Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-08-31
Dreyfus Said She Gave Him
Courage to Face His
Enemies.
COURT MARTIAL PROCEEDS
Keeper of the Prison TestIfles
Favorably Toward the
Accused.

RENNEs, August 31.-The Dreyfus
trial opened behind closed doors at the
Lycee today, so continuing until 9:l5
o'clock. Majors Hartman and Lacros
and General Deloye, all of the artillery,
were present. The court discussed the
secret documents relating to artillery
subjects of the bordereau. The first
witness called after the public session
began was Captain Lebrun Renault Of
the Republican guard, who reiterated
his testimony given before the court of
cessation and repeating the terms of the
alleged confession of Dreyfus:
81 am innocent. In three years it
will recognize my innocence. The min.
lister knows it. If l delivered docu.
ments to Germany it was to get more
important ones in return"
Witness explanation that he did not
refer to the confession of Dreyfus in
his interview with President Caslmir
Perier, because he overheard a CONVEX
sation, during which he was called
"traitor,"' cdnaille" and cur" came as
a surprise, for he did not mention this
in the evidence before the court of cas-
the defense pointed out.
Labori also laid stress on the fact
that Lebrun Renault should have kept
AAA IL ~ ~ Atnk kno rfnI do.
note of his conversation with Dreyfus
four years ago and destroyed it on the
very morrow that the matter was
Erought up in debate in the chamber of
deputies
Dreyfus. replying to the witness, be-
gan by calmly declaring that Lebrun
Renault's statement that certain Cap
cain Dattel was present during the con-
versation with Lebrun Renault was in
accurate. The witness, however, main
tanned that Dattel was present, where
upon Dreyfus said If he was present, he
(the prisoner) did not speak to him.
Dreyfus then raised his voice excit- |
edly aud quivering with emotion pro-
tested that Captain Lebrun Renault
should hav repeated to his chief utter
ances which began with protestation
of innocence without asking him to ex-
plain his words.
"Those are maneougres,' cried the
prisoner, (which must fill all honest
men with Indignation" The audience
broke into "bravos."
Captain Anterne followed and re-
peated what Captain Dattel had said
confirming the confession. Dreyfus
replied he had not spoken to Captain
Dattel. Lebrun Ran Renault said this
was true but added that Dattle was
present and could have heard the con-
versation.
Labori here pointed out that Dattel
had not spoken to his chiefs on the sub
iect. General Mercer admitted this
was correct.
Colonel Jouaust told Dreyfus that he
had not explained why he mentioned
the term of three years, to which Drey-
fus replied:
81 did not give three years as term.
| only said hoped that in course of
two or three years my innocence would
be recognized and wish to state, my
colonel, that as my letters to General
Gonse show, my words did not have the
sense that evil minds have sought to
give them"
Major Forsenetti, governor of the
Cherche Midi prison during the time
that Dreyfus was imprisoned there. tes-
titled in behalf of Dreyfus. declaring he
never heard of the confession Dreyfus
is said to have made. He declared that
he once taxed Captain Lebrun Renault
before General Gonse and other wit
nesses with saying be spoken to the
witness (Forsenetti) of confession
and Captain Lebrun Renault did not
reply.
"Whereupon," Major Forsenetti said,
II seized his arm and said If the words
repeated as yours are true, you are an
Infamous liar
Major Forsenetti then declared that
on visiting General de Boisdeffre TO ex-
press his fears about the health of the
prisoner. the General asked him his
opinion of Dreyfus and the major re-
piled:
''My general, had you not put that
question to me, l would have kept my
counsel, hut since you ask my opinion,
declare | believe that he is lnno-
cent"
Colonel Jouaust asked the major if
Dreyfus had ever had any idea of sui
eide. The witness replied that Drey-
fus had asked him for a weapon and
also after his condemnation was read
to him he was with difficulty prevented
from dashing his head against the wall.
Afte.' the last visit of Du Patty de Clam
TO Dreyfus, continued Forsenetti, the
prisoner wIote the minister of war a
letter which concluded with the words:
"When l am gone let them seek the
culprit.'
at the conclusion of Forsenetti's
evidence, Dreyfus said: II wish to say
to whom | owe the fact that | have
done my duty and to whom owe hav-
lug done it for FIVE years after my con-
depnation, had determined to kill my
self. [ can say here 1t was Madame
Dfeyfns who showed me mV duty and
who told me if was innocent | ought
TO do it for the sake of her and ouI
children. If / am here, it is to her
owe it, mg colonel:
The declaration of Dreyfus that hi'
life was due to his wife deeply stirred
All his hearers. Tears were glistenlnl
in his eyes. The session concluded
with confrontations of Captain Lebrur
Renault and General de B0isdeffre, th'
former explaining that he did not speal
to Major Forsenetti of the Dreyfus con
fession because he had received instruc
tlons to keep silent. De Boisdeffre de
hied Forsenetti had expressed to hih
his conviction that preyfus was limo
cent.
Petition Queen Victoria.
LONDON, August af.-A petition
from the Nafhprlandss W0mania Dis