Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-17


From that day the witness has learned
nothing whatever of the case, person
ally, as it was in the hands of the mil
| itary authorities M. Guerin, at that
time, had never heard of the secret doc
uments and none was ever communi-
J Gated to the cabinet. 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-Renault from the
/ newspapers. Gen. MERCER never men,
| toned the confession to the cabinet.
Col. Jouaust then questioned the
witness, saying;
| IN. Colbert, an expert, has declared
you summoned him to your office to
give you information about the Drey-
fus affair Do you remember the oe-
currence? Did he not say, on entering,
: pointing to the clock: Monsieur lie
Minister de Justice. l fear lest at this
hour a grave mistake is being commit
ted'?"
rs it not a fact that you did not
reply, but when NJ Colbert was leaving,
recommended him to observe extreme
caution, as the government was desir-
Gus of keeping the treason secret, dread
ing particularly indiscretions upon the
part of the press, and, above all, upon
the part of the Libre Parole, as the
suspected officer was Jew?"
M. Guerin replied:
II cannot affirm whether or not
received NJ. Colbert, but what | can af-
firm is that if he came l did not employ
the language mentioned. and | made
none of the statements he attributes to
me-"
NJ Lebon former ministerof the col
onies was then summoned to testify re-
garding his treatment of the prisoner.
| He said that when the cabinet was ask
ed to intervene in favor of revision he
thought the executive should not inter
fere with the judiciary, and his respect
for the Chose Jugee was strengthened
by his personal opinion of the culpabil-
ity of the condemned.
"0p my soul and conscience" declar-
ed Mr. Lebon dramatically. II say
regard tie measures | took relative to
the prisoner on the Isle Du Diable as
warranted, and if l had to repeat them
1
WOULD not HESITATE"
| M. Lebon then explained the reason
for the rigorous measures against Drey-
fus. He said certain telegram sent to
French Guiana disappeared. 1t was
| traced out of France, but Immediately
it reached the English lines it disap-
/ peared, showing, the witness said, that
efforts were being made to enable the
prisoner to evade the regulations.
| Rigorous, even painful measures were
therefore taken to prevent his escape,
M. Lebon therefore issued orders that,
il necessary, the prisoner was to be fired
upon. (Sensation.)
Continuing, M. Lebon said he also
issued orders that only copies Of the
| letters addressed to the prisoner should
be delivered to him, the originals be-
ing retained The witness was inform
ed August 10, that vessel passed the
| Isles Du Sulat and orders were then
Issued that Dreyfus was to be shot on
the slightest alarm.
Referring to the Weyler forgery,
which was intended to convey the i'm
preston that Dreyfus was in commune
cation with outside sympathizers, M.
Lebon said he frankly admitted that he
believed in it's authenticity as did Col.
Picquart, until long after it's produc-
ton. M. Lebon next referred to the
numerous rough drafts the prisoners
made of his letters before finally dis
patching them.
! ted the witness and said:
| 81 passed from surprise to surprise.
Yesterday it was witness playing the
part of prosecutor. To-day one witness
defends himself by saying his conscience
is tranquil He is welcome to tran
quill conscience. But ask him if he
| finds it surprising that this man, alone
out there on a lost island should have
poured out his soul on paper? l ask
again, why you allowed
THE FORGED WEYLER LETTER
in which handwriting was indicated,
| to reach Dreyfus?'
| To this NJ Lebon replid:
| I'VE could not give UP the original.
But the idea never occurred to any
agents of the administration TO subject
Dreyfus to the savage and atroeious
! treatment which has been spoken of. "
Col. Jouaust, addressing Dreyfus,
asked:
did you receive the letter just re-
ferred to-"
Dreyfus replied:
! Eyes, my Colonel.
y What impression did it make on
your"
L