The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-29
DREYFUS INDICATED
BY FRENCH NATION
DEVILS Island Martyr Declared
Innocent anG Rank Restored.
10 BE MADE A. GENERAL

Accused Officer Could Hot Have OBJ
tanned Secret Mobilization Pa
pers For Delivery to Germany
Did Not Write BorIcreau.
Paris.-Alfred Dreyfus has been
completely vindicated by France.
The Supreme Court Of the Repub-
lie announced it's decision annulling
the conviction Of Dreyfus by the
court-martial at Rennes in 1899.
To wipe every stain from Dreyfus
reputation and to emphasize its con-
demnation of the false evidence that
was tried against him the court Or
ders that he need not stand trial
again. 1t declares there is no reason
for another trial because Dreyfus
committed no offense.
In conclusion the court noted the
fact that Dreyfus had waived pecu-
MARY indemnity for all he suHered
during twelve years.
The court ordered it's decision to
be Transcribed on the records OF the
Rennes court-martial and to be pub
lished in the official journal and five
newspapers to be chosen by the Pro-
curator-General and, at the Govern
ment's expense. in fifty newspapers
here and in the provinces to be
named by Dreyfus.
The former captain, after being
falsely convicted of treason, publicly
degraded and imprisoned on Devils
Island, is restored to the army by the
decision itself.
He will return to his country's ser
vice with the rank of Brigadier-Gen-
eral, Premier Sairien assured the
Chamber of Deputies, and the courts
decision will be posted in every COM
mune in France.
Neither Dreyfus nor his wife was
in court when the decision was rem
dered. In an interview afterWard
Dreyfus said:
t'This has been long and terrible
ordeal. I began to feel as If it would
never end. 1t is clear that the decis-
lon restores me to my old place IN
the army, but I am not aware OF the
intentions of the Government con-
cerning my advancement in rank.
= 'I have nothing to say against my
accusers. Being again an officer I
am obliged to obey the army regula-
tions of silence.
81 am inexpressibly thankful to all
who have assisted in the mainten-
ance of truth" ,
The Ministers held protracted
special session at the Elysee Palace
under President Fallieres. The Gov
ernment's course in carrying out the
courts decision was determined. Two
bills were drawn. BY them Dreyfus
will be nominated major. with
early promotion to lieutenant-colo-
nelship. Had he served his country
continuously he would be heuten-
ant-coionel of artillery now.
: Dreyfus' name will be entered on
the list for the Legion of Honor. but
he will not be nominated to that dis
tinction directly.
Picquart, whose sense of justice
secured the quashing Of the Rennes
court-martials verdict, will be made
q rigadier-general Immediately.
In its decision the Supreme Court
holds that these new facts have been
established before it:
First - That the document from
General Mercier's secret papers pre-
sented at the Rennes court-martial,
in which the initial ID" was substi-
tuted for "P," was Justification es-
tablishing a strong presumption OF
Dreyfus' innocence.
Second - That another document
from the secret papersin which Drey-
fus was falsely shown to have given
to Germany the plans for the railway
mobilization of French troops never
reached the War Department.; there
fore Dreyfus could not have secured
possession of it.
Third That the Rennes court
martial failed to hear essential testi-
mony calculated to establish the fact
that Dreyfus was innocent.
"These facts" says the courts de-
cision, without seeking for any fur
ther grounds, are of a nature to es-
tablish the innocence Of the accused.
Therefore it is only necessary to e1-
anime whether the verdict Of the
Rennes court-martial shall be an
nulled without retrial or be fol-
lowed by another trial by court
martial"
After a long review of the docu-
ment in the case known as the bor-
dereau, the decision states that it
was written by Major Count Ester
hazy, and that the accusations con-
Meeting Dreyfus with the bordereau
rest only on hypothesis and conject-
ure.
1.-THE accusation against Dreyfus,"
continues the decision, whether
based on the handwriting or the text
of the bordereau, was wholly unjus-
tifiable and without motive. More
over, Dreyfus having a large fortune,
one seeks in vain for any.reason for
his committing such a great crime.
- ''The court therefore holds that,
as all the accusations against the
accused fall to the ground, there is
no necessity for new trial, and con-
sequently the judgment in condem-
nation is annulled as unwarranted
by the evidence"
Chief Events in Case Which Nearly
Disrupted France.
The "Dreyfus Case" has excited