Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-31
tells OF CONFESSION.
Labori Corners the Witness on Many
Points Prisoner Makes In
dignant Denial.
And Shows the Absurdity Of Wit
ness Testimony--Wins Ap.
proval Of Audience.

Rennes, Aug. 31.-The closed session
of the Dreyfus trial today lasted three
hours. The court discussed secret docu-
ments relating to artillery subjects of
the bordereau. When the open session
began Capt. Lebrun-Renault gave the
terms Of the alleged confession of Drey-
fus to him as follows:
I am innocent. In three years they
will recognize my innocence. The min
lister knows it we'll. He told Patty de
Clam to tell me so several days ago in
my cell. He knows if j delivered the
documents to Germany they are Of no
Importance and it was to obtain more
important ones in return"
Labori questioned the witness closely
as to why he kept the fact of the con-
fession from President Cassimier Perier
and why he destroyed the note book in
which he wrote the alleged confession
as soon as the matter came up in the
chamber of deputies and on other
points. The witness explanations were
rather lame. Dreyfus made an indig-
nant answer to the witness testimony,
declaring Renault's failure to repeat his
(Dreyfus) alleged confession, which be-
gan with protestation of innocence, to
the chief officers was a "maneuver
which must fill all honest men with in
dignation." Dreyfus denied that he
fixed three years ass sadefinite time fort
disclosure of his innocence. The prison
er's outburst brought bravos from the
audience. Capt. Antoine followed and
repeated what Capt. Dattel, who was
present when Dreyfus' alleged confess
sion was made, said confirping the con-
feSsion.
Col. Guein. sent by Gen. Saussierg to
attend Dreyfus' degradation and report
on it, corroborated Renault, saying the
latter told him Of Dreyfus alleged con-
fession as having just been made and
that Renault repeated it to several
other officers who We're present. Wit
ness added that Dreyfus, as he entered
the prison van after the degradation
said In witness hearing justice would
| be done him in three years. Witness re-
ported all these things to Saussier.
Mai. De Mitry testified that Anthoine
told him of Dreyfus' confession.
Army Controller Peyrolles testified
that he heard the confession from
Guerin.
Mai. Fornizette, governor of Cherche
Midi prison when Dreyfus was confined
there, testified that though he frequent
ly met Renaul and Dattel neither OF
them ever alluded to the confession
Witness once faced Renault down be-
fore Gonse and other witnesses on this
point.
Fornizetti declared he expressed to
Boisdeffre his belief in Dreyfus' inno-
cence: said Dreyfus asked him for
weapon to commit suicide; that 1t was
with difficulty Dreyfus was prevented
from dashing his head against the wall
after he was condemned Dreyfus wrote
the minister of war saying: When
am gone, let them seek the culprit.'
At the conclusion of Fornizetti's tes-
timony Dreyfus arose and, with wide
spread motion, said after his condem-
nation he was determined to commit
suicide, but his wife dissuaded him, de-
claring that If he was innocent he
should undergo his sentence for hel
sake and their children. He concluded
by saying: IF am here, it is to her
owe it,
Fornizetti corroborated the state
ment, saying at the last interview
Dreyfus said: For her and for my chill
dren I will undergo the torture of to-
morrow" Dreyfus' declaration deeply
moved his hearers. The session con-
cluded with confrontations Of Lebrun-
Renault and Boisdeffre. Renault sai6
he did not speak to Fornizetti of Drey-
fus' confession because he had instruc-
tions to keep silent. Boisdeffre denied
that Fornizetti expressed conviction
of Dreyfus innocence. Fornizetti main
tained the assertion. however. Ad-
journed.
AIR FILLED WITH RUMoRs.