The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-07-17
DREYFUS INDICATED
BY FRENCH NATION
Devils Island Martyr Declared
Innocent and Rank Restored.
70 Be MADE A GENERAL

Accused Oficer Could Tot Have OBJ
tanned Secret Mobilization Pa
pers For Delivery to Germany
Did Not Write Bordereau.
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-mai-tial at Rennes in 1899.
To wipe every stain from Dreyfus
reputation and to emphasize its con-
domination of the false evidence that
was tried against him the court or
ders that he need not stand trial
again. It 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 suffered
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:
This has been long and terrible
ordeal. began to feel as If it would
never end. 1t is clear that the decis-
ion restores me to my old place in
the army, but am not aware of the
intentions Of the Government con-
corning my advancement in rank
II have nothing to say against my
accusers. Being again an officer /
am obliged to obey the army regula-
tons of silence
II am inexpressibly thankful to all
who have assisted in the mainten-
ance of truth
The Ministers held a 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 lieuten-
ant-colonel 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-martial's verdict will be made |
a 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 I'D" was substi- |
tuted for Up" was Justification es-
tablishing 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
Their grounds, are of nature to es-
tablish the innocence of the accused. |
Therefore it is only necessary to ex-
anime whether the verdict of the
Rennes court-martial shall be an
nulled without a retrial or be fol- |
lowed by another trial by court |
martial"
After 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.
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 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 a 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 fDreyfus Case has excited