The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-29

~ ton and reinstatement in France
was one of the most exciting
trials within the memory of most readers.
He was an Alsatian Hebrew who up to
in the French army, and held high po-
sition on the general staff. About the
middle of October of the year named he
was arrested on a charge of treason, was
secretly tried by courtmartial, and met
with conviction and was publicly de-
graded.
The ostensible charge against Dreyfus
was that he had sold military informa-
ton TO the German government. The
chief evidence in support of the grave
accusation was compromising document
stated to have been found in the waste
basket of the German embassy in Paris,
which was alleged, though not proven, to
be in the handwriting OF the incrim-
mated officer.
The trial was so manifestly unfair, and
the doomed officer was so conscious of
his innocence, that his family and friends
took up his case from the very start
and vast amount of money was con-
tributed for his defense.
When the document was found in the
waste paper basket, it was Immediately
turned over to General Mercier, the
French minister of war, and hand
writing expert was found who pro-
nounced it to be the work of Captain
Dreyfus. Maj. du Patty de Clam, to whom
the "bordereau," as it was called,
was assigned for investigation, fastened
to confirm this suspicion, and Dreyfus
was summoned before him for investiga-
ton.
This inqustorial process was in secret
and little is known of it except the ver-
sion given out by de Clam. According
to this story Dreyfus trembled and broke
down when confronted with the alleged
proofs of his guilt. After de Clam's S
report to General Mercier the accused was
promptly arrested and taken to the Cher
che Midi military prison. This happened
on October Is, 1884,.
Two months later, on December 10,
Dreyfus was put on trial before a court
martial in Paris. The judges consisted
of seven officers, including Colonel Maurel
as president. Even down to the OPEN
ing of the court Dreyfus expected his ac-
quittal. His defense was placed in the
hands of Maitre Demange. When the
court opened Commandant Brisset, who
conducted the prosecution, was commits
sary of the government, commanded that
the case should be heard with closed
DOORS
One of the articles of accusation was
that the prisoner acted unusually in work.
ing after hours, even without leave, and
that it was quite conceivable that he
might, without being seen by anyone, have
made his way into bureaus with improper
motives. Further it was alleged that
he persistently denied his guilt and pro-
tested against the charge brought against
him, but when hard pressed, he gets out
of it without much difficulty, thanks to
the supple character of his mind"
The only piece of evidence was the
"bordereau," which it was declared 'of-
fers perfect resemblance to the authen-
tic writing of Captain Dreyfus.' The only
important witnesses against him were the
experts in handwriting, of whom two con-
demned him and three were uncertain,
and du Patty de Clam and Colonel Henry.
The evidence of de Clam was bio
graphical notice of the accused, sug-
gesting that everything that had been
stolen and betrayed to the Germans, even
when he was at the school at Bourges,
must be set down to his discredit. But
Henry's evidence was more concise. He
himself being traitor denounced Drey-
fus to the court. He detailed the facts
proving the betrayal of secrets. the money
for which he (Henry himself) had received
and divided with Esterhazy; and then
turning to Dreyfus he exclaimed: Be
hold the traitori''
The judges were so much in doubt re-
garding the guilt of Dreyfus that it was
necessary for the conspirators to spring
the secret 'dossier'' upon them to gain
their desired decision. Thus it was that
Dreyfus was convicted and was con-
demned on false evidence, secretly and il
legally communicated to the court
I, The heart of the prisoner sank within
| him as the sentence was pronounced. He
was publicly degraded and deported to
| Devils Island on January 5, 1896 1t was
| not until 1899 that the unfortunate prisoner
was brought back to France for retrial
by courtmartial. and even then, so strong
was the anti-Semetic and military preju-
dice that he was found guilty with "exten-
uating circumstances, though 10 days
| later he was 'pardoned" by President
Loubet.
1t was not till the Cour de Cessation or