Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-22

Of the code of military justice, and con-
siderlng that the publicity Of this trial
would be dangerous to public order, call
upon the court to order that this trial shall
take place with closed doors"
A Dramatic Beginning.
Maitre Demange leaps to his feet and
protests violently. He has been prepared
for this demand. and holds In his hand a
long list of objections. which he reads out
in an excited manner, with violent gestures.
He Is allowed to proceed until he reaches
the following consideration: Considering
that. as a matter of fact and in regard to
the charges made against Capt. Dreyfus,
the one and only document which is to fig
ure in the trial"
Here Col. Maurel imperiously interferes:
II have to remind the defending counsel"
he says that he has no right to make any
allusion to any single document in ques-
ton"
Meanwhile Dreyfus, apparently indiffer-
ent to all this squabbling, is watching the
rain as 1t falls In torrents past the WIN
dows opposite the dock.
again checked when he refers to the one
and only document.
II forbid you to continue" commands
Col. Maurel. A violent discussion ensues,
In which the suave dialectic of the advo-
cate contrasts strongly with the rough and
harsh calculations Of the soldiers. An end
is put to the discussion by Col. Maurel, who
rises and says: 1.-THE court will deliber-
ate," and walks out, followed in order of
rank by his associates. A quarter Of an
hour passes~ Dreyfus remains Indifferent,
staring at the rain. His counsel appears in
great distress.
A command rings out, "Garde vous!
Porter armes! Presentez armes!" and one
by one the members of the court return.
that, by order of the court, and in virtue
of article 113 of the military code, the room
| is to be Immediately cleared. Officers, do
your. duty" he commands land let sentries
this room can be heard" The guards ad-
vance. and in two minutes the court is
cleared.
The Secret Hearing.
Col. Maurel's orders were most effective
ly carried out. Nobody was allowed within
the building, nobody was allowed to loiter
In the street. On the last day of the trial
the court opens at /, and from that hour
until $50, with only one short interval
Maitre Demange speaks in his defense. At
$50 it is understood that the court is con-
sidering its verdict. About the same time
Dreyfus is seen coming down the steps
which lead from the court room to his
place Of detention. His face is very red
apoplectic almost; he does not seem master
of himself and hops from step to step like
man who has no control OF his limbs.
The public is now at last admitted to the
court room, gloomier than ever under the
yellow flicker Of the gas jets. 1t Is empty,
save where on the bench beneath the dock
Maitre Demange, with his head in his
hands. presents the picture Of emotion and
fatigue. On the green table are several
magnifying glasses, which would tend to
show that the question Of identity Of hand
writing was one of the important consider
At o'clock the olatter Of an electric bell
IL heard 1t Is over. The court-martial,
after celebrating for two hours. has found
its verdict. Maitre Demange draws him
The prisoner by military law will not hear
1t until afterward by the voice Of the clerk
Of the court. Col Maurel holds a paper in
his hand from which he reads Judgment as
follows, In a short, commanding voice:
'In the name Of the French people"
Here each member Of the court raises his
hand to his cap and gives the military
salute.
The first oourt-martial of the military
government of Paris was assembled this
day December %, 1894. celebrating with
1.-THE president placed the following ques-
ton before the court: Mons Dreyfus, Al
fred. captain In the 18th Regiment Of Artil-
lery. stagiary Of the star corps, attached
to the ministry Of war. is he guilty Of hav-
| ing, in 1894, procured for q foreign power a
certain number Of secret documents con-
corning the national defense. and Of hav-
ing In consequences practioed Vaccinations
or OF having entertained intelligences with
this power or its agents. 20 engage 1t to
commit acts Of hostility or to undertake
warfare against France, or Of having pro-
| cured 1t the means to do sor
THE votes Of the court having been
taken separately. beginning with the low
eat rank, and the colonel presiding having
given his opinion last, the answer was
unanimously, Yes; the prisoner Is guilty.
TN consequence" continued Col. Maurel,
In the same short. commanding voice. land
unanimously, the courf-martial condemns
the man called Alfred Drsyfus to transpor-