Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-17


head inclined forward like that of coura
awaiting the moment to strike. Dreyfus,
however, was not a hypnotized rabbit and
steadily returned his gaze, sometimes
throwing a glance at the president of the
court, as though appealing for permission
to reply. Once, when General Roget had
flung one of these darts, one could see the
fire in Dreyfus' eyes and in his tightly
clenched jaws could be OWNED the strug
gle that was going on within him. The
captain of gendarmes, seated beside Drey-
fus, watched him closely. The seconds
passed like hours, and the spectators held
their breath. General Roget seemed pur-
posely to prolong the silence in order to
make a deeper impression. 1t was peril
Gus moment. But Dreyfus won the bat
tie over his passions and when Rogets'
voice was at length heard again every one
knew the danger was passed and a deep
drawn sigh of relief came from the audi
ence.
Dreyfus Moves the Audience.
Colonel Jouaust previously asked Dreyfus
IL he wished to say anything, and the pris-
oner, who, during the time of General
Roget's illumination against him, several
times made a movement as if to rise and
retort, but was waved down by Colonel
Jouaust, rose, and In that voice which is not
agreeable in ordinary times, but when,
strangled with emotion, as it was to-day,
has thrilling effect on his hearers, he
cried, crushing his kept in his hands:
My Colonel:-1t is frightful thing that
every day they tear out my heart and
soul without my being able to reply. 1t Is
awful torture for an innocent man and q
loyal soldier. 1t is frightful thing, fright
full, frightful."
The audience. profoundly stirred, began
t0 hut ba
suppressed.
NJ. .Demange then announced that he
would question General Roget tomorrow.
Ex-Minister Guerin's story.
The following is the evidence in detail:
Ex-Minister of Justice Guerin, the first
witness, said he knew absolutely nothing
of the facts in the case, but could repeat
the surrounding circumstance, which ne
had already related before the court OF
cessation. IL the court-martial desired
Colonel Jouaust explained to the witness
that the court-martial had no cognlzance
of previous proceedings, and Nj. Guerln
proceeded to repeat his evidence, as given
at the end of October, after cabinet
council, the premier invited him to his
room, where General Mercier Joined them
| and explained that, for some time past,
documents had been missing from the
headquarters staff. and that, in conse-
quence Of inquiries made. suspicion at
|
witness added, he was convinced Dreyfus
was the culprit. He said he founded MS
| conviction on three facts: First, the Dor
dereau. the author of which was io. nndiss2v-
from the maneuvers Immediately after ne
| saw the document, exclaimed:
why. it is Dreyfus' handwriting.
! enumerated in the bordereau. in conJunc.
tion with Dreyfus' employment In different
| departments. proved conclusively, accord
had cognizance of all these papers, ana
he alone could have disclosed them.
| Thirdly, the dictation test and Dreyfus'
perturbation at the time.
Cabinet Authorizes Prosecution.
General Mercier, NJ Guerin then said, in
| consequence of those convictions, declared
his intention TO ask the cabinet to author
| ize the prosecution of Dreyfus. The cabi-
net met November /, 1894, to consider the
matter. General Mercier handed the cab
| met nothing but the bordereau. After the
minister of war had related his reasons
| for his suspicious. the cabinet unanimously
authorized the prosecution of Drevfus;.
| NJ. HanotauX alone, made some reservations
| or diplomatic objections. based on the place
where the document was found: but 1t was
agreed that in the event of court-martial-
1 ing Dreyfus, measures should be taken to
prevent mention of the name of any pow
! nothing whatever of the case, personally,
| as II 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 cab
| met. He only learned of the existence OF
alleged secret documents. during. the Zola
trial. and only learned of the alleged con-
fession of Dreyfus to Captain Lebron- Re-
nault from the newspapers. General Mer,
cier never mentioned the confession to the
cabinet.
Orders Given to Shoot Dreyfus.
NJ. Lebon former minister of the colonies
was then summoned to testify regarding his
treatment of the prisoner. He said that
when the cabinet was asked to intervene
in favor of a revision, he thought the exec.
utive should not interfere with the judi.
ciary. and his respect for the Chose Jugee
the capaSitS o he p0
on my soul and conscience. declared NJ
Lebon, dramatically, "1 say, regard the
the Isle du Diable as warranted and Il
I had to repeat them would not hesitate
NJ. Lebon then explained the reason fol
the rigorous measures against Dreyfus. HI
said certain telegram sent to French
Guiana disappeared. 1t was traced out Of
France. but Immediately It reached the
English lines II disappeared, showing. tn,
J witness said that efforts were being mad,
to enable the prisoner to evade the regula
tons ons rigorous, even painful. measures
cape N. Lebon issued orders that, IL neces
ssry. the prisoner was to be fired upon
Continuing, NJ. Lebon said he also ISSUED
orders that only copies of the letters ad
dressed to the prisoner should be deivere,
to him, the originals being retained. Th
witness was informed August 10 that al
American vessel passed the Isle de Salu
and orders We're then issued that Dreyfu
was to be shot on the slightest alarm.
Auditors I'm Tears.
AT this juncture some time was occupie,
! In reading long report from the ministe
OF the colonies to the minister of war, Civ
Ing the various reports of the governor q
French Guiana. Passages describing tn
dread the prisoner expressed to the doc
tors when he feared he was losing hi
Iears were even seen to glisten in the eve
, or General Billot, the former minister O
war.
At the conclusion of the report M. Lebo,
asked leave to explain. He said:
Il do not dispute the accuracy of the re
port, but II Is partial Reference has bee
most carefully made to the precariou
/. never made a communication to me on tn
: subject. don't hesitate to say that, ff h
[ had done so, l should have given order
to have the prisoner treated as all invalid
should be treated. 1t is with deliberat
intent that have been treated as an exc
: cutioner."
The audience had not recovered from tn
e emotion caused by the scene when Nine
Henry in deep mourning. appeared /
court and entered the witness box ami
4 profound silence.
Madame Henry's Story.
Colonel Jouaust, addressing this witnes.
+ said: I'VE thought, madame, that you
q life, in common with your husband, ha
a placed you in position to give interestin
: what you know
end of September, 1894 after dinner on
. evening, her husband told her a paper ha