The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-25

1859. and remained at Bourges from o.
tober, 1889 to February, 1880, when the
written examination at the military col :
lsse began. 4 was then called to Paris,
Obtained two months leave and was
married in April. l spsnt four months at
bonrges. AS was preparing for exami-
natlon mad no time to go TO cafes or to
think OF anything outside my duties"
0enefal hlsbourg, who was commander
Oh ene republican guard In Paris In 1898.
was the next witness. He described the
scene with Captain Lebrun-R enauit
when the witness learned of Dfeyfus's ali.
legged confessions TO Captain Lsbrun. Rem
dation. -
In conclusion Gsneral Rjsbourr euloo-
lied the services OF Captain Letruu- Rem
ault and said that before tine incident of
me confession, there was nothing against
him. He was an excellent officer, n good
comrsde ami incapable of injuring any
one. Alter being asked the usual ques-
I,on, Dreyfps protested against General
II am 7 surprissd,T itha prisoner : sa sTts
that Captain Lebrun- Renault could
have made the statements attributed to
him. On tie way down from the prison
OF La Sante, Captain Lebrun- Rena uIt
shook hands with me a fact which is in
contradiction OF his statements. Besides,
when such terrible charge had been
hanging over man who has resisted it
Tor i've yenrs, witnesses should not come
here merely to speak their beliefs hut
ought to bring proofs, positive proofs.
Otherwise am completely on-plussed
as TO how can reply" (Sensation.)
Continuing Drey fus said: "Reference
was also made TO confessions. l will
state the exact terms of the so-called con-
fessione0f mine.
The day Captain Lebrun- Renauit and
II tor D..
i am innocent. I will declare it in the
face Of the whole people. That Is the cry
Of my conscience. You know that cry.
repeated 1t all through the torture of
my degradation
Afterwards added. referring to the
visit of Du Patty de Clam: 'The minis
ter IL well aware that am innocent.
What l meant to intimate was that I
had apprised this minister, in res porse to
the steps Du Patty de Clam had taken
against me, that was innocent.
"Du Patty. de Clam visited me and
asked for information. ] veplied to him:
Il am innocent, absolutely innocent
i replied verbally to Du Patty de Clam
and in writing to the minister that !
was perfectly Innocent. That was what
meant by the words: The ministry is
we'll aware that am innocent
"Ihsn reverted to the visit of Du
Patty de CLAIM and told Captain Letrun-
Renault that Du Patty de Clam asked me
II had not given documents of no i'm
portanoe in order to obtain others In ex-
change, and that replied that not only
was / absolutely innocent. but desired
the whole matter should be cleared up.
Then added that hoped that within
two or three years my innocence would
be established.
al told Du Patty de Clam that waited
full light on the matter; that an inquiry
had teen done and that it was impossible
for the government to fail to use Its influ-
enoe for the whole truth.
The government said, has means,
either through military attaches OF
through diplomatic channels, TO reach
the truth.
"And also said: 1T lie awful that a
soldier should be convicted of such a
frightful crime. Consequently Ii seems
to me that as ask for only truth and
light that the government should use all
the means at Its disposal to secure that
light
"Du Patty de Clam replied; There are
interests at stake higher than yours.
These channels cannot be employed
she added. however. that the inqui-
ries would BIS continued. IL was on tire
strength OF Du Patty de CLAIMS promise
TO try what means can be found TO reach
the truth and end this awful iniquity
tia said hoped that in two or three
years my innocence would be- proved, for
tigation, which would be Of the most del
ichte nature, could not be under taken
Immediately. l think have expressed
my whole mind. IT you still have any
doubt ask you, my colonel to present 1t
to me.
The prisoners remarks. deeply i'm
pressed his hearers.
At the request of NJ. Dsmange. Gen,
Mercier was recalled and asked to explain
why, having sent Ou Patty de Clam to
Dreyfus to discover the amount Of the
injury, Dreyfus had done, he had not fol-
lowed up his Investigations.
Gen, Meroier-"I did not feel called
upon to do so."
Col. Jouaust-"Tell us General why,
when you were apprised Of tho confess
sion, you did not send someone TO Dreyfus
TO try TO get substantiation and discover
what he had not told Du Patty dc CLAN"
Gen. "Dreyfus had written
me that he refused to discuss the confess
sions with Du Patty de Clam and took
no further steps."
Col. Jouaust-"But. since the prisoner
seemed to have begun making avowals
of his guilt, why did you not follow the
matter ups"
Gen. Mercier--"I might, perhaps have
thought Of 1t but 1t did not occur to
me"
The prisoner again protested that the
inquiry ought to have been followed up"
because IL would have served 70 destroy
the fiction Of confession to which snoh