Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-17

| IOtHiHS VI tHe ldclS OF the case, but
could repeat the surrounding circum-
stances, which he had already related
before the court Of cessation, if the
courtmartial desired.
| Col. Jouaust having explained to the
| witness that the courtmartial had no
| cognizance of previous proceedings. NJ.
| Guerin proceeded to repeat his evidence
as given before the court of cessation.
| saying that at the end of October. af-
ter a cabinet council, the premier in
| vited him to his room, where Gen
| MERCER Joined them, and explained
that for some time past documents had
been missing from the headquarters
| staff and that, in consequence of in
quiries made, suspicion attached to
Dreyfus. Gen. MERCER. the witness
continued, adding that he was convinc-
| ed Dreyfus was the culprit. He said
he founded his conviction on three
| facts:
First. the bordereau, the author of
which was undiscOverable until Col.
Fabre, on returning from the ma
neuVes, Immediately after he saw the
document, exclaimed: Why, it is
| Dreyfus handwriting"
enumerated in the bordereau. in con-
Junction with Dreyfus' employment in
| different departments, proved conclu-
| sively. according to Gen MERCER. that
| Dreyfus alone had cogniZance of all
| these papers and he alone could have
| disclosed them.
| Third. the dictation test and Drew
| fus' perturbation at the time.
| 4"
| consequence of these convictions. de-
clared his intention to ask the cabinet
the authorize the prosecution Of Drey-
| fus. a special cabinet met, Nov. /
| 1874, to consider the matter The Wit
ness forgot whether NJ. Casimir- Perier.
or NJ. Dupuy presided. Gen. MERCER
| handed the cabinet nothing but the
| bordereau. After the minister of war
| had related his reasons for his sus-
| picions the cabinet unanimously au-
| thorized the prosecution of Dreyfus.
| II. Hanataux alone made some re-
serves or diplomatic objections. based
on the place where the document was
| found. But it was agreed that in the
! event Of courtmartialing Dreyfus
| measures should be taken to prevent
mention of the name of any power.
From that day the witness had
! learned nothing of the case, PERSONAL
| ~, as it was in the hands Of the mill
| tary authorities. NJ Guerin, at that
| time, had never heard of the secret
documents and none was ever COM
municated to the cabinet He learned
! Of the existence Of the alleged secret
document during the lola trial and
| learned of the alleged confession Of
Dreyfus to Captain Lebrun-Renault
only from the newspapers. Gen Mer-
cier never mentioned the confession to
| the cabinet.
Col. 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 re-
member the occurrence. Did he not
say. on entering. pointing to the clock.
Monsieur lie MiniStre de Justice, |
fear lest at this hour a grave mistake
is being committed?' 1t is not fact
that you did not reply. but when NJ.
Colbert was leaving, recommended him
to observe extreme caution. as the
government was DESTROYS of keeping
the treason secret. dreading particu-
larry indiscretions upon the part of the
press, and. above all. upon the part of
Libre Parole as the suspected officer
was a Jew
NJ. Guerin replied: Il cannot affirm
whether or not l received NJ. Colbert.
but what I can affirm is that if he
came l did not employ the language
mentioned, and / made none of the
statements attributed to me-
Iahnn int nf. -,
onies, was then summoned to testify
regarding his treatment of the prison
er. He said that when the cabinet
was asked to intervene in favor of a |
revision he thought the executive |
should not interfere with the judiciary, |
and his respect for the Chose Jugee
was strengthened by his personal opin- !
ion of the culpability of the condemn |
ed
ION my soul and conscience" de- |
clared NJ. Lebon. dramatically, Il say |
regard the measures l took relative !
to the prisoner on lie du Diable as
warranted and if had to repeat them
l would NOT hesitate"
NJ. Lebon then explained the reasons |
for the rigorous measures against |
Dreyfus. He said a certain telegram
sent to French Guiana disappeared. |
showing. the witness said. that efforts
We're being made to enable the pris-
oner to evade the regulations. Rigor-
Gus, even painful measures We're there
fore taken to prevent his escape. NJ.
Lebon therefore issued orders that. if |
necessary, the prisoner was to be fired
upon. tSensation).
Continuing, NJ. 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, Aug. 10, that an American vessel
passed the lies Du Saiut and orders
We're 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 COM
with sympathizers, NJ. Lee
bon said he frankly admitted that he
believed in its authenticity. as did Col.
Picquart, until long after it's produc-
ton.
NJ. Lebon next referred to the num-
erous rough drafts the prisoner made
Of his letters before finally dispatch
ing them.