Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-10
TRIAL OF CAPT. DREYFUS
II began at RenneS, France, Monday; the
Scenes in the Court and Vicinity.
INTENSE INTEREST MANIFESTED
No Disorder Attempted by the
Large Gathering.
PART OF THE HEARING WILL Be SECRET

Rennes, France, Aug. THE pro-
ceedings Of the court martial before
which Capt. Droyfus is on trial opened
at 40 o'clock this morning. Can't.
Dreyfus entered tho court room with
firm step, though his features were
pallid. He is partly bald, and what
hair he has is grey and close cropped
He answered the formal questions as to
his name, age, &C., in clear, deter
mined voice.
The trial opened, SO far as Rennes is
concerned, in an atmosphere of perfect
| tranquility. The population is appar-
emily indifferent. Only u small crowd,
at the most so persons, had gathered
outside the entrance to the Lyeee by 6
o'clock. A majority of these were
journalists. The project of police and
chief of the secret police viguer arrived
Just before 6, and began the superin-
tendence of police measures. At this
time, only half dozen gendarmes we're
visible. They were stationed at the
portal of the Lycee and inside the gar
den in front Of the Lycee. which is
separated from the sidewalk Of the
avenue de la Care by high iron rail-
ing, which no one was allowed to pass
until Dreyfus had been transferred from
the military prison to the room within
the iycee Building where he was to
await the moment when he should be
summoned to enter the court room.
Strong detachments of gendarmes, on
foot and mounted, began to arrive at 6
O'Clock, and took up their positions in
the side streets around the Lycee. At
6. 10, the project of police gave the or
der to close the avenue de la Care for
800 yards in front of the Lycee, aud
also all by-streets leading to the avenue.
The gendarmes were Immediately drawn
up along the avenue, and the space in
front OF the Lycee was cleared of all
spectators. A detachment of infantry
was drawn across the avenue in two
double lines, leaving between them a
passage for Capt. Dreyfus across from
the military prison to the entrance to
the Lycee. The crowd, which by that
time had increased to a few hundred.
was kept by the gendarmes at dis
lance of $50 yards on either side OF
this passage. Capt. Dreyfus emerged
from the military prison under escort
of lieutenant and four gendarmes.
He crossed the railroad quickly; and
disappeared within the Lycee, the
hedge Of soldiers hiding him from view
The principal personages in the trial
arrived between $50 and Z o'clock.
The generals passed with hardly a
cheer from the spectators, Gen. Mercier
alone being greeted with few cries of
"Vive l'armee" and "Vive Mercier''
as he drove up in closed carriage.
Lieut.. Col. Picquart arrived on foot
at $50. No demonstration was mace
upon his arrival. He appeared to be
in q most cheerful mood. The scene
inside the court room was most ami
mated. Every inch Of space was filled
quarter of an hour before the proceed
ipgs opened.
AT O'Clock, MN. Labor and Dem
ange and Major Carriere, with their
assistants, took their seats, and the wit
nesses followed. Then sharp words
from the officer commanding the row of
soldiers at the back of the court rang
out; Garry arms" Present arms. 9
There was a rattle of arms, and
moment later Col. Jouaust followed
by the other members Of the court,
walked on the stage, from a room be-
hind, and took aeats at the table.
An interesting figure seated behind
the judges was the woman known as
La Dame Blanche 1.-THE white LADY,,
who has never absented herself from
any Of the proceedings connected with
the Dreyfus affair. She is pro-
nounced Dreyfustard, very rich and
wears splendid pearls.
Immediately after Col. Jouaust was
seated, he gave the order to bring in
the prisoner. AL eyes were then turned
to the right of the stage, beside which
was door leading to the room in
which Dreyfus was awaiting the sum
mons. Almost everybody but the most
prominent officers stood ON their feet,
some mounted on benches to obtain a
better view. There were subdued cries
of "Sit down." amid which the door
opened and Capt. Dreyfus, preceded
and followed by gendarme, forged
into the court room. His features were
deathly pale, and his teeth were set
with determined bearing.
The formal proceedings occupied two
hours. In voice which quivered
with emotion, Dreyfus declared his
innocence.
The Dreyfus court adjourned after
deciding to sit behind closed doors to-
morrow and as many of the following
days as are necessary for the examina.
tion of the secret dossier.
The next public session of the court
will probably be held on Saturday
next.