The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-08
ACQUITTAL FOR DREYFUS?
INDICATED BIZ THE COURTS REFUSAL
TO HEAR FOREIGN ATTACHES

Mean the Ooath OF tho french hepubhc-
Evidence All in and Dreyfus's Lawyers !
Make the Closing Arguments To-day
The Verdict on Monday at tho Latest. |
spsoai Gable DsspateA to TEE SUE.
RENNEs. Sept. Tt is impossible to believe |
in the light OF the ruling made to-day by the
court martial that It Is the intention OF Drey-
fuss Judges to bring In a verdict OF condem-
nation. They have deliberately refused to re-
ceive evidence. freely rendered. which alone
can solve all doubts and rescue France from
the moral and political chaos toward which
the country has been drifting for 1--WE years
past This act is crime in itself. but there are
no words with which to describe the black In
EQUITY OF a judgment adverse to the prisoner
following such decision, which could operate
only as the death warrant OF the French Re-
public.
The correspondent OF THE Sum prefers to be-
lieve that the seven Judges are incapable OF
such deed. and he insists. although 1t 10 con-
trary to the prevailing opinion In Rennes.
upon Interpreting to-day's rejection OF Col.
schwartzkoppen's and Col. Pannizzardis testi-
mony as foreshadowing the acauittal OF Capt
DreSfus.
The trial 10 now practically at an end There
remain only the closing arguments OF the de-
fence, and then the verdict. This will not be
rendered until Monday. unless, possibly. the
Court decides to sit tomorrow afternoon In
order to avoid the suspense OF two days
delay.
Maitre Demanee will speak during the
greater part Of the session to morrow morning.
and he will be followed by Maltre Labor. who
will speak from one to three hours.
Before to-day's extraordinary decision re-
jecting the offer OF Germany and Italy to re-
veal the truth through their military attaches.
opinion in Reunes. by strong majority. beld
that the verdict would be against the prisoner.
This opinion is now somewhat shaken. for
even some Of the anti Dreyfusites do not be-
lieve that the oourt-martial possesses the
stupendous audacity to condemn the accused
after refusing to hear the only real evidence
which has been rendered during the trial.
1t 10 significant OF the present state OF
mind OF impartial spectators here that OF nine
American correspondents sitting at dinner to-
night four expect acquittal. four condemna-
ton. and ono dishonorable acauittal by a vote
OF four to three against the prisoner.
THE PROPOSED oUEsT1o Ns TO scHwARTzKoPPEN.
Immediately upon the ass EN- bling Of the
court martial to-day Maitre Labor announced
that he had received advices to the effect that
Col Schwartzkoppen and Col. Panizzardi
would mako depostiops before commission
but declined to como to Rennes NJ. Labor
therefore applied for the appointment OF a
commission to examine these officers and also
to take a depos ition from Lieut. Col. Du Patty
de Clam.
M. Paleolonue announced that this was the
usual course and the Foreign once was not
opposed to II. Major Carriere, the Govern
ment Prosecutor said he had no objection IL
the law forbidding an adjournment OF moro
than forty sight hours was respected.
NJ Labori then read the questions he de-
sired put to Col. Sohwartzkoppen. They wers:
On what date did you receive the bordereau.
and the documents named therein?
Was 1t in the same handwriting as the one In
possession OF the court?
Did you receive the firing manual and the
firing rules?
How long had you been in relations with the
sender?
Did you send the petit pleu to Esterhazy7
Have you ever had direct or indirect rela-
lions with the accused?
Col Jouaust announced that the court would
deliberate later on this matter.
DU Patty DE CLAIMS EVIDENCE.
Several witnesses testified regarding points
| contained in Du Patty de CLAIMS deposition.
| Capt Beauvais called attention to the fact that
several papers enumerated by Du Patty de Clam
| In the dossier sent to the first court-martial
were not now among the documents in the
| court These were the paper discussing the
| resenblances in handwriting OF the letter die
tated to Dreyfus by Du Patty de Clam. and the
note relative to q conversation between Du
Patty do Clam and the accused. Capt. Beauvais
asked that search be made for these papers.
| NJ. Coohefort. chief OF the French Secret Ser
vice. was recalled and added dramatic incl
dent about the arrest Of Dreyfus. He said that
at that time Du Patty de Clam slipped revolver
| mai n n degk in front of Drew.
fus aud said: In your situation perhaps 1t Is
better that you should kill yourself" Dreyfus
replied: d" ! do not wish to kill myself because
! must establish my innocence"
Gen. Mercler came forward to discuss Du
| Patty do CLAIMS de position. He devoted him
self aim ost exclusively to Capt Freystaetters
evidence and again denied that false render
ing OF Col. Panizzardi's despatch was included
In tho documents sent to tho 1904 court
martial. He then described the return OF the
dossier from the court. Gen. MERCER says he
opened the envelope and destroyed Du Patty de
CLAIMS commentary. He handed the other
documents to Col. Sandherr. Gen. MERCER
also read letter from Capt Freystaetter to q
friend In 1895 affirming that Dreyfus had been
Justly condemned. In conclusion Gen. Mercier
urged tho court to ACCEPT his original deposit
ton and not to be influenced by Capt Frey
staetter's evidence.
| M. DemanR0 muuoh T0Aliy reply 10
Gen. Mercier. telling him he was mistaken in
the role he assumed. He was witness, moi
the defendant. This. moreover. was not a
place for polemics. but court for deciding the
guilt or Innocence Of Dreyfus.
COURT REFUSES TO HEAR THE TRUTH.
The question OF calling Colonies Schwartz
koppen and Panzzardi again arose. Majol
Carrere read the law on the subject NJ Labor
said 1t was impossible to exaRgerate thu
importance OF these witnesses. The Govern
ment prosecutor agreed with this staten emit
NJ Labori added that he should never have
called them had not the Servian refuge,
Cernuschi been introduced. but now 1t wal
absolutely necessary to do so.
The Court retired to deliberate and returned
in twenty minutes. Then Col Jouaust read I'll
decision. which was unanimous on the pon
that the Court was not competent under tn,
regulations to order such commission as NJ