Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-08-09
INNOCENCE.
Dreyfus Declares He Is the Vic.
tim of Plot.
HIS TRIAL BEGINS AT RENNES.

seniDaeS the Cry Oh u NOuhUcu
He Declares He Is Innocent-The Wild
ow of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Present
in Court-Scenes and Incidents.
Rennes, France, Aug. 1.-THE Drey-
fus court adjourned after deciding to
sit behind closed doors Tuesday and as
many of the following days as are
necessary for the examination of the
secret dossier. The next public ses-
sior of the court will probably take
place on Saturday next.
Rennes, Aug. THE proceedings of
Dreyfus is on trial opened at ten min
utes past Z o'clock Monday morning.
Captain Dreyfus entered the court
room with firm step, though his feat
ures were pallid. He is partly bald,
and what hair he has is gray and close
cropped. He answered the formal
questions of the judge as to his name,
age, etc., in a clear, determined voice.
He sat facing the judges with his hands
resting on his knees, an impossible
figure.
An animated scene.
| The scene inside the court room was
most animated. Every inch of space
was filed quarter of an hour before
the proceedings opened. The large,
airy, well-lighted room in which the
trial takes place, is in the form of
concert hall, with stage and pro-
scenium. The platform of the stage
has been brought forward beyond the
footlights. The room is painted
light brown, with the names of famous
Bretons, such as LIE. Sage, Renan and
Cnateaubriand inscribed in golden let
tiers on an ornamental band about
midway between the floor and ceiling.
A long table covered with dark, blue
cloth, was ranged in front of the stage,
behind which were the seats of the
members of the court-martial. A high
backed armchair has been provided for
the president. The seats were of pol
ished mahogany and were upholstered
in dark, red cloth.
Behind the members of the court sat
the supplementary judges, who must
attend all sittings and be able to re-
place any member who may fall i'll or
otherwise be unable to be present Be-
hind the supplementary judges were a
few privileged members of the public.
Rattle of Arms.
At o'clock MN. Labori and De-
mango and Major Carriere with their
assistants, took their seats and the
witnesses followed. Then sharp words
from the officer commanding the row
of soldiers at the back of the court
rang out: Garry arms!" Present
arms!"
There was rattle of arms and a
moment later Colonel Jouaust. fol-
lowed by the other members of the
court, walked on the stage from
room. behind and took seats at the ta-
BILE. Deep silence fell upon the audi
ence, who up to then, had engaged in
a buzz of conversation. Colonel
Jouaust and his colleagues were in full
parade uniform with airgrettes in the
front of their peaked shakos. Colonel
Jouaust's airgrette was white; the 9TH
ers were tri-color. On the right hand
of Colonel Jouaust sat Lieutenant
Colonel Brongniart Major DeBroon
and Captain Parfait, all of the artil-
lery. On his left hand were Majors
Profillet and Merle and Captain Beau
vais, also of the artillery.
Prisoner Brought In.
Immediately after Colonel Jouaust
was seated he gave the order to bring
in the prisoner. All eyes were then
turned to the right of the stage, beside
which was door leading to the room
in which Dreyfus was awaiting the
summons. Almost everybody but the
most prominent officers stood on their
feet, some mounted ON benches, to OBJ
tain a better view. There were sub
dued cries of "Sft down." amid which
the door opened and Captain Alfred
Dreyfus, preceded and followed by
gendarme, emerged into the court
room.
His features were deathly pale and
his teeth were set with a determined
but not defiant bearing. He walked
quickly with almost an elastic step,
and assembled the three steps leading
to the platform in front of the judges.
There he drew himself up, erect,
brought his right hand sharply to the
peak of his KEPT, or military cap, CIV
ing the military salute, showing that
the years OF incarceration on Devils
island and terrible anguish of body and
mind had rot impaired his soldierly
instinct and bearing.
TIE Examination Begins.
After the formal proceedings, which
occupied couple of hours, Colonel
Jouaust began the examination of
Dreyfus respecting the famous border
eau, and what Dreyfus did with, or
could have known of it's contents.
When Dreyfus, wearing eyeglasses,
rose from his seat for examination he
stood erect, holding his kept in his
hand before him. He looked Colonel
Jouaust in the face during the whole
interrogatory. Colonel Jouaust began
by saying:
1T results from the documents just
read that you are accused of having
brought about Vaccinations or held
relations with foreign power, or one
or more of its agents, in order to pro-
cure it means, by delivering it docu-
ments, indicated in the discriminating
bordereau, to commit hostilities or un-
dertake war against France. | noti-
fly you that you will be allowed to state
during the course of these proceedings
anything that appears to you useful for
defense"
Dreyfus replied with vehement dec
laration of his innocence. repeating
several times II am innocent" in
voice which quivered with emotion.
The agonized manner in which he ut
tered his protestations of innocence