Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-15
TRIAL MAY NOT BE BRIEF.
Indications That Proceedings Will
Continue Into September

Indications That Proceedings Will
Continue Into September.
Rennes, Aug. 1.-Saturday. with its
open sitting of the Dreyfus court-mar-
tial, will be a great day. Gen. Mercier
and eN-President Casimer-Perier will
be confronted, and anything is posi-
BILE as the result OF the sitting. In any
case the trial will continue. but if
what is expected happens the victory
will begin on that day
Dreyfus and his friends are deter
mined to leave nothing for his enemies
TO stand upon. They will then as
sumo the offensive, and they are deter
mined not to stop till the military par
ty is routed. Ii begins to look. there.
fore. as il the trial would be much
longer than was at first expected. 1t
is even possible that it may run over
into September.
The righteous Indignation and adj
mirable bolaness of the Dreyfus side
are increasing every day.
The secret dosser still monopolizes
the attention of the court-martial.
This famous collection of documents
was brought down to Rennes lasi Fri
day under a strong guard. The chief
of the secret police, Gen. Chanoine of
the war department, and NJ. Paleo-
logue, of the foreign office, were met
on the platform at the station by the
project. Two cabs had been engaged.
In the first was placed the precious va
lise with two members of the secret
police. under the eye of their chief.
Gen. Chanoine and NJ. Paleologue fol-
lowed in the second, with valise Of
dull yellow leather bound around with
two strong straps. 1t was very heavy,
requiring two men to carry it. On one
corner was riveted small brass plate
inscribed ..Alinistere DIES Affaires Ell
rangercs" Goreign office) This was
simply a diplomatic pouch. such as is
used by French ambassadors. The va
lise was locked in the new safe of the
Rennes branch of the Credit Lyonnais
bank.
The most contradictory reports con-
tinue 10 circulate concerning the effect
produced in the Lycee by the contents
of this valise since it was opened Tues
day morning. Some declare that
Dreyfus sleeps no more, that Nine.
Dreyfuss left the prison yesterday with
red eyes and that the prisoners law
yers are bewildered As regards the
prisoners health, close friend of the
family gives me this information:
Capt. Dreyfus' condition is excellent.
He is still dieting on account of his
disorlered liver. eating only milk and
eggs. His moral state is perfect His
will and courage are unchanged. He
awaits the result with absolute conf
dence. He knows he is innocent, and
that is a permanent resource Of
strength. He is not at all nervous, as
has been reported. Notwithstanding
the impression of stupor produced by
listening to the reading, 1t is incon-
ceivable that the secret dossier is now
heard by him for the first time"
Concerning Nine. Dreyfus' eyes, it
would have been impossible to tell
whether they We're red or not. SO short
was the moment during which her
face was visible on entering and leav-
ing the coupe. II she really had been
weeping. it assuredly was from far
more natural causes than this childish
dossier.
In the matter of the lawyers and
their alleged "bewilderment." there is
this to be said: This afternoon Maitre
Demange walked slowly, a big cigar in
his mouth, from the Hotel de France.
where he is lodging, to the prison,
trayersing the broad graveled square
in front of the central Geographic Of
flee, where he was Immediately SUR
rounded by group of ever-waiting
newspaper men. He did not hesitate
to chat about the case in general
way; he was manifestly in the best
spirits, and he even submitted good
naturedly to the Snapshots of the
English correspondents.
When. a few minutes later. Native
Demange disappeared behind the pris-
on door just as Nine. Dreyfus was
driving home, he did not look at all as
if he were going to u condemned mans
cell.
A friend tells me that both Maitre
l.abori and Capt. Dreyfus are in the
same contented mood. When they left
the court-room just before noon il wus
evident that the secret dossier had no
more saddened the countenance or
dampened the ardor of the jovial bar
risters than it had caused Dreyfus in
somnia or tilledWith tears Nine. Drey-
flIcs nyor