Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-17


Alfred Dreyfus, of the French artillery,
charged with treason. was continued
this morning, Major Carriere. the rep
resentative of the government, having
refused to agree to the adjournment OF
the case until Monday, applied for by
M. Demange, counsel for the prisoner,
and Captain Dreyfus, owing to the
murderous attack upon Maitre Labori
leading counsel for the defense.
Immediately after the witnesses had
entered the court room, Maitre Demange
applied for an adjournment on ac-
count of Maitre Labori's absence. Ma
jor Carriere, the government commits
sary, Unexpectedly arose and opposed
the application in the most vehement
manner, with the gestures OF a stump
orator. He read a certificate from La
boris doctors, which, however, was
weak point as it only said it might
not be possible for Labor to attend
on Monday. Major Carriere dilated
upon the fact that the entire world
was anxiously awaiting decision, and
upon the necessity of ending the sus-
pense. The court retired for 20 min
utes, during which time the audience
animatedly discussed the probable re-
suits, the general impression being
that the judges, in view of Major Car
riere's strong opposition would refuse
the application for adjournment. This
proved to be the case, as Col. Jouaust,
on his return. read a
UNANIMOUS DECISION
of the court rejecting the application
on the ground that the reasons ad-
vanced were insufficient. Capt. Drey-
fus listened to the announcement with
characteristic composure.
The feature of the days proceedings
was the story of the sufferings of Drey-
fus on Devils Island. his prison off
the coast of French Guiana. Dreyfus
wept in court when the clerk read a
document recounting the details of his
incarceration.
The proceedings opened with the ap-
plieation of NJ Demange for an ad-
iournment This was followed by the
!. deposition of M. Guerin. the former
minister of justice, who, however, only
repeated the evidence he had given be-
fore the court of cessation.
M. Lebon, the former minister OF the
colonies a big, red-bearded man, then
testified in justification of his instruc-
lions to treat Dreyfus vigorously, de-
claring that the extrme stringency only
dated from the time he thought an at
tempt would be made to rescue the
prisoner.
Col. Jouaust, president of the court
martial, asked Dreyfus if he had any
questions to put to the witness and he
replied in an emotional voice:
mo l am here
TO DEFEND MY HONOR.
/ do not wish to speak of the atrocious
suffering which, for five years, |,
Frenchman and an innocent man, SUI
fered on the lie du Diable.
NJ Demange here asked that the Off
cial report of the treatment of Dreyfus
on the He du Diable. which was pub
lished in the newspapers last week
should be read The clerk of the court
did so and in a sympathetic tone, re-
counted the narrowing tale of Dreyfus's
mental and physical sufferings and in
human treatment on the island.
Deep-drawn breaths of Indignation
came from the hearers as the reading
/, proceeded.
Dreyfus, at first, watched the faces
of the judges with his usual composure,
but gradually, as the story proceeded
and the incidents of his awful existence
were brought up before him, his eyes
grew dim and tears glistened in his
eyes and slowly trickled down his
cheeks.
Dreyfus could stand it no longer
and, for the first time during his trial,
gave way to his emotions and silently
wept.
The faces of the audience expressed
sympathy with the prisoners emotion
and even the Captain of gendarmes sit
ting beside Dreyfus turned and gave
him look of
UNCONCEALED COMPASSION.
Gen. MERCER, who with M. Lebon,
was seated in the front row of the
witnesses seats, listened to the reading
OF the report unmoved, while Col, Jou-
aust followed it with an air of bored
tolerance
NJ. Lebon afterward returned to the
stand and added a few more words in
justification of his conduct, and then
Col. Jouaust ordered the next witness
to be brought in.
All eyes were turned toward the
door on the right of the stage. and, a
moment later the form of woman,
dressed in deep mourning. appeared in
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