The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 1, 1898, Page 1

10 De 1dKkelrl the Lib IR AVIEN | rary_o‘o' The Call VOLUME LXXXIV.— SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1898. PRICE FIVE CEN COLONEL HENRY'S SUICIDE FOLLOWS HIS CONFESSION PARIS SHAKEN ANEW BY THE DREYFUS CASE Results in the General Boisd Resignation of effre, Chief of Staff. General Sentiment That the Sensational Devel- opments Will Result in the Revision of the Entire Matter. BN RN RRRRRRERERR P ° Dreyfus case, who was used as evidence, comm cutting his throat with a ra BR8N PARIS, Aug. 31.---Lieutenant Colonel Henry, one of the most prominent witnesses in the celebrated confessing to having forged an important document General Le Mouton de Boisdeffre, chief of the general staff of the French army, resigned on learn- ing of the confession of Colonel Henry, owing to his misplaced confidence in the confessed perjurer. TR RR AR RRURRRRRLBLERREERRIRY <5 NRURIEVERI/IRERS arrested yesterday after itted suicide to-night by zor. 1. Cable to. The Call and the New A. Copyrighted, 1593, by James York Gor- g 3L—Nothing can .de ipefaction of - Parls m ven the' Czar's disarma- | laent proposition is forgotten. war, not peace, is in the air. In fact,| So much | ink has been used, so much passion let Ic the w se over the Dreyfus affair that even fment partisans on ‘each side | ¢4 about tired of the whole mat- | And just when things reached this stage a bombshell has burst. This is the arrest and .suicide -of -Lieutenant Colonel Henry, who acknowledged that he was the author of the letter that vir- tually convicted Dreyfus. You will remember the dramatic - during ‘the first Zola trial, when with trembling voice, referred | arvice in Algiers, which had left to hi him . with an incurable malarial fever. This same man, who seemed the very | personification of integrity and who | made such an impression on the public in court, is now by his own. confession | a forger of the document intended to | convict his brother officer. The news of lis arrest out after midnight. It appears that Colonel Picquardt, who has been a strong supporter -of Dreyfus’ innocence, had laid before M. Cavaignac, the Min- ister of War, evidence which the law of prifessional secrecy prevented him from making publicly known. only leaked of the possibility of a judicial error since his return. He has questioned one after another of “the officers names have been prominent Dreyfus case. whose in the Yesterday morning he summoned Colonel Henry to his office in the War Department buflding. General Roger, Chief of the Military Cabinet, was present at the interview. Celonel Henry was questioned upon_the way in which this too famous letrer came into his hands. Pressed to the wall, he finally made a complete con- fession, trying at the same time to show how necessary it was at that mo- ment to accumulate proofs of Dreyfus’ guilt. One naturally asks why Colonel Henry was not pressed to the wall by pressing these questions long ago. M. Cavaignac is said to be prostrat- ed by this discovery. It is not aston- ishing, in view of the stand M. Cavaig- nac has taken in the matter, and of the declarations he has made, no longer than July 8 of this very year, when he said he was absolutely con- | vinced of the guilt of Captain Dreyfus. One of the things which led him to this conviction was this very letter which Colonel Henry now admits he had - forged. The speech which the Minister of War delivered on this oc- casion had such an effect upon the Chamber that it was ordered that it be printed and posted all over France. ————— SCENES ATTENDING HENRY’S CONFESSION M. Cavaignac seems to be convinced PARIS, Aug. 31L.—Colonel Henry’s GENERAL BOISDEFFRE. A Prominent Figure in the Dreyfus Case. He Resligned on Learn- ing of the Perfidy of Lieutenant Colonel Henry, in Whom He Had' Placed the Utmost Confidence. RV RLNNRN LIEUTENANT COLONEL HENRY, One of the Principal Witnesses in bhe Dreyfus Case. He Confessed the Forgery' of an Important Incriminating Document, and After Being Arrested Committed Suicide. confession threatens to rekindle the Dreyfus agitation more heatedly than ever and seems likely to shake public confidence in the army. The scene of Lieutenant Colonel Hen- ry’s avowal was most painful. When he saw it was almost useless to deny further his tongue grew so thick that he was unable to speak. It was feared that he would have an apoplectic stroke. After his arrest he was permit- ted to visit his wife while on the way to the fortress at Mentvalerien. She thought he really had had a fit. He addressed her as “my poor wife,” add- ing: “I am under arrest.” The officer accompanying him was under orders not to lose sight of him for a moment, and, therefore, he could not see his wife alone. All three pro- ceeded to his bedroom to get the nec- essary clothing. Henry then clasped his wife in his arms and exclaimed: “My conscience is pure and free from every sting.” This exclamation is much comment- ed up, as going to show that he may possibly have forged the letter under orders from his superiors. Colonel Henry was attached to the War Department when Dreyfus was convicted, and he was one of the prom- inent witnesses who testified unfavor- ably of M. Zola during the latter’s sen- sational trial on the charge of libeling military officials. Lieutenant Colonel Henry cuvt his throat with a razor he had concealed in_his valise. During the late Zola trial Henry ac- cused Colonel Picquart of falsifying telegrams. A duel followed, in which Henry was wounded. The next scene occurred in the Chamber of Deputies, where Colonel Picquart proclaimed the letter a forgery, and as a result was arrested, while Henry's villainy was re- warded by his being appointed Celonel Picquart’s successor in the Intelligence Department. It is now evident that Henry forged the letter with the e object of paralyzing Colonel lequart’s efforts eral Roget and M. Cavaignac. pected letter on his desk. letter. there is no name.” forger.” voice. “Come,” said the Minister. forger.” would have an apoplectic stroke. replied Henry. %k k %k %k %k %k %k 3k K ok ok ok ok ok ok ko %k ok K ok ok ok koo ok k% X X % X ¥ X PARIS, Aug. 31.—When Lieutenant Colonel Henry was summoned to the residence of the Minister of War Colonel Paty du Clam, Count Esterhazy, General Boisdeffre, Gen- The Minister of War had the sus- He took it up and said to Henry: “You did not mention the name of the agent who furnished this My attention has been called to the fact that on the docket Colonel Henry beat his forehead and then said he had forgotten the name in this case, but he would know the man if he saw him. . “It is a pity you have forgotten,” sald M. Cavaignac. “We think the letter a forgery and that you have been duped by a clever Henry declared his belief in its authenticity. but in a very faint ““No agent ever gave it to you. You wrote in pencil to disguise your handwriting the better. You are the The colonel’s speech grew thick, but he denied the L it was repeated and he gave fresh signs of agitation.- But his tongue began to cleave to the roof of his mouth and it was feared that he .“On your honor- as a soldier,” said M. Cavaignac, more gently, “did you, or did you not write that letter?”’ “Since you appeal to my soldierly honor, it was I'who wrote it,” ****’*******'**’**"*".'l****l‘*'**l' EEXEREREEREE R AR IR R AR XXX R RE R R R R RN HOW THE CONFESSION WAS WRUNG FROM THE FORGER. e found assembled there Then %k %k k% ok ok k ok ok ok Xk ok ok K ok ko ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok kR K % % % % to expose Major Esterhazy and to get a revision of the Dreyfus case. The letter was written in bad French, a fact which first led it to be regarded as spurious. 4 It is said that ifsthe Cabinet decides upon the revision of the Dreyfus case, M. Cavaignac, Minister for War, will reglln. i 3 olonel Henry was son. He was born in Pou‘;. in Marne, in 1843, and enlisted in a foot t as his brother’s substitute in 1863. He had a good military record for bravery and inexorable discipline. He was a prisoner of war in 1870 and was wound- €d In the Algerfan campaign. He re- talned much of the rough and ready manners of a non-commissioned offi- cer. He was lacking in education, spoke no foreign languages and owed his promotion primarily to his repu- Continued on Second Page. MAGUIRE SUED FOR TAX BILLS He Has Been for Several Years Very Prominent as a De- linquent. City and County Attorney Gallagher Had the Bills Paid Yesterday in the Hope of Avoiding an Exposure. The State treasury and the city and| county treasury will be slightly bene- fited by the candidacy of James G. Ma- | guire, the Populist-Silver Republican- | Democratic nominee for Governor. His | delinquent taxes were paid yesterday through James - Gallagher, City and County Attorney, and chief apologist for any oversights on the part of the “Little Pinto Giant” in paying the| government what he justly owes. H Apologist Gallagher has still another | task on hand befcre his work of “clear- ing” Maguire’s record is complete. It | will be necessary for him to consult Walter M. Willett, special attorney for the collection of delinquent taxes, and have the suits brought by Willett to recover the unpaid taxes of Maguire dismissed in the Justices’ Court. The “Little’ Pinto Giant” now has a clean bill of health, so far as the Tax Col- lector’s office is concerned, but not so with the Justices’ Court. The suits are still on file and untried, but it is probable that within the next few days judgments of dismissal will be entered and the head of the pinto ticket will be at liberty to talk on tax- ation without blushing. As every one knows, Maguire has a pet hobby when on the rostrum, and that is single tax. 1895, and his name again went on the delinquent tax roll. A suit in the Justices’ Court, No. 26,654, shows that he did not pay $15 75 taxes. When he was a candidate for Congress in 1896 it was suggested to.him that the de- linquent roll might be against him, so on August 14, 1896, the taxes were paid. But the bills of 1893 and 1894 remained unpaid until a deputy in the Tax Coliector's office learned y terday that The Call was investigating Congressman Maguire's non-paying tax record. . news was hurriedly conveyed to Gallagher, and ten min- utes later both of the old bills were paid. The next move now to be made will be the dismissal of the suits in the Justices’ Court. Gallagher, when spoken to about the matter last night, said that it was all due to an oversight that the taxes had not been paid before. Maguire is a busy man,” sa the unpald assessments were arbitrarily levied. Don’t think for a moment that he intended shirking the payment.” “But why did he not pay them when he paid the ’95 tax?” wa sked. “It was not called to his attention,” replied Gallagher. “In fact we did not know of the delinquency until I re- ceived information this afternoon that The Call was examining the records. 0000000000000 00000 D00 of t VSe JAMES MAGUIRE, Plaintift aveis thut defeudant is i and ninety-four, and fifty cents, cost ing, which said taxes were duly ass erty of said defendant, to wit: Fixture: ing June 30, 1895. ©00000000C0C000CCCOOOO00000 O 'MAGUIRE SUE IN THE JUSTICES' COURT CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, NEW CITY HALL. THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, dollars for city and county taxes, with theréto, for the non-payment thereof, and interest thereon at the rate of two per cent per month from the 6th day of August, And plaintiff further avers that the defendant is also indebted to plain- tiff in the further sum ‘of 2 83-100 dollars for State taxes, per cent penalty added thereto for the non-payment thereof, and interest thereon at the rate of two per cent per month from the 26th day of Novem- ber, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, and fifty cents, costs of advertis- ‘Wherefore, plaintiff prays judgment against said defendant for several sums, with interest thereon, as aforesaid, and costs of suit. Special Attorney for the Collection of Taxes, Room 43, Fifth Floor, Mills Building, Bush and Montgomery streets. 00000000000000000O 0000000000000 00 D FOR TAXES. he Plaintift, 1 T No. 10,49 Detendant ndebred -to plaintiff In the sum of 5 twenty per cent penalty added eighteen hundred of advertising. witi, twenty essed and levied upon personal prop- s and library, for the fiscal year end- said WALTER M. WILLETT, CO000000ANNO0000C000OCCCO0000000000 0000000000000 00 He argues long and earnestly to con- vince voters that upon the success of the single-tax movement depends their advancement and prosperity. The re- cords in the Tax Collector's office and Justices’ Court bear silent eviderice, however, that Maguire is more strong- ly inclined toward a non-tax system. If every one took the same view of tax- ation as does Congressman Maguire, judging from his record as a delin- quent taxpayer, there would be 10 funds in the treasury to meet the ex- penses of the Government. The Po- lice and Fire departments would cease to exist; the public schools would necessarily be closed; the credit of the State would be ruined and the local government would go out of existence. No one better understands than does Congressman Maguire that it requires money to keep the wheels of govern- | ment in motion. Still he is, apparent- ly, unwilling to contribute his mite *o- ward paying the expenses of the mu- nicipal and State governments. Draw- ing a salary of $5000 a year as Con- gressman and also recelving an income from his law practice, he has not paid the light tax placed on his law iibrary in the Mills building. City and County Attorney Gallagher went to the rescue of Maguire yester- day and had the delinquent taxes paid when he learned that The Call was looking up Maguire’s record on that score. Under these circumstances no credit is due Maguire because the word “Paid” has been stamped opposite his name on the delinquent rolls in the Tax Collector's office. Gallagher in his good- ness of heart may also go to the rescue of James H. Barry, “the logical suc- cessor” of Maguire in the Fourth Con- gressional District. If he does he will have to draw heavily on his bank ac- count. Less than $15 placed Maguire stralght on the records of the Tax Collector’s office. In the case of Barry, the footings show that. it would require $908 76 to settle his t x ac- count with the city and State. As Barry says that he will not pay Apolo- gist Gallagher can hardly be expected to shoulder the indebtedness. In 1893 Congressman Maguire was as- ‘| sessed for $300 on his Nbrary and $50 for his watch. The taxes amounted to $3 61 for city and county purposes and $2 02 for State purposes. Maguire did not deem it necessary to pay the taxes and his name went on the delinquent roll. In due course of time Attorney ‘Willett, who looks after the collection of delinquent taxes, brought suit and the case is still on file in the Justices’ go%ufl. The papers are numbered 183,- It was the same old story in 1894, Maguire was assessed for $500 and the taxes, amounting to $7 83, were not paid. Another sult was commenced. A copy of the complaint in that case is published in these columns. The suit was brought against James Maguire for taxes on the fixtures In his law of- fice in the Mills building and on his Hbrary. In making out the assessment the clerk drew. the statement against James ire Instead of James G. Maguire. The property assessed, how- ever, is the property of James G. Ma- guire and was in his office in the Mills building. Maguire had another attack of “‘cold feet” on the tax-paying proposition in ‘Why, if I had known of the delinquen- cies I would have paid the bills myself at the time.” ““Who paid the bills this afternoon?” “I did not pay them personally,” answered Gallagher. “Is it not suffi- clent to know that they have been paid and that an unfortunate mistake has been corrected?” “What will become of the suits in the JInstices’ Court?” “They will be dismissed of course,” was the answer. ‘Now let the matter drop,” continued Gallagher. “It is all 2 mistake. Judge Maguire didn't know of the tax bills .being unpaid. Had the matter been called to his at- tention before The Call commenced the investigation he would have paid them himself’ He daily gives away to strik- ers more than the amount involved.” Apologist Gallagher is evidently la- boring under a “mistake.” Walter M. Willett, special attorney for the collection of delinquent taxes, differs with Gallagher on the point that Judge M.guire did not know of ithe delinquency. “I spoke to him about the matter,” said Willett, rather re- luctantly last night, “and he promised to settle the suits. I heard late this evening that the bills had been paid at the Tax Coliector's office, but by wohm I do not know.” The apology offered on behualf of Congressman Maguire by Attorney Gallagher may seem sufficient to him, but it will not satisfy the people. A candidate who. aspires to govern the great and growing State of California should be above such petty work as endeavoring to avoid paying the tax on his watch and library. If the majority of the citizens were of the same caliber as Congressman Maguire the Govern- ment would be in a chaotic state in a very short time. Unless the taxes are paid, and every one willingly and cheerfully contributes his just share, what is to become of the schools, the hospitals, the alinshouses and other needed institutions? They depend for existence on the payment by every one of his share of the taxes. Congress- man Maguire®has shown that while he is anxious to take an active hand in the management of the government, he is unwilling to contribute his just pro- portion of the costs of government. It may be his idea of single tax, but it is not the idea of the majority of our citi- zens. That he forgot to attend to his duty in the matter of paying his taxes is a matter’ that may be left to the credulity of those who are now made acquainted with the facts, Phoenix Republicans to Meet. There will be a meeting of the Phoenix Republican Club to-night at Scottish Hall, 113 Larkin street, to ratify the State nominees of the Republican con- vention. The Phoenix Club is the strongest po- litical orgiaiization In the State, having a membership of over 1200. The officers mhe club for the ensuing yearare: jident, A. L. Hart, late Attorney- General; M. H. Smith, chalrman execu- tive committee, snd J. A. McKenna, brother of the Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, secretary. ‘The meeting to-night will be addressed by the leadi Jocal political speakers, and it is expe fed that the gathering will be the 1 for the g¢pening of the campaign yet held in the e'ty. i