Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-07-13
FULL VINDICATION
FOR CAPT. DREYFUS
Supreme Court Annulls His
ta Condemnation.
HIS RANK IN ARMY is RESTORED
After Twelve Years of Persecution DR.,
Dreyfus Is Completely INDICATED
and Is Freed from All Charges and
Accusations

Accusations
Paris, July 12.-The supreme court
Thursday announced it's decision an
nulling the condemnation of DR.. Drey-
fus without a retrial. The effect of
the decision is complete vindication
Of DR.. Dreyfus, emitting him to restor-
alton to his rank in the army as
though he had never been accused.
Captain Alfred Dreyfus of the artil-
lery, member of a wealthy Hebrew
family of Alace, where he was born in
1859, was on October IA, 1894, arrest
ed on the charge of communicating
French military secrets to a foreign
power. Two months later Dreyfus
was tried by courtmartial and found
guilty and Jan. 5, he was publicly de-
graded and depOrted to Devils Island,
near Cayenne, French Guiana, there,
apparently to spend the remainder of
his life. The friends and relatives
OF Dreyfus, notably his wife, always
believed in his innocence, and devoted
all their energies to the work of prov
ing that he had been unjustIy con-
demned
Colonel Picquart, when he became
chief of the intelligence department
OF the French army in 1895, examined
the documents in the proceedings
against Dreyfus and questioned the
correctness of the proceedings, and
continuing his investigation form the
opinion that evidence appointed to Ma
Jor Count Esterhazy as being the guilt
ty man. Picquart determined to see
that justice was done and there en-.
sued a fight to preserve the honor of
the French army.
When M. Cavaignac became head of
the French war office, he read in the
chamber of deputies several documents
which, he said, proved the guilt of
Dreyfus. Colonel Picquart, after
wards, charged that these documents
were forgeries, for which he was ar.
rested and degraded.
The decision of the court was read
, by the presiding judge, M. Ballot
sation, Immediately on the reassemb-
ling of court at noon Thursday. The
palace of justice was thronged by an
eager crowd seeking admission to the
court room. Captain Dreyfus was not
present continuing his habitual secre-
cy by remaining secluded in the gar
rest, where he has hitherto been cut
off from the outer world.
The scene as the decision was pro-
ncuncei was one of impressive dignity.
The court, consisting of 40 judges.
gowned in flowing red robes, solemn
| ly mounted the bench. Deep silence
prevailed as the presiding Judge read
the lengthy decision infinitely review
| ing the series of sensation events of
the last twelve years and completely
disculpating Dreyfus of all vrong-do-
ing, freeing him of the accusation OF
being the author of the famous incrim-
mating documents, on which the en-
tire charge was founded and author
izing the annullment of the judgment
| of the Rennis courtmartial with the so
newspapers to be chosen by Captain
DIGyfus.
The reading Of the decision lasted
al hour and it was only at the close
that the spectators realized the nature
OF the vindication As the final de-
termination was announced, there was
buzz of excited comment and some
eXclamations of approval which the
| court officers sternly rerrcesed.
Matthew Dreyfus hastily dispatched
a mess 1cnger to bear news to Captain
Dreyfus and Madame Dreyfus.