The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-31
Made by Capt. Dreyfus Riddled
In Court
Through Cross Examination by
Counsel LabOri.
WHAT ACCUSED MEANT
When He Placed Three Years
Limit
On His Incarceration, Explain
ed by Himself.

Rennes. Aug. 91.-The fourth session
of the fourth week of the second trial
by court martial of Captain Alfred
Dreyfus of the artillery charged with
treason, opened behind closed doors In
the Lycee today 50 continuing until S;4o
a. m. Majors Hartman and Ducros ana
General de Loye. all of the artillery
were present The court discussed the
secret documents relating to the artll-
lery subjects of the bOrdereau.
The public was admitted to the court
at $3.50 a. m.
The first witness called after the pub
lie session began was Captain Lebrun
RenauIt. of the Republican guard. who
reiterated his testimony given before
the court of cessation, repeating the
terms of the alleged confession of
Dreyfus:
I am innocent. In three years they
will recognize my Innocence. The
minister knows it. If delivered dOcu-
ments to Germany, it was to have more
important ones in return
The witness explanation that he did
not refer to the confession of Dreyfus
during his interview with President
Casimir-Perier. because he overheard
conversation during the course of which
he was called traitor" "canaille," and
cur" came as a surprise, for he did
not mention this in his evidence before
the court of cessation, as M. Labor,
leading counsel for the defense pointed
out.
NJ. Laborf also laid stress on the fact
that Captain Lebrun Renault should
have kept his note book. in, which he
asserts he made note OF his conVer-
satiOns with Dreyfus for four years ana
had destroyed it on the very morrow
the matter was brought up IN debate IN
the chamber of deputies.
mt hot he 1rad
upon the copy made by NJ Cavaignac,
then minister of war as being sufficient
was considered rather lame
Captain Lebrun Renault is a we'll
built man of medium height, broad
shouldered and wearing a we'll trimmed
mustache- He has queer eyes He
spoke in loud clear voice.
DREYFUS REPLIES.
Dreyfus. replying to the witness, be-
gan by calmly declaring that Captain
Iebrun Renault's statement that GER
tain Captain DatteI was present during
his conversation with Captain Lebrun
Renault was inaccurate.
The witness, however, maintained
that Captain Dattel was present where
upon Dreyfus said that if he was pres
ent the prisoner did not speak to him.
Oreyfus then raised his voice excited
" and accompanying his words with
short emphatic gestures of the right
hand and quivering with emotion, pro-
tested that Captain Lebrhn Renault
should nave repeated TO his chiefs his
utterance which began with a prOtesta-
1iOn of innocence. without asking him
to explain his words
THOSE are manOeuVerS- cried the
prisoner, which must fill all honest
men with Indignation.
This declaration of the prisoner made
a deep impression on the audience.
Dreyfus spoke the last words through
his teeth and was evidently laboring
under the greatest excitement and in
dignation. The audience broke into
fr7 r1slrsr
lately suppressed.
Captain Anterne followed and repeat
ed what Captain Dattel had said con-
frning the confession. Dreyfus replied
that ne had not spoken to Captain Dat
tel
On being recalled. Captain Lebrun
RenaUlt said this was true, but he
added that Captain Dattel was present
and could have overheard the CONVEX
satiOn-
NJ Labori here pointed out that Capt.
Dattel had not spoken to his chiefs on
this subject. Gen. Mercier like all the
military witnesses, followed the pro-
ceedings today with the keenest atten-
tion, and he admitted that this was
Col. Jouaust told Dreyfus that he
had not explained why he mentioned
the term of three years to which Drey-
fus replied I did not give three
years as the term. I only said hoped
that in the course of two or three years
my innocence would be recognized and
1 WISH TO state my colonel that as my
letters to Gen. Gonse show. my words
did not have the sense evil minds have
sought to give them"
GEN. GONSE CALLED.
NJ. Labori then had Gen. Gonse called
to the bar and asked him if he had not
used the alleged confession of Dreyfus
in opposing Picquart's arguments in
favor OF revision.
Cen Gonse replied that he had not
whereupOn. NJ. Labori asked that the
letters exchanged between Gen. Gonse
and Col Picquart should be read The
clerk of the court began to read a let
ter beginning. My Dear Pfcquart-'
when Gen Gonse interrupted him and
asked that Col. Picquart's previous let
ter be read first but as the letter was
not available for the moment the read
ing of all the letters was adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
Major FOrzinetti, who was governor
of the Cherche Midi prison during the
time DreI<fus was imprisoned there
ana Who testified in behalf of Drevfus
declaring he had never heard of the
confession Dreyfus is said to have
made, was the next witness called He
repeated his testimony before the court
OF cessation, adding that he frequently
met capt Lebrun-Renault and Cant
Dattei and that neither of them ever
alluded 10 the alleged confession The
witness declared that he once taxed
capt Lebrun-Renault before Cen
GOnse and other witnesses with sa[-ino
ne had spoken to the witness CAfaioI
EorzlnettO OF the confession and thar
capt. Lebrun- -Renanlt did not reBIv
w hereupon. Major Forzinettf said.
u seized his arm and cried: If fbe