The Irish standard., 1906-07-14
VINDICAT|ON FOR
Captain DREYFUS
FRENCH SUPREME COURT AN
NULS CONDENSATION AND
RESTORES HIM TO RANK.
WILL PROBABLY BE MADE
A LIEUTENANT COLONEL
Famous Jewish Officer Finally Re-
ceives Justice-Arrested Twelve
Years Ago and Sent to DEVILS Is
land as Result of Conspiracy.


Years Ago and Sent to DEVILS Is
land as Result of Conspiracy.
Paris, July 13.-The supreme court
Thursday announced it's decision an
nuling the condemnation of Capt.
Dreyfus without retrial. This is u
complete vindication of Drcytus, en-
titling him to restoration to his rank
in the army as though he had never
been accused.
The circumstances of Capt Drey.
fus' returning to the army have not
yet been determined upon, but it is
expected that lie will take the grade
OF lieutenant colonel of artillery,
which he would have reached if his
services had not been interrupted
Big Throng Hears Decision.
The decision OF the court was read
by the presiding judge, NJ. Ballot
Beaupre, president of the court of
cessation, Immediately on the reas.
sembling of the court at noon. The
palace of justice was thronged by an
eager crowd seeking admission to the
court room. Among those present
were Matthew Dreyfus, brother of
the captain; Maitre Monard, counsel
for Dreyfus; Joseph Reinach, the his
torian of the affair; Col Picquart,
Nine. lola and many others who have
figured at various stages of the case.
Capt. Dreyfus was not present, re.
naming secluded in the garnet, where
he has been cut Off from the world.
The scene as the decision was pro-
nounced was impressive. The court,
consisting of 40 judges, gowned in
flowing red robes, solemnly mounted
the bench. Deep silence prevailed
as the presiding jurist read the long
decision, infinitely reviewing the Sc
ries of sensational events of the last
II years and completely generating
Dreyfus of any wrongdoing, freeing
him of the discriminating documents,
on which the entire charge was found
ed, and ordering the annulment of the
judgment of the Rennes court-martial
with the publication of the final an
nouncement of his innocence in so
newspapers, to be chosen by Capt.
Dreyfus.
The reading of the decision lasted
an hour, and it was only at the close
that the spectators realized the
sweeping nature of the vindication.
AS the final determination was an
nounced there was a buzz of excited
comment and some EXPLANATIONS of
approval. Matthew Dreyfus hastily
sent a messenger to bear the good
news to Capt. and Nine. Dreyfus. Out
side the court the crowds received
the decision without demonstration.
History of the Case.
Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, of the artil-
lery. member of wealthy Hebrew
family of Alsace, where he was born
in 1853, was arrested October ID,
1894, on the charge of communicating
french military secrets to foreign
power. Two months later he was
tried by courtmartial and found
guilty, and January 5 he was publicly
degraded and deported to DEVILS is
land. near Cayenne. French Guiana,
there apparently to spend the remain
der of his life. The friends and rela-
tives Of Dreyfus, notably his wife,
always believed in his innocence, and
devoted all their energies to the
work of proving that he had been un-
justly condemned.
When he became chief of the in.
telligence department of the French
army in 1895 Col. Picquart examined
Innll"nNfS ~ In
against Dreyfus and questioned their
correctness Continuing his investi.
cations he formed the opinion that the
evidence pointed to Maj Count. Es-
terhazy as the guilty man. Picq,art
was determined to see that Justice
was done, and there ensued a fight
to preserve the honor of the French
army. November Is, 1897, Dreyfus
charged Esterhazy with writing the
most discriminating document, but
the latter was acquitted by a court.
martial the following January.
The late Emile lola warmly es-
poused the cause Of Dreyfus, and
made serious charges against the
French general staff. He was con.
demned to pay heavy fine and suf-
fer Imprisonment, but the sentence
was quashed.
When M. Cavaignac became head Of
the French war Office he read in the
chamber of deputies several docu.
ments, which, he said. proved the
guilt of Dreyfus. Col. Picquart after
ward charged that these documents
were forgeries, for which he was
arrested and degraded