The record-union., 1899-05-30
The Court of Cessation Holds a
Session at Paris
To Hear Debate on the App lcation for a
Revision of the Case.
The Courtroom Filled With Paris
ian Celebrities, Many Judges or
Other Courts Being Among
Those Present at the Opening
of the Hearing.


y PARIS, May 29.-The Court of Cassa-
ton met to-day to hear the debate on
the application for a revision of the
Dreyfus case. The doors of the Palace
of Justice were opened at IL o'clock.
Persons connected with the case, news
paper men and others, began to arrive
half an hour previously. There was
much animation in the lobbies, but
the crowds in the vicinity We're not
large Extensive precautions were
taken to preserve order inside and out
side. The Colonel commanding the
guard at the palace had been given
special reinforcements by the military
Governor of Paris, and considerable
forces of military and mounted police
had been assembled at the barracks
in the vicinity of the court.
Spectators about the palace were
selling seats at points of vantage for
10 and 20 francs each, but the business
done was not as good as during the
Zola trial, When they easily obtained ~
francs for seats.
The courtroom was filed with Paris
ian celebrities, the greater part OF the
hall having been reserved for ticket
holders Many of the Judges belong
ing to other courts were present, and
absolute tranquility prevailed There
were about twenty ladies among the
audience filing the galleries.
The proceedings commenced at noon.
Amid profound silence the President OF
the Civil Section of the court read his
report on the case. After recalling the
contentious under which the prosecu-
tion of Dreyfus were instituted in 1894
he dealt with the contradictory evidence
of the experts in handwriting, and men
toned the protest of innocence by Drey
fus, who said to Lieutenant-C Colonel
Henry: This odious accusation is the
death of my life. 1 must have justice
dealt me-"
Henry replied that the matter did not
come within his competence.
NJ Ballot de Beaupre then read a
number of eulogistic reports on Drey-
fus when the latter was military
school probationer on the general staff
his interrogatory by Lieutenant Colonel
Du Patty de Clam in which Dreyfus
persisted in denying having had rela-
tions with any foreign embassy, and his
statement that he had not given any
documents TO any agent relating to the
defense of the country
The report afterward described the
scene in Du Patty de CLAIMS office in
the presence of Chief of Detectives NJ
RocheforT, and sketched the history Of
the Dreyfus family.
According TO Du Patty de Clam, Drey-
fus, when he saw the reference to his
handwriting. exclaimed: They have
stolen my handwriting
1t also pointed out that DreyfuS, when
the report of Oras-Chevills was printed
at the court marital, protested he had
never seen the 120 short gun used and
that he did not know before July of the
disposition of the frontier forces. The
prisoner also said he had not had a
copy of the firing manual knew nothing
OF the documents respecting Madagas-
car, and said to the reporter of the
court-martial: Il have now been more
than six weeks in confinement 1 swear
l am innocent. The son of an Alsatian
Protestant, l abandoned everything to
serve France, and | am to-day worthy
of leading her soldiers on the battle
fields. The martyrdom / suffer is afro
cious"
NJ. Ballot de Beaupre then dealt with
the Oras Chevills report and Dreyfus'
relations with married women. The
report said the first suspicion of Drey-
fus emanated from Colonel Fabre, who
was struck with the similarity of the
word artillery in the bordereau and
in a document written by Dreyfus.
Continuing, the report dealt with
Lieutenant-C Colonel Henry's account of
his conversation with Dreyfus when the
latter was transferred to the Cherche
Midi Prison. Dreyfus said: 1T is ter
rible. I am accused of a frightful
thing"
Henry asked of what he was accused
and Dreyfus replied: Il am accused of
the crime of high treason"
The devil" answered Henry. but
on what grounds?"
II don't know" said Dreyfus. II am
nearly mad. l would prefer to receive
a bullet in the head I am not guilty.
This accusation is the death of my life"
To this Henry said: IF you are not
guilty you must not lose your head An
innocent man is always strong. Have
you a family?"
Yes" replied the prisoner. "A wife
and children. I am we'll off, and l must
have justice done me-
THAT does not come within my COM
RCtCASCr NdS IlSliy uCAl REMARK.
But justice will certainly be done. Do
you know what you are accused Off"
Yes. am accused of giving docu-
ments to foreign Power
What documents?'
Il don't know. Du Patty de Clam
spoke only of secret and confidential
documents, without further explana-
ton. | replied that during my proba-
ton at the General Staff office many
documents passed through my hands.
but that l communicated them to no.
body"
The Ormes- -Chevilles concluded with
saying that Dreyfus, having a supple
and very obsequious character, was
adapted for espionage.
NJ. Ballet de Beaupre then reviewed
the judicial history of the case, and
said it now rested with the court to
pronounce judgment He upheld the
statement that there was sufficient pre-
sumption that doubts and errors ex-
isted, and that they justified a revision
of the case. He had examined the
different cases in which the court could
annul a sentence without trial. and said
that in his opinion the court ought not