The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-17
Pathetic Scene In Court When Story Of His Treat
ment On Devils Island Is Told.
Indications Are That Decision Will Be Rendered Unfavor
able to the PriSOner-YeSterdayS Proceedings.

I
room. where General Mercier joined
them. and explained that for some time
past documents had been missing from
the headquarters staff. and in cOnse-
quence of inquiry made a suspicion at
tached to Dreyfus. General Mercier.
the witness continued. added that he
was convinced Dreyfus was the culprit.
He said he founded his conviction on
threa facts:
Suspicion Pointed to Dreyfus.
First, the bordereau. the author OF
which was undiscoverable until Colonel
Fabre, on returning from the ma
neuvers, Immediately after he saw the
document, exclaimed: Why. it is Drey-
fuS' handwriting"
Secondly, the nature of the document
enumerated in the bOrdereau in con-
junction with DreyfuS' employment in
different departments, proved conclu-
sively. according to General MERCER,
that Dreyfus alone had cognizance of
all these papers, and he alone could
have disclosed them.
Thirdly. the dictatiOn test and Drey-
fuS' perturbation at the time
General MERCER, NJ. Guerin then said.
in consequence of these convictions, de-
clared his intention 10 ask the cabinet
to authorize the prosecution of Drey-
fus.
\ special cabinet met Nov. II. 1884,.
forgot whether NJ. Casimr- Perier or
NJ. Dupuy presided. General Iercier
| handed the cabinet nothing but the
bordereau. After the minister of war
had related his reasons for his suspic-
ions, the cabinet unanimously author
lied the prosecution of nreyfus.
The Prosecution Began.
NJ HanOtaux alone made some 1eser-
vations or diplomatic objections. based
| hn xE-t
found, but it was agreed that in the
\ event of courtmartialing Dreyfus
| measures should be taken to prevent
the mention of any power. From that
day on the witness mad learning of the
case personally. as 1t was in the hands .
! of military authorities. VI. Gue.i1, at
that time, had never heard Of the Sc
cret documents, and none was ever
! communicated to The cabIne- He only
learned of the existence of the alleged
secret documents during the Zola trial.
and only learned of The alleged COLI
fessiOn of DreyfTs to Captain Lebfun-
Renault from the newspapers. General
MERCER never mentioned the confession
ITO the cabinet
Colonel Jouaust then questioned the
witness, saying: M. Gooert an expert,
has declared you summoned HIM To
your office TO sTe you information
about the Drayfus affair. Do you re-
say. on entering, pointing to the clock.
Monsieur lie minlSSre de justice. J fear
lest at this hour q grave mistake is
being cOmmitted?' Is It not a fact that
you did not reply. but when ". Colbert
was leaving. recommended him to OBJ
serve caution, as the government was
DESTROYS of keeping the treason secret.
dreading particularly Indiscreticns on
the part of the press. and, above all.
upon the part OF tha Libre JsIoie. as
the suspected officer was Il Jew?"
NJ Guerin replied: I cannot affirm
whether or not 1 received NJ. Colbert.
but what 1 can affirm is that if he came
did not employ the language men
toned, and l made none of the state
ments he attributes TO me-
How Dreyfus Was Treated.
NJ. Lebon, former minister of the coll
onies, was then summoned to testify
regarding his treatment of the prisoner.
He said that when the cabinet was
asked to intervene in favor of a re-
vision, he thought the executive should
not interfere with the judiciary. and his
respect for the chosen judge was
strengthened by personal opinion of the
culpability of the condemned.
"On my soul and conscience" declar-
ed NJ. Lebon. dramatically, Il say I
regard the measures 1 took relative to
the prisoner on the Isle du Diable as
warranted. and if l had to repeat them
l would not hesitate.
NJ. Lebon then explained the reasons
for the rigorous measures against
Dreyfus. He said a certain telegram
sent to French Guiana disappeared. It
was traced out of France. but immedi-
ately it reached the English lines il dis
appeared. showing. the witness said.
that efforts were being made to enable
the prisoner to evade the regulations.
Rigorous. even painful. measures were
therefore n iS
NJ. Lebon therefore issued orders that
if necessary the prisoner was to be
fired upon. (Sensation.)
Continuing NJ. Lebon said he also is
sued orders that only copies OF the let
tiers addressed to the prisoner should
be delivered to him, the originals be-
ing retained.
Orders to Shoot the Prisoner
The witness was informed Aug 10.
that an American vessel passed the
Isles de Sault and orders were then
issued that DreyfuS was to be shot on
the slightest alarm. Referring TO the
Weyler forgery, which was intended
TO convey the impression that Dreyfus
was in communication with outside
sympathizers, Nj. Lebon said he frank
ly admitted that he believed in its
authenticity. as did Colonel Picquart
until long after it's production.
NJ. Lebon next referred to the numer-
Gus rough drafts the prisoner made OF
his letters before finally despatchins
them. At this point NJ. Demange inter-
rupted the witness and said:
Il pass from surprise to surprise.
Yesterday it was a witness playing the
part of prosecutor Today one witness
defends himself by saying his con-
science is tranquil He is welcome TO
a tranquil conscience. But ask him II
he finds it surprising that this man
alone out there on lost island should
have poured out his soul on paper?
ask again why you allowed the forged
Weyler letter in which handwriting
was indicated. to reach Dreyfus-
To this NJ. Lebon replied: I'VE could
not give up the original But the idea
never occurred to any agents OF the
administration to subject Dreyfus 20
the savage and atrOciouS treatment
which has been spoken of,
Received a Forged Letter.
Colonel Jouaust, addressing Dreyfus.
asked: did You receive the letter
just referred tor