Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-16

taux alone made some reservations or dip
lomatic objections, based on the place
where the document was found. but II was
agreed that, in the event of court-martial-
ing Dreyfus. measures should be taken to
prevent mention of the name of any power:
From that day the witness had learned
nothing whatever of the case personally,
as it was in the hands of the military au-
thorities. NJ. Guerin, at that time, had
never heard of the secret documents, and
none was ever communicated to the cabi-
net. He only learned of the existence OF
the alleged secret documents during the
lola trial and only learned of the alleged
confession of DreyfuS to Captain Lebrun-
Renaut from the newspapers. General
MERCER never mentioned the confession to
the cabinet.
Colonel Jouaust then questioned the wit
ness. saying:
M Colbert an expert, has declared you
summoned him to your office to give you
Information about the Dreyfus affair. Do
you remember the occurrence? Did he not
say on entering. pointing to the clock:
Monsieur lie Minister de Justice. I fear
lest at this hour a grave mistake is being
committed
NJ. Gu-rin Did Not Remember.
as it rot a fact that you did not reply.
but wien NJ. Colbert was leaving, recon-
mended him to observe extreme caution,
as the government was DESTROYS of keeping
the treason secret, dreadng particularly
indiscretfons upon the part of the press,
Parole. as the suspected officer was
Jew?
NJ. Guerin replied: II cannot affirm
whether or not | received NJ Colbert but
what | can affirm is that If he came I did
not employ the language mentioned and |
made no statements he attributes to me.
NJ. Lebon, former minister of the colo
MES was then summoned to testify re-
garding his treatment of the prisoner. He
said that when the cabinet was asked to
intervene in favor of revision he thought
the executive should not interfere with the
judiciary. and his respect for the Chose
Jugee was strengthened by his personal
opinion of the culpability of the con-
demned
ON my soul and conscience" declared
NJ. Lebon dramatically, Il say I regard
the measures took relative to the prison.
er on the Isle du Diable warranted, and
if | had to repeat them l would not hesi-
tate"
NJ. Lebon then explained the reasons for
the rigorous measures against Dreyfus.
He said a certain telegram sent to French
Guiana disappeared. 1t was traced out OF
France but Immediately it reached the
English lines disappeared, showing, the
witness said that efforts were being made
to enable the prisoner to evade the resu-
lations. Rigorous, even painful. measures
were therefore taken to prevent his escape.
Lebon therefore issued orders that If neces-
Sary the prisoner was to be fired upon.
(Sensationb.
Continuing NJ. Lebon said he also issued
orders that only copies of letters address,
ed to the prisoner should he delivered to
him, the originals being retained; me
witness was informed August 10 that an
American vessel passed the Isles du Saiut,
and orders were then issued that Dreyfus
was to be shot on the slightest alarm.
Anent the Weyler Forgery.
Referring to the Weyler forgery, which
was intended to convey the impression that
Dreyfus was in communication with out
side sympat hizers, NJ. Le!ton said he frank
ly admitted that he believed in its au-
thentirity. as Col. Picquart, until long after
its production.
NJ. Lebon next referred to the numerous
rough drafts the prisoner made of his let
ters before finally dispatching them.
At this point NJ. DemanSe interrupted the
witness and said:
IL pass from surprise 10 surprise. Yes
terday it was a witness playing the part
of prosecutor Today enc witness defends
himself by saying his conscience in tran
quill He is welcome to a tranquil con-
science But ask him if ne finds it sur
prising that this man, alone out there on
a lost island. should have poured out his
soul on paper? | ask again, why you al
lowed the former Weyler letter, in which
handwriting was indicated. to reach Drey-
fus?'
To this NJ Lebon replied:
I'VE could not give up the original. But
the idea given occurred to many agents of
the adrninistr ation to subject Dreyfus to
the savage and atrocfous treatment whlch
has been spoken Of
Col. Jcuaust. addressing Dreyfus, asked:
Did you receive the letter just referred
top
Dreyfus replied:
Eyes, my colonel.
What impression did it make on your
Il understood nothing of what 1t, con-
tained" answered the prisoner tSensa-
uon-)
Dreyfus Feared Insanity.
At this juncture some time was occupied
In reading long report from the minister
Of the colonies to the minister of war, CIV
ing the various reports of the governor OF
French Guiana. Passages describing the
dread the prisoner expressed to the doctors
when he feared he losing his reason
caused an immense impression Tears were
even seen to glisten in the eyes of General
BilIot the former minister of war.
At the conclusion of the report NJ. Lebon
asked leave to explain. He said:
II do not dispute the accuracy OF the re-
port but it is partial Reference has been
most carefully made to the precarious
health of the prisoner. But the doctor
never made communication to me on the
subject. l do not hesitate TO say that II ne
had uone so should have given orders to
have the prisoner treated as all invalids
should be treated. 1t is with deliberate In
tent that l have been treated as an execu-
TONER
Colonel Jouaust. turning to Dreyfus. then
remarked:
Have you anything to say in regard to
tnlS deposition.
Then the prisoner said: mo. my colonel.
/ am here to defend my honor l do not
wish 70 speak here of the atrociouS suffer
ing physical and moral. which for five
years l. a Frenchman and an innocent man,
was subjected to on the Isle du Diable.
The remarks of Dreyfus caused intense
excitement in court The prisoner uttered
the words in loud voice and with tremen-
dous energy, which created a profound sem
Sation.
Madame Henry Appears.
The audience had not recovered from the
emotion caused by this scene when Madame
Henry. in deep mourning, appeared in court
and entered the witness box amid profound
silence.
Col. Jouaust. addressing this witness,
said:
We thought. madame. that your life in
common with your husband has placed you
in a position TO give interesting information
l beg you to tell the court what you know
Madame Henry deposed that toward the
end of September. 1894 after dinner one
evening her husband told her a paper had.
been handed him being very important
The witness added: las he did not return. /
retired about IL O'Clock. and / asked him
when he returned why he was later than
usual. He undid narrow transparent roll
of paper and said:
There is serious matter here which /
have been requested to investigate this