The Red Cloud chief., 1899-09-15
TEN YEARS IN A PRISON CELL
Hope stiil Enterts' med that tho Prosi.
idcnt OF the French R~epubiic VIII
Sec Ills Way Clear to Pardon tho
Condemned Man-Dreyfus L.
Bearing Up Very Well.

fus has been condemned, but though a
this afternoon fully expected the YER
dict, they were completely stupefed
when 1t was given, and the silence
which prevailed in the room and the
way men turned pale and caught their
breaths was more impressive than any
other manifestation could have been.
Maitre Demange sank back in his
chair and tears trickled down his
cheeks, and Maitre Labori turned
white rs n sheet, while all in the court
room looked ut each other in silence.
Positively the only sound to be heard
was the rustling Of papers from the
reporters benches as each press repre-
sentative tried to be first to send the
news.
AS the crowd left the court room
fully ten or fifteen men were crying
openly, and the majority Of those pres
ent walked quietly down the street for
more than a block without speaking a
WoIu. u Woo iihC a luuCIai DtoSCo
sion.
The Libre Parole announced that
Dreyfus had been condemned to inn
prisonment for life. The editions were
absolutely torn from the hands Of the
vendors. 1t was almost impossible to
hear opinions friendly to the minister.
The masses were undoubtedly hostile
to Dreyfus. But in private circles the
verdict was criticised in strong terms.
In the presence of the extraordinary
sentence it is believed that tribunal
recognized the prisoners innocence,
but was afraid Of the generals and
public opinion and that Us Dreyfus has
suffered five years cellular imprison-
ment, which in France counts for
double, he will be Immediately re-
leased. The representative of the AS
ISOLATED press in Paris learns on good
authority that one of the members of
the cabinet told a friend that Dreyfus
would probably not have to undergo
further imprisonment, and that IL he
was sent to prison his place Of confine-
mems would probably be the island Of
st. Marguerite, near Canas, where
Marshall Bazaine was incarcerated and
thence he escaped.
The court declares on the question
by a majority of five votes to two yes
The accused is guilty. The majority
agreed that there are cxtenuating cir
cumstances, In consequence of which
and on the request of the commissary
of the government the president put
the question and received the votes in
the aforementioned form. As a re-
suit the court condemns, by a majority
Of five votes to two. Alfred Dreyfus t
the punishment of ten years deten-
ton.
The Judge then quotes the code and
the constitution under which the SEN
tense was delivered with the article of
the law cnjoining the government COM
missary to have the judgment immc-
diately read in the presence OF tn e
prisoner, before the assembled guard,
under arms, and to notify him that
the law allows a delay Of twenty-four
hours in which to lodge an appeal.
Dreyfus has borne the terrible shock
with marvellous fortitude, one might
almost say with unnatural calm. Yes
terday he seemed stupifed when Mai
ire Labori communicated to him the
verdict, but he has since rallied. He
passed a quiet night and rose at 8
o'clock just as he did during the trial.
MADAME Dreyfus and Matthew Drey-
fus, his brother, visited him during
the course of the afternoon, his BROTH
err subsequently leaving for Paris. The
application to the court Of revision
was taken to him at noon by Maitre
Labori's assistant and he sighed 1t.
Dreyfus has spoken but little,
though he has seemed in better spirit s
than might have been anticipated.
The meeting with his wife was natur-
ally very affecting, but both held up
as we'll as possible. lie said to her:
81 am not uneasy regarding myself,
4, as I shall soon be free, but i think OF
you and my poor children. They will
be branded as the children of a trai,
tor"
He is convinced that the ten years
imprisonment to which he is sentenced
will be wiped ont by the Ave years OF
solitary seclusion he has undergone on
DEVILS island, and he expects to be re
leased by October Is, which will bt
five years from the date of his former
condemnation. He Is so sanguine tha'
he has made an extraordinary request
of his wife for a novel to read in the
meantime, explaining that his mind II
so shaken and weighed down by recen'
events that he needs to divert hi
thoughts and try to get all the recol
lections of the last three months GU
, of his mind.
Maitre Demange thinks the fv'
years will count for nothing, and tina
Dreyfus, according to law, will have Il
suffer ten years detention. Man.
others, however, including severa
lawyers, hold q contrary opinion, ant
declare that he will be released In DC