The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-05
BRANDED TRAITOR.
The Ceremony OF Degrading the
French Captain Dreyfus.
He Was Suspected of Selling
Secret Army Plans.
HIS SWORD BROKEN.
The Crowd Jeers Him and Calls
Him Traitor.
HIS SWORD BROKEN.
He Declares He is Innocent
During it All.

PARIS, Jan. 5.-Captain A. Dreyfus of
the Fourteenth regiment of artillery, re-
Gently attached to the general staff of
the army, who was tried by court martial.
convicted of treason in disclosing i'm
portant war office documents to foreign
ers, and sentenced to expectation and
imprisonment for life in fortress, was
publicly degraded this morning in front
of the military school in this city.
When Dreyfus arrived at the military
school he was placed in an improvised
cell, and attachments from every branch
of the garrison OF Paris began assem- bling
in the Place de Fontenoy, and by 8 a. m.
fully 5000 troops were ranged about the
quadrangle.
At o'clock Dreyfus was conducted to
the square and was led before General
DIARIES, who was in command of the
troops, and the sentence of the court
martial was read to the prisoner The
general then briefly addressed Dreyfus,
saying:
You are adjudged unworthy to bear
arms. In the name of the French peo-
pie l degrade you"
Gen. DIARIES then gave sharp word
of command and a non commissioned
officer of the republican guard APP
preached Dreyfus, the infantry presented
arms, the cavalry presented swords and
there was a long. solemn roll from the
massed drum corps.
Dreyfus started back as the non-com-
missioned officer touched him and
shouted: 81 am innocent; l swear it.
Vive la France"
The non-commissioned officer then tore
off Dreyfus epaulets and all the other
distinctive marks of his rank, as cap
tain of artillery, ending up with brea6-
ing the prisoners sword in two and
throwing the two halves at his feet
Dreyfus was then marched, bareheaded,
around the entire square, in front of the
troops. He was greatly excited and
shouted more than once: 81 am innocent;
I swear it.
But every time the prisoner spoke in
accordance with orders previously is
sued, his voice was drowned by the roll
of drums.
AS Dreyfus passed in front of the
place occupied by the representatives of
the press he shouted: Tell the whole of
France that l am innocent" This caused
some officers of the army reserve who
were standing near to retort: Down
with Judas; silence traitor"
1t was evident that Dreyfus felt these
words keenly, for he turned sharply
around and faced the officers in threat
eniug manner. But before he could do
or say anything further, he was seized
by the soldiers who were escorting him
and forced to continue his humiliating
march around the square.
The crowd outside Of the square on
hearing the prisoners voice when he
protested his innocence, raised fierce
cries: death to the traitor!" death to
the traitor!"
The cries of the populace were accom-
panied by the shrill whistling peculiar to
a Partisan mob When the proceedings
were ended Dreyfus was handcuffed,
taken to prison van and driven to an
l ordinary prison, escorted by squad of
gendarmes.
The troops then marched back to their
various barracks, the crowds outside the
military school cheering each detach-
ment and shouting: "Vive la France?'
s.Vive Farmer "Vive la Patrep'
On the other hand the sight of the
| prison van which was driven rapidly
through the crowds evoked renewed
| cries of: "Death to the traitor" "death
to the traitor"
The arrest of Albert Dreyfus in October
| last caused a sensation throughout
| France and found an echo in Berlin
which at one time threatened to
| have serious consequences. The
assertion that Dreyfus sold the plans OF
various strongly fortified places to the
| German government has been vigorously
denied by the representatives of that ma
ton. Similarly it has been claimed and
denied that the plans referred to were
sold to an agent of the Italian govern
meHG