The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-06-10
STORY OF A NATIONS. CRIME.
Dreyfus' Arrest, Degradation and
Exile to DEVILS Island.

Dreyfus' Arrest, Degradation ana
Exile to Devils Island.
On October is, 1894, Captain Drey-
fus, complying with a note from Major
du Patty de Clam, waited upon him
ut the ministry of war in Paris. No
doubt, when presenting himself, Drey-
fus wondered what the unusual sum
mons meant and the manner of Du
Patty confirmed his impression that
something startling was at hand.
| There is no account of the interview
except Du Paty's, which is nseager, but
indicates a scene like this:
Du Patty: sit down; take a pen
are you ready? Now write this let
ter" thereupon debating the open
ing lines of the famous "bordereau:
"Sir, though l have no news to indicate
that you wish to see me-"
Du Patty says Dreyfus began writing
in a clear hand, but, observe, as the
dictation continues:
Du Patty: Proceed, captain, New
ertheless l am sending you some inter-
esting items of information. d) A
note on the hydraulic brake on the
12O--'"
AS u member of the intelligence Of
flee, Captain Dreyfus would have been
indeed dull if he had not, like light
ming, seen that he was suspected, that
he was being given the thirty-second
degree, as it were, and he turned pale
and faint.
But pray write straight. my dear
fellow" Du Patty reports he said, and
records Dreyfus' reply:
81 cannot write!'
Thereupon officers burst in upon the
scene (among them Major Henry, the
forger, who slew himself), and arrest
ed Dreyfus, who protested, demanding
to know the cause of his arrest.
"Treason!" they told him.
Acted Like a Madruan.
Major Henry conducted Dreyfus, in
q carriage, to the prison Cherche-Midi,
where the really authentic story be-
gins by Major Forzinetti, c~ommandant
of the military prison Of Paris. He
said hat a few minutes after the ar
rest of the prisoner, he entered the cell
to see him. Dreyfus was frantic, his
eyes blood-shot, his movements those
of a mailman. When Gained by the
commandant he begged permission to
write to the minister of wal to demand
a hearing.
For one week, while Dreyfus was
immurcd au secret, Du Patty came ev-
cry day, reporting fragments of the
"bordereau" to him, trying to entrap
the prisoner, by mental torment or
surprise. All this time Dreyfus was
wild with fury, indignation and horror.
He groaned, cried out, talked to HIM
self and shrieked:
"Innocent! Innocent! Innocent!'
He hurled himself against walls and
furniture until he fell exhausted. Hor-
rible nightmares haunted his sleep.
During nine days he touched no food
except a trile of broth.
When he recovered his self-posses-
sion he was sure of acquittal at the
preliminary hearing, although not vet
knowing the details of the accusation.
He talked with Major F~orzinetti about
his future plans. A few minutes be-
fore facing the Judges he exclaimed,
joyfully: Now l shall soon be able
to see my family"
martial declared him guilty. When
brought back to the office of Major
Forzinetti he said with a sob: "My only
crime is that l was born a Jew. o.
why did l ever enter the military
school? Why did I not resign as my
family wished me to do?"
His Degradation.
The formal degradation and expul-
sion of Dreyfus from the French army
was set for January s., 1895. Two
days before, he wrote to his wife to
increasingly continue the quest 10.
prove his innocence. To his friend,
Demange, he wrote: II shall march