,
for wish to say to whom I owe the fact
that / have done my duty and to whom
! owe having done it for five years after
my condemnation; / had determined 10
kill myself. I had made up my mind not
to undergo the frightful torture Of a SOL
dier from whom they wished to tear the
insignia of honor. Well. then, let me say
this-that if ! went to that torture | can
say here that it was thanks to Nine.
Dreyfus who showed me my duty and
who told me if | was innocent | ought to
do it for the sake of her and our children.
colonel"
Here Major Forzinetti said: 'It is quite
true. In his last interview with me Drey-
fus said: For her and for my children
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, sWaying to and
fro with emotion and when he had fin
ished he sat down abruptly, evidently to
conceal his discomposed features from the
gaze Of. the spectators in court who,
when he is seated, are only able to see
the back of his seat. Tears were glisten-
ing In his eyes and he was clearly sup
pressing an outburst of sobbng.
The session concluded with the con-
frontationS Of Captain Lebrun-Renaud
and General de Boisdeffre. the former ex-
planning that he did not speak to Major
Forznetti of the Dreyfus confession be-
cause he had received instructions TO
keep silent. General Boisdeffre denied
that Major FOrZnetti had expressed TO
him his conviction that Dreyfus was in
nocent. The major maintained his as
sertion, however.
peated his evidence before the Court OF
Cessation to the effect that Captain Lee
brun-Renaud told him after the degrada-
ton of the prisoner Of the words the
latter had uttered. After being asked by
Colonel Jouaust If he had anything to say
Dreyfus declared he could only repeat his
reply to Captain Lebrun-Renaud
Army Controller PeyTolles next repeat
ed his evidence as given before the Court
of Cessation, recounting that Colonel
Guerin, the day Dreyfus was degraded
told him Dreyfus had confessed. At this
point Dreyfus arose and denied he had
ever said there would be revision Of his
case at the end Of three years, and, speak.
ing directly to Colonel Jouaust, begged
him TO have the letters which he (the
prisoner) wrote to General de Boisdeffre
read in court. The prisoner said he men
toned the term three years because he
said the Government would need time to
carry out necessary Investigations.