The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-09-06
Dreyfus' Trial.

RENNEs, Aug. 3l.--rhe secret ses-
sion called for today lasted two hours,
after which the public sitting was re-
sumed. Gen. De Loye, who yesterday
testified adversely to Dreyfus, took the
stand. In secret session today expert
testimony on pieces in bordereau re-
iterated belief of the possibility of
accused having obtained them. It
dwelt more at length on the value to
foreign powers. Expert artillery men,
Ducros and Hartman, we're then called
by the defense. They testified to the
impossibility of DreI fus obtaining The
documents in question. Ducros also
testified that Dreyfus had many oppor
Lunities to obtain much more import
ant documents than these cited in the
bordereau, of which he did not avail
himself. Hartman testified to lee
ture on the hydraulic brake given ~
the military school of st. Cyr where a
hundred officers had as much of an OPP
portunity as Dreyfus to learn all about
it.
Captain Lebrun-Renaud, the first
witness of the public session, to whom
it has been alleged that Dreylus con-
est. Witness: when L visited the
accused he said to me, Il am innocent.
In three years my innocence will be
established. The ministry knows it,.
Du Patty de Clam came to my cell a
few days ago to tell me that the minis
try knows it and is aware that If L had
delivered documents to foreign power
they were unimportant and done only
to obtain more important documents in
return " This version of what Drey-
fus said was different from either
Dreyfus' or Mercier's account. The
only confession about it was the impll-
cation that Dreyfus accepted De CLAIMS
words, and quoted them as a justfica-
ton TO himself. The court asked,
"What was it you told Mercier?" Wit
ness: "What l relate to-day" Drey-
fus: "Where was the conversation be-
tween us held?" Witness: "In the lit
tie hall" Dreyfus: "My words, Il am
innocent were in reply to a question
and were reiterated. do not under
stand how an officer could hear such Sc
rious words as you say you heard from
me without asking an explanation.
Your not asking carries it's signlhca-
ton TO my judges, and honest men will
perceive how you transformed my
ords and altered my meaning. L
never had such thoughts, much less ut
tered those words"
Several minor officers testified in sup
port of Lebrun. Renaud's account of
the interview with Dreyfus. Major
Forzinetti, in charge of Dreyfus while
lodged in Cherche Midi prison, testifi, d
that he heard nothing from Dreyfus
but protestations of innocence. Drey-
fus said he would commit suicide.
Forzinetti told him to hold his head
high on the day of condemnation,
reminded him of his duty to himself
and to his family. Said Dreyfus was
subjected to terrible persecution by
De Clam. Witness cautioned De
Clam against measures too harsh on a
man not proved guilty. Boisdeffre
and Rogete interrupted the witness
several times, but were not able to
shake the Majors splendid showing.
The whole court was profoundly
stirred when Dreyfus arose at the con-
clusion of Forzinetti's testimony, and
said with streaming eyes, "That | am
here today, aye that am in the world
even, I owe to Major Forzinetti."
Court here adjourned.