Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-01

evidence was not conclusive enough 70
justify summoning her as a witness for
the prosecution.
RENNES. August 31.-The Dreyfus
trial opened behind closed doors this
morning, the secret documents relating
to the artillery subjects of the border
eau being under discussion
At $3.50 o'clock the public sitting was
resumed, the first witness being Capt.
Lebrun-Ren of the Republican
guard, who reiterated his testimony
given before the court of cessation, re-
peating the terms OF the alleged con-
fession of Dreyfus: Il am innocent. In
three years they will recognize my in
nocence The minister knows ii. If l
delivered documents to Germany it was
to have more important ones in re-
turn"
The witnesses explanation that he did
not refer to the confession of Dreyfus
during his interview with President
Casimer-Perier, because he overheard
conversation during the course OF
which he was called traitor" Ca
naille" and eur" came as surprise,
for he did not mention this is his evil
dence before the court OF cessation, as
Maitre Labori, leading counsel for the
defense, pointed out. NJ. Labor also
laid stress on the fact that Capt. Le-
brun-Renault should have kept his
notebook in which, he asserts, he made
note of his conversation with Drey-
fus, for four years, and have destroyed
it on the very morning the matter was
brought in debate in the Chamber or
Deputies. The captains reply tnat he
looked upon the copy made by M.
Caviagnac, then minister Of war, as be-
ing sufficient, was considered rather
lame
Dreyfus, replying to the witness, be-
g1n by calmly declaring that Capt.
Lebrun-Renault's statement that a GER
tain Capt. Dattel was present during
his conversation with Capt. Lebrun-
Renault was inaccurate. The witness,
however, maintained that Capt. Dattel
was present, whereupon Dreyfus said
that if he was present he, the prisoner,
did not speak to him.
Dreyfus then raised his voice exclt-
eddy and accompanying with short, en-
phatic gestures of his right hand and
uuivering with emotion, protested that
Capt. Lebrun-Renault should have re-
peated to his chiefs his utterance,
which began with protestation OF in
nocence without asking him to explain
his words. "Those are manoeuvres,
cried the prisoner, (which must fill all
honest men with indignation" Drey-
fus spoke the last words through his
teeth and was evidently laboring under
great indignation. The audience broke
into "Bravos," which the gendarmes
suppressed.
Capt. Antoine followed and repeated
what Capt. Dattel had said confirming
the confession. Dreyfus replied that
he had not spoken to Capt. Dattel. On
being recalled Capt. Lebrun Renault
said this was true but he added that
Capt. Dattel was present and could
have overheard the conversation.
M. Labori here pointed out that Capt.
Dattel had not spoken to his chiefs on
this subject, and Gen. MERCER, who, like
all the military witnesses, followed the
proceedings to-day with the keenest
attention, rose and admitted that this
was correct.
Col. Jouaust told Dreyfus that he had
not explained why he mentioned the
term of three years, to which Dreyfus
replied: Il did not give three years
as the term. l only said l hoped that
in the course of two or three years my
innocence would be recognized. And,
l 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"
NJ. Labor then had Gen. Gonse called
to the bar and asked him if he had not
used the alleged confession of Dreyfus
in opposing Col. Picquarts arguments
in favor of a revision. Gen. Gose re-
piled that he had not, thereupon M.
Labor asked that the letter exchanged
between Gen. Gonse and Col Picquart
should be read. The clerk of the court
began to read a letter beginning my
Dear Picquart-" when Gen. Gonse in
terrupted him and asked that Col Pic
quarts previous letter be read first, but,
as the letter was not available for the
moment, the reading of all the letters
was adjourned until tomorrow
Maj. Forzinetti, who was Governor
of the Cherche Mill prison during the
time Dreyfus was imprisoned there,
and who testified in behalf of Drey-
fus, declaring he had never heard of
the confession Dreyfus is said to have
made, was the next witness. He re-
peated his testimony before the court
of cessation, adding that he frequently
met Capt. Lebrun-Renault and Capt.