The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-01
Vest terday Hard Day for
Prisoner.
Significant Question Put BY
Member of Court.

RenDes, August 31.-Dreyfus today had
the most trying day he has yet gone
through. The strain proved too much for
him and. for the second time In the
course of the trial he gave way to his feel
ings and sought relief in tears.
A very significant question was put to
Colonel Guerin, one of the witnesses. by
member Of the court, Lieut.. Col.
Brongniart who sits at Colonel Jouaust's
right hand and always puts pointed
questions. He has thoroughly studied the
Dreyfus case and Is reputed to be one Of
the best authorities on the case 1t is GER
tain Colonel Jouaust consults him fire.
quently during the proceedings.
Brongniart Is said to be rat I'd an a. -Drey-
rusard and he, today, In a quiet tone,
asked Colonel Guerin II he thought ID.
Weyl, who Is a friend OF Esferhazy also,
knew Dreyfus. The latter at once rose
and declared he had never before heard
Of Weyl. The point OF this question was
that Estsrhazy has written to Colonel
Jouaust, as announced. and has undoubt-
eJly mentioned Weyi as go-between for
Dreyfus. This is the person referred to
In yesterdays despatch as "V" mistake
for "W." If relations can be proved be.
tween Dreyfus and Weyl, and Es terhazy
admits obtaining reasonable information
from Weyl, then he could assume Drey tus
was traitor The generals. IL sufficient
evidence OF a Dreyfus- Weyl-Este rhazy
connection can be produced, can abandon
tine contention that Dreyfus wrote the.
bordereau and admit Esterhazy Is the
author Of 1t. This is. possibly, the
change Of tactics on the part of the gen.
erals, which has been limited at recently.
1t was reported this afternoon that
Generals Mercier. Roget and Gonse and
M. M.Cavaignac met today at General Mer-
cier's house and discussed the evidence
Col. Schwsrzkoppen's housekeeper, Mme.
Badtian, could give IL she was subjected
to a severe examination, with the
result that 1t was decided her
evidence was not conclusive enough to
justify SUNNI oning her as witness for
the prosecution.
Following are the proceedings In detail:
When the public session Was resumed
there was a stir in the audience and con-
siderable curiosity was manifested as the
name of Captain Lebrun- Renault OF the
Republican guard, the recipient Of the
so-called confession Of Dreyfus. was
called and the officer walked smartly to
the witness box, saluted the court and
threw his KEPT on the table. He then
stood at "attsntion'' awaiting question.
The president of the court. Colonel
Jouaust, said: "On January B, 1895, the
day of the prisoners degradation, you
were intrusted with the task of conduct
Ing him from the Cherohe Midi prison to
tha military school, where he remained
some time in your charge. Tell the court
what passed between you and him at that
time"
Captain Lebrun- n-Renault-"On Satur-
day. January 5, 1895, was ordered with
my squadron to proceed to the Cher0he
Midi prison and take charge of Dreyfus,
who was to be degraded at nine O'Clock
at one OF the court yards of the military
school, starting at 7.15, l arrived at the
place indicated at 7.45. The Office of the
garrison adjutant was pointed out to me
as the place TO keep the prisoner until the
hour OF the degradation parade. He began
to protest his Innocence and to say that,
with considerable means at his disposal
and bright future In store for him. he
could have no motive for being guilty of
treason. He said: Il am Innocent, In
three years my innocence will be ac-
knowledged. The minister knows it well.
He told Du Patty de Clam to tell me so.
some days ago, In my cell. He knows
that II / communicated documents to
Germany they were OF no Importance and
it was Co obtain more serious and more
important documents.
The witness added that Captain Dattel
was present when the statement was
made.
| said that assoon as sfoursartilierym men, COM
manded by a corporal, came TO take the
prisoner to the court yard for the cere-
mony Of degradation he (the witnses)
left the office and was Immediately sur
| rounded BY several officers TO VIII ON he
repeated Dreyfus's rsmar ks He Also