The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
DREYFUS'S FATE In DOUBT.
NO NEW EVIDENCE BUT PLoTTERs
MAY AGAIN THWART JUSTICE


ing IN Individual--Compr Verdict
May Release Dreyfus but Not Restore
His Rank-Dreyfus Confronts Den. Gonse
Capt. Cuignet's Savage Attaok-EiEhty-
three More witnesses to Bo Heard.
Special Cable Despatch to THE sUs.
RrSSrs. Aug, l0.-Most OF the correspond
ents Of foreign newspapers came 70 hennes with
the impression that after q full hearing Of the
evidence tho acduittal OF Dreyfus OF the charge
oftreason would be the inevitable verdict. The
trial has now proceeded fortnight and abb
solutely nothing worthy OF the name OF evil
dcnce has been adduced against the accused,
vet scarcely any one is now confident OF the
result. This change does not imply. as 1t would
at first appear. that the prisoners judges are
dishonest or corrupt 1t means that the case
is in the hands Of jury who are uncon sclously
preiudccd or, to put it fairly. who ara incap-
able of forming an impartial opinion 1t means
that they are the victims OF undue pressure
and illegitimatc influences which require
moral hcroism beyond that Of ordinary men to
successfully resist Dreyfus's judges are
genuinely entitled to the sympathy and COM
miseration Of the whole world.
Foreigners at Rcnues realize now for the first
time. perhaps, the intensity OF the passions
which ar, binding reason and destroying the
ton which makes these alien observers no
longer confident OF the vindication Of the inno-
nent man before the Rennes court martial, 1t
10 now clear what policy tho enemies OF Dreyfus
have relied on chiefly for thwarting justice
once more 1t il reasons OF State. based not on
prcten led danger Of foreign war. as in 1894.
but upon the civil war which the acquittal OF the
prisoner would precipitate. according to the
anti Dreyfus declarations. In other words, they
p'otted to demonstrate by uprisings at Rennes
and elsewhere that it is the patriotic duty OF
the court martial to save the country by again
sacrificing tn" individual before them The
Paris Government became cognzant Of the plot.
and it remains To- be seen II they will further
succeed in forestalling it.
In refrrcnce to the Dreyfus case itself
the defence is terribly handicapped in two
WAYS. First, they are precluded or have
Voluntarily refrained from impugning the
honesty OF the chief witnesses for the prosecu-
ton.
"Wc know OF course. that such men As Mer-
cier aui Roget were wfully lying in their
testimony" said a gentleman connected with
prcyru4s lawyers to the correspondent OF THE
sun. but We consitcr that it would be fatal to
the defendants chances to impute perjury TO
the highest officers Of the French army before
a Jury of their subordinates. Hence we limit
errors" This. he added. explains the apparent
iuadequacy Of NJ Deman2e's oross-examina-
ton.
1t Ia open to serious question whether the
defence was right in adoptng this policy. There
Is excellent reason for believing that with
NJ Labor at his best Dreyfuss chief enemies
would have left the box ono by one. con-
victed out OF their own mouths of conspiracy
and lying. and openly admitting that they
knew there was not a scrap OF genuine evil
dence OF his guilt But Labori is hors de
combat and in this second respect the defence
is handicapped. 1t is still believed that Labor
will reappear In court on Monday. but the
strain of searching examination IL more than
he wi. be able to bear ut present.
In regard to the prospects OF the verdict,
many believe that it will be an unsatisfactory
compromise. namely. 1 to 3 against the
prisoner. which would result in his discharge.
but not in his restoration to rank No one
expects decision before the end OF the month.
and it may be deferred ten days later.
EIGHTT-TUREE MORE WITNESSES TO DE HEARD.
There remain eiGhty-three witnesses on the
list. and this number will undoubtedly be aug
mentcd. inasmuch as any witness eau be re-
called for conformation. which 10 a favorite
feature Of French trials If anybody subse-
quenty contradics him. 1t is impossible to
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wy" "I|' o"'. nv t.''' w, VI"
oo"',,u'' ~ oSoeu 'eI'celoi'n iiiofo speeuny'
'''N' ruS ~ ns'ih'
Tbo courtroom, ,..,, L. -, o,, u,., A..
twclfthd,y,s session Of Tho court bog an
Gao o.clock ,his n,or,in, Cows N.rc,., RiIlot
Roget and Col pi,cu,,, w.r. III. or,y o,.un.n, 10
Of the sn,o, reserved for witresses wb.n C,nt
Cui,-nc, was called 10 tho st.nd Hi sm.y
mountaineering vounp one, with . st,cc,to
&c ,hi,h -
his manner WAS vo,omous no no nir,r.d
almost at once into Recommendation
Of the prisoner az aruiltv man Hewas..s,v.qe
as Gen Roget but even more il,o1ic,I and his
testimony became another bitter diatribe in he
half Of the prosecution. Within Ave minutes
after Cuienet b.yon N tss,itv Drsy,us brd nm
his hand In silent protest. but the only effect Of
this was to mako the witness nervousy gulp q
swallow Of water between each sentonca This
sign OF agitation beuan to az cite The lang hteY of