The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-25
the document to General Roget while en-

FOR The document General Chanoine replied
in the affirmative, adding, however, the
admission that he had made mistake.
colonel Jouaust intimated that the cour'
oupht 10 take no notice OF the document IL
question. -,,, .. =.
hnn' no employed MS time at Bourges from
October. 1889, to February, lSso.
1-ha prisoner said: IL was promoted
csnfain September ~, 1882 and remained
al Bourges from October. 1889, 10 teo'
ruary. 1890. when the written examina'
tiop at the military college began wa'
then called to Paris, obtained two months
Leave and was married in April. spent
four months at Bourges. AS ] was pre-
noring for examination, ! had no time 20
20 10 cafes or TO think OF anytnlng out
side of my duties
General Risbourg who was commandei
of the republican guard in Paris ia 1879
was the next witness. he descTioeu IN.
scene with Captain LeBrun Renauit, Wnen
the witness learned of Dreyfus alleged
confessions to Captain LeBrun- Renauit
the day after the prisoners degradation,
In conclusion, General Risbourg euio-
glzed the services of Captain Lebrun-
Renault, and said that before the mel
dent of the confession there was nothing
apainst him, He was an excellent officer,
good comrade and incapable OF inJurihg
any one.
After being asked the usual question
Dreyfus protested against General MS
bourg's evidence.
II am surprised" the prisoner sald;
that he Captain Lebrun- Renauit) couio
| have made the statements attributed u
him. on the way from the prison TO La
sante, Captain Lebrun Eenault shook
| hands with me, a fact which IS in contra
dictlon of his statement Besides, when
such a terrible charge has been hanging
over a man who has resisted 1t for nVe
years, witnesses should not come here that
merely speak their beliefs, but ought to
bring proofs, positive proofs. Otherwise
am completely nonplussed as to how
can reply" (Sensation.)
Dreyfus then proceeded to give the true
version of his words on the occasion o.
the alleged confession and dwelt on mis-
Clam.
The prisoners remarks deeply Impressed
his hearers.
Continuing. Dreyfus SAID; Reference
| was also made TO confessions. | will state
the exact terms of the so-called confession
of mine. Captain LIE Brun- Renault and
were together in the room. | said TO
| him; i am innocent | will declare 1t in
the face of the whole people. That is
the cry of my conscience. You know that
cry l repeated it all through the torture
| of my degradation
"Afterward / added referring to the
visit of Du Patty de Clam. The minister is
we'll aware that 1 am innocent
What | meant to intimate was that
| / had praised the minister, in response
| to the steps Du Patty de Clam had taken
against me that ! was innocent.
"Du Patty de Clam quizzed Inc and
asked for information. l replied to him:
L am innocent--absolutely innocent ]
repeated verbally to Du Patty de Clam and
in writing to the minister that l was per-
fectly innocent. That is what | meant by
the words, The ministry is we'll aware
that am innocent
"TheR reverted to the visit of Du Patty
de Clam and said to Captain LeBrun Re
nault; SDu Patty de Clam asked me if l mad
not given documents of no Importance in
order to obtain others in exchange. re-
piled that not only was I absolutely limo
cent, but that l desired the whole matter
should be cleared up.
Then added that 7 hoped that within
two or three years my icSocence would
be established. l told Du Patty de Clam
that wanted full light on the matte,
that an iniquity had been Zone and that
is was impossible for the government to
fail to use its influence to discover the
whole truth. The government l said,
had means either through the military at
taches or diplomatic channels TO reach the
truth.
and ! also said, 1T is awful that a
soldier should be convicted of such a
frightful crime. Consequently 1t seems to
me as asked only for truth and light that
the government should use all It's means
at its disposal to secure that light
"Du Patty de Clam replied; There are
interests at stake higher than yours. These
channels can not be employed
He added, however that the inquiries
would BE continued 1t was on the
strength of Du Patty de CLAIMS promise
to try what means could be found to reach
the truth and end this awful iniquity that
l said that i hoped in two or three years
my innocence would be proved, for Du
Patty de Clam told 10 that the investiga-
ton which would be OF the utmost delicate
nature could not be undertaken imme-
diately,' think l have expressed my
whole mind. If YOU still have any doubts,
ask YOU my colonel, to present it to
me-"
AT the request of NJ, De Mango, General
MERCER was recalled and asked to explain
why having sent Du Patty de Clam to Drey-
rus TO discover the amount OF the injury
Dreytus had done he had not followed
up his investigation?
General Merc!er-I did not feel called
upon to do so,
Colonel Jouaust-Tell us. general. when
you were apprised of the confession YOU
ala not send some one to Dreyfus to try to
get substantiation and what he had not
told Du Patty de Clam
Mernier-Dreyfus had written me that hs
refused 10 discuss the confessions with Du
Patty de Clam and / took no further stems
Colonel Jouaust-But since the prisoner
seemed to have begun making avowals of
his guilt, why did you not follow the mat
ter up?
General Mercier-I might perhaps have
thought OF 1t, but did n>s occur to me.
me prisoner again protested that the
inquiry ought to have been followed up
because 1t would have served to destroy
inc hct!on OF a confession to which such
importance Is now at hand. (Sensation.)
Continuing, Dreyfus said "Wil YOU
permit me, my colonel. to make a small
remark with reference to the fiction of my
concessions. | remained in the prison of
La santa for two or three weeks and saw
NJ De Mango during that period and then
while was al the lie Sc Re wrote to the
minister OF war and others. believe the
letters | wrote are contained in the secret
dossier, | believe also wrote to the head
or the state. How was 1t was never
asked about the legend OF my confession,
That | was in position to destroy imme-
diately | never heard word OF 1t. II |
was only four yelrs later in January. 1899 |
when Intercepted by the commissioners
sent by the court of cessation that heard
Of this fiction.