The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-31
AN ALLEDGED
CONFESSION.
Continued from FIRST Page.)

Continued from First Page)
Capt. Lebrun- RenauIt-He asked
what Dreyfus had said and then told
me to go to the Elysee and describe the
confession But 1 was given no time
to mention it then.
The judge-Did you go there for that
Capt. Lebrun- Renault-I went there
for that purpose.
The judge-It is a great pity you said
nothing on the subject.
Captain Lebrun Renault-I had no
time to speak of it.
The president, moreover, seemed
much more concerned about a remark
by Dreyfus concerning the writing of
the bordereau, which had been pub
Hshed in a newspaper.
A judge-Did the president know
what you came to the Elysee for?
Lebrun Renault-The president was
notified that I was coming. For my
part, 1 was somewhat intimidated,
which is easily explained. heard my
self described as a traitor ''canaille''
and cur" That was not encouraging.
NJ. Demange asked the witness if it
was really a conversation with Drey-
sisted of a broken dialogue, as General
GOnse had said.
Captain Lebrun ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
spoke to me, but I did not reply.
M. Demange asked how the witness
could detect confessions in a sentence
containing the words: Il am innocent.
HE WAS A PHONOGRAPH.
Captain Lebrun Renault-It is not
for me to reconcile the Inconsistencies
of a sentence in which the material
fact that documents had been COM
municated was admitted 1t is not for
me to give an explanation. 1t is for
Dreyfus and the defense to explain.
heard this sentence. I was only a kind
of photograph and I repeated it with
out commentary. (Excitement.)
H. TFTea
witness refused to say whether or not
he regarded the words of Dreyfus as
confession.
Il have no impression whatever" he
said. '.DreyfuS said a great deal to me.
I retained this sentence and repeated
it when asked. If I did not mention it
in my report it was because had the
task of conducting Dreyfus from the
prison to the place of degradation and
it was not my duty to make Dreyfus
talk (ExcitemenD.
NJ. Demange-How could Gen. GOnSe
and Gen. MERCER, on hearing your story
believe they had to deal with a con-
fession and how could they send you
to the Elysee.
I4ebrun- Renault-I have no idea.
NJ Demange reminded the witness
| that before the court of cessation he
considered the sentence of the prisoner
which he had quoted to be a kind of
explanation or excuse.
Capt. Lebrun- Renault-Why mon
sieur lie presidente, that is a personal
question. I have no opinion to express
on that point I am not judge of things.
l repeat simply what Dreyfus told me.
Certain persons may consider his re-
| marks as enbodying confessions, 9TH
ers as being an explanation. That is
their business. (Commotion)-
NJ. abOri-Capt. Lebrun-R enault
was not content with entering on his
report of January 5, that duty COM
menced" at such an hour and ended at
such an hour; but he especially added,
/ Nothing to report" when as a matter
of fact he alleges that an incident of
this Importance occurred.
Capt Lebrun- RenauIt-I had nothing
to report. My duty was to take Drey-
fus from the prison and guard him. I
had nothing to say in regard to that
duty.
NJ. Labori-Why did the witness keep
| the leaf of his poc6etbook with the note
| of the confession for years? The wit
! ness seems to say that it was mere
ness destroyed it just the day after it
was mentioned in the chamber of depu-
/ ties.
To this Captain Lebrun Renault re-
! piled that at that time he considered
| that the document he possessed was
/ authenticated by the copy made of it
| by M. Cavaignac the day before it was
! destroyed.
NJ. Labori-The court will draw it's
/ own conclusions.
Then turning to the witness, NJ. La
/ bori asked:
Who was the official who made abu-
! sive remarks about you at the EIysee ~
/ captain LebPun Renault-I have no
! idea.
! At this time NJ. Labor said he was
! much surprised.
| LABORI Is SURPRISED.
| At this time NJ. Labor said he was
] much surprised that the witness had
/ not referred to this abuse before the
| court Of cessation.
/ Asked if he had anything to say
/ Dreyfus declared that when he was at
/ the military school on the day of his
| degradation, Capt. Lebrun- Renault did
not leave him
| 1T is possible continued the pris-
/ oner, that Capt. D'AtteI entered the
/ guard room, but 50 far as can assert
/ after a five years interval, no other
officer but Capt. Lebrun- RenauIt en-
! tered the room in which I was"
| Replying to Col. Jouaust Capt Le-
! brun- Renault reiterated that Capt
/ D'Attel entered the room and remained
there five minutes
| Dreyfus replying said that in any
case, he certainly did not speak to Cap
/ tain D Attel. He added that he had al