The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-20
END OF HARD FOUGHT CONTEST
Noted Case of Alfred Dreyfus
Again Before the World
Likely That Hi Innocence VIII soon
be Proclaimed by the French Gov
ernment and Hi~ Name Restored IN
the List OF Officers Of the Army.
History If This Remarkable Pere-
Cufion.
New York Evening PosL


After a fight OF nearly seven yea
Tor recognition OF MS right 10 a new
trail and a fair trial. and al the end
OF an inquiry ordered By the Supreme
Court OF France which has extended
over twenty-seven months. il nov,
seems likely that within the mex; fav
or two the innocence Of Copt
Alfred Dreyfus. falsely accused OF
hlsh treason thirteen years ago, will
De published 10 the world in o4Scia,
L and his name restored 10 the
list II officers Of the army.
list OF officers OF the army.
oelhS conducted in the highest court
OF the republic. are significant because
or the many admissions Of mistakes
hlaoe at the trials before the military
course n because of the suggestion
by the p~rocurator general.
n procurator, VI. Baudoin. ad-
dressing the full bench on Monday
last, announced emphatically that h.
was convinced OF the innocence of
Dreyfus and the guilt of EsterhaZy.
and he therefore urged that all previ-
Gus records OF proceedings against
IreyfuS be Quashed and the necessity
Tor Il new trial avoided.
The court now has the question un-
der consideration and probably will
render it's decision on Monda: ~
Tuesday. Whatever this decision NAV
De, whether it orders a full new trial
or the rehabilitation Of Dreyfus IN
les troublesome manner, it would ap-
pear that it acnnOt afil 10 be a vindi-
cation for the captain Of artillery, and
some partial satisfaction for five years
or MS life spent in prison and disgrace.
When the charwOman employed 10
do the necessary homework at the
German embassy in Paris was about
70 light the fire in the Office of CCunt
Munster one morning late in Septem-
Der. 1894 she found besides the CRATE
a sheet Of letter paper torn into four
pieces. 1t was letter paper more or less
distinctive, being ruled in the small
check pattern which is neither COM
mon nor uncommon in several Eu-
rOpean countries.
THE PIECE OF CHARRED PAPER
Had she tossed the fragments be-
tween the bars and applied a match
she had saved a great nation much
reproach and not a little of disgrace
For these four scraps of paper, later
pieced together, constituted the IA
o "bOrdereau' of what afterwards
came to be known as I'affaire Drey.
fus.
But the French charwoman employed
to do Homework in the diplomatic
headquarters of the traditional enc.
my Of France are not supposed tt
throw away or to burn documents
which smell of mystery and suggest
treason. Moreover, to do 50, is to lose
much good money. And so, having
lighted her fires, this particular char,
woman lost no time but hurried with
her find to the Intelligence Depart
ment of the French War Office.
There, a certain Col. Henri, who
had recently been placed in command
Of this secret service bureau, and who
was destined to become known in ev-
cry corner of the world for his ac-
tivity in behalf of the great injustice
Of the country, patched the pieces 10
gether. Many hundreds o Thousands
of people have heard of the DreyfuS
"~bordereau,' but comparatively few
know actually what was disclosed
when this patchwork was completed
Here, then was the result.
Sir: Although YOU have not asked
to see me, | send you some interest
ing intelligence.
I'D A note on the hydraulic brake
No. 100, and how it is worked
(2) 4 note on modification in tne
several notifications will be brought
forward in the new plan
"(3) A note on a modification in the
formation of artillery.
"(5) Manuel's project for field ar
rillery gun practice-March IA, 1894.
This last document is extremely
difficult to procure. and | have only a
few DAYS at my disposal. The minister
for War has sent a particular number
of corps TO the corps and these corps
| are responsible Off them. Every officer
possessing one must return 1t after
the manoeuvres. II you like 10 take
out O fthis what interests you. anf
give il back TO me afterwards,
will replace it; provided that you dc
not require me TO copy II in extenSo
and to send you a copy
Il am just starting for the man
oeuvres."
Naturally. there was excitement IN
the Intelligence Department Il Is
nc, known definitely who first sug
gested that the handwriting was sim
liar to that OF a certain captain oil
artillery. but II IS now generally oe-
| lieved that IL was Henri himself But
whoever it may have been. there can
| not be the slightest doubt b a the
suggestion was accepted with alacrity
| and. proceeding on the assumption
that the accused IS guilty until ne
| can prove his innocence. the prosecU-
O T rapidly built up a case against this
fficer.
DREYFJS WAS UNPOPULAR
For Alfred Dreyfus was not nopi
lar among his fellow officers. In tbs
first place he was q Jew, and in the
r. %~l --Cra- 2 h p