The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-16

dence as given before the court OF cas-
satfon saying at the end of October af-
ter a cabinet council the premier 1nvi-
ted him to his room, where Gen, Mer-
cier Joined them and explained that for
some time past documents had been
missing from the headquarters stan
and that in consequence of inquiries
made, a suspicion attached to Dreyfus-
Cen, ,Nercier. the witness continued ad-
ded that he was convinced that Drey-
fus was the culprit. He said he found
ed his conviction on three facts: first
the bordereau, the author of which was
undiscOverable until Col. Fabre on re-
turning from the manOeuvers immedt-
ateiy after he saw the document ex-
claimed.
why, it is Dreyfus' handwriting"
Secondly, the nature of the dOcu-
ments enumerated in the bordereau in
conjunction with Dreyfus' employment
in different departments, proved con-
cIusively according to Gen Mercier,
that Dreyfus alone had cOgnizance of
all these papers and he alone could
have disclosed them.
Thirdly, the dictation test and Drey-
fus' perturbation at the time
Gen. Mercier, NJ. Guerin then said, in
consequence of these convictions, de-
clared his intention to ask the cabinet
to authorize the prosecution of Drey-
fus. A special cabinet met November
I. 1894, to consider the matter. The wit
ness forgot whether NJ. Casimir-Per-
ier or NJ. Dupuy presided. Gen. Mer-
c1er handed the cabinet nothing, but
the bordereau. After the minister of
war had related his reasons for his
suspicious. the cabinet unanimously
authorized the prosecution of Dreyfus
NJ. HanOtauZ alone made some reser-
vatiOns, or diplomatic objections, based
on the place where the document was
found; but it was agreed that in the
event of court martiaiing Dreyfus
measures should be taken to prevent
mention of the name of any power
From that day the witness had learned
nothing whatever of the case. personal
Ixr a.
tary authorities. NJ Guerin at that
time had never heard of the secret doc
uments and none was ever cOmmunica-
ted to the cabinet. He only learned or
the existence of the alleged secret doc
uments during the ZOla trial and only
learned of the alleged confession of
Dreyfus to Capt. LebrOn-Renault from
the newspapers. Gen. MERCER never
mentioned the confession to the cabi-
net.
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 Drey-
fus affair. Do you remember the Oc-
currence? Did he not say, on entering,
pointing to the clerk: Monsieur LIE
N4inistre de Justice, I fear lest at this
hour a grave mistake is being commit
ted Is 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 deS1r-
dreading particularly indiscretions up
on the part of the press and above all
upon the part of the Libre Parole, as
the suspected officer was a Jew2
NJ. Guerin replied: I can not affirm
whether or not received NJ. Colbert,
but what I can affirm is that if he
came I did not employ the language
mentioned, and I made none of the
statements he attributes to me-"
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 revis-
ion he thought the executive should
not interfere with the judiciary and
his respect for the chose jugee was
strengthened by his personal opinion OF
the culpability of the condemned
'On my soul and conscience de-
cIared NJ LebOn dramatically, I say
regard the measures 1 took relative
to the prisoner on the lie du Diable as
warranted and if had to repeat them
I would not hesitate" NJ. LebOn ex-
planned the reasons for the rigorous
measures against Dreyfus. He said a
certain telegram sent to French Guiana
disappeared 1t was traced out of
France but Immediately it reached the
English lines it disappeared, showing,
the witness said, that efforts were be-
ing made to enable the prisoner to
evade the regulations. Rigorous, even
painful, measures were therefore taken
to prevent his escape. NJ. LebOn there
fore issued orders that, if necessary,
the prisoner was to be fired upon.
(SenSatiOn.)
Continuing. NJ Lebon said he also
issued orders that only copies of the
letters addressed to the prisoner should
be delivered to him. the original being
retained. The witness was informed
August 10 that an American vessel
passed the Isles de Salut 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 COM
municatiOn with outside sympathizers,
that he believed in its authenticity as
did Col. Picquart, until long after its
production.
NJ. LebOn next referred to the num-
erous rough drafts the prisoner made
Of his letters before finally dispatching
them.
At this point NJ. Demange interrupted
the witness and said:
I passed from surprise to surprise.
Yet 1t was witness playing the part
of prosecutor Today one witness de-
tends himself by saying his conscience
is tranquil He is welcome to a 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? I ask
again why you allowed the forged
Weyler letter, in which a handwriting
was indicated to reach DreyfUs.'
To this NJ Lebon replied: I'VE could
not give up the original But the idea
never occurred TO any agents OF the ad-
ministration to subject Dreyfus to the
savage and atrOcious treatment which has
been spoken of.
Colonel JOuaust addressing Dreyfus ask
ed
Did you receive the letter just referred
Dreyfus replied: yes. my colonel"
At this juncture some time was occu-
pied in reading long report from the
minister of the. colonies to the minister
OF war giving the various reports of the
governor of French Guiana.
Passages describing the dread the pris-
oner expressed to the doctors when he