Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-09

prisoner and other Irregularities, which
later were officially declared to be I'M
founded. The Dupuy government, how
ever, as a'sort OF compromise between the
Two contending camps-the one denounclnS
NJ. de Beaurepaire, the other NJ. LoeT-.
introduced bill in the chamber changing
the method OF procedure in cases of re
vision, il being urged that the united
chambers in the court of cessation. and not
only one section of it, should decide the
case. This bill became law after stormy
debates in the chamber, and the united
chambers of the supreme tribunal, under
the presidency of NJ. MaZean, began its Ia
bOrs of taking dispositions of witnesses.
The testimony given was supposed 10 pc
Kept secret by the court but the farls FL
caro- secured it and published 1t verbatim.
Among the most sensational statements
We're those made bE Mr.. Roland strong.
who declared Esterhazy admitted being the
author of the bordereau. which he said
was written by the orders of the general
staff, and those of Major Cuignet, who ac-
cused Colonel du Patty de Clam of being
the real author of the Henry forgeries.
The government was now anxious 10
prove to the country that there had been
no judicial error. NJ. Cavaignac, minister
of war, declared from the tribune in the
tude' of Dreyfus' guilt, saying, in sub
stance, that he had seen documents che
than those produced al the trial, which left
no doubt of II. The deputies greeted n.
Cayaignac's declaration with enthusiasm,
and 1t was voted tthat the speech should be
placarded on theawalls of 36,J10 communes
at the public expense Six weeks later,
August 80. Colonel Henry made a confes-
sion of having forged evidence against
Dreyfus, and the following day committed
suicide. A few months later Colonel Hen
rvs secretary. when summoned to appear
before the court of cessation, also commit
ted suicide
Revision now became imperative, and in
spite of the most strenuous opposition
made by the army chiefs, the court of cas-
| sation declared there was justification for
| reopening the case. EsterhaZy meantime,
| had fed from France, and was now openly
mentioned as the author of the bordereau.
| The government, relentless in its prOsecu-
| ton of Colonel Picquart. kept him con-
| fined in the military prison of the Cherche-
Midi, in Paris. and he was only saved from
| being tried before court-martinl before
| the Dreyfus case was decided by the action
! of the court of cessation, which granted II
stay.
Revision Ordered.
Facts had come to light which showed
| that even If Dreyfus were a culprit, his
accuser had been guilty of a series of
| crimes in securing mis- condemnation Drey-
| fus might or might not have been a trait
| or to France; but the court of cessation
| found II true that his conviction had been
brought about upon evidence partly forged
| and partly susceptible of an Interpretation
| not adverse to the accused. The court
therefore, granted new trial, in which
the accusers of Dreyfus would be com
| PEELED to meet the accused and his def md
ers In open trial. DreyfuS was accordingly
brought from his dungeon on Devils isl
and, and arriving at Quibron July j., was
| retained In custody as French officer un-
| der accusation and arrest awaiting trial
| to be held at Rennes.
The trial was opened on August and
| has been as public and theatrical as the
| original trial in December, 1894 was secret
| mysterious and almost unnoticed. The
board of officers constituting the court Is
of the usual French military type, schools d
in the discipline and tradition of the army
| and prejudiced like ninety-nine out OF d
| hundred of their fellow officers against
! Dreyfus aud sympathetic to the great men
of the general staff, whom it had always
been their habit of mind to regard as stl.
| pertors, entitled to implicit and unQues-
toned support. One of the most importan,
witnesses was NJ. Casimir-Perier, ex-presi-
dent of the republic. whose testimony was
| extremely damaging to General MercieI
and to the accusers OF Dreyfus Coloncl
| Plcquarts testimony was very strongly ir
facor of the prisoner. Other important wit
nesses were then eX-minsters of war
Generals Billot, Zurlinden, Cavaignac and
Generals Boisdeffre, Roget and MERCER.