Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-08
DREYFUS ON TRIAL.
Second Court-Martia| Of the
Officer Begins
NO R|OTOUS INCIDENT
About as Many Soldiers as Civilians
on Hand.
PRISONER HEARS HIMSELF WELL.
He Presents n Fearless COmposure
That is Only Once or Twice Broken
PRISONER HEARS HIMSELF WELL
His Innocence.

martial Of Captain Dreyfus began mere
to-day with as much theatrical setting
and as much military pomp as could well
be devised by a nation pre-eminent in
stage-craft and dramatic effect
Contrary to general expectation, the
day was void Of riotous incident Not
single attempt at violence marked the
anxious hours in or out of court The
well-oiled machinery Of the military party
moved smoothly. precluding any attempt
at a fractional outbreak. but the hand OF
repression was iron-sinewed, though
gloved in velvet.
The attitude Of the court was ominous
toward the prisoner, but Dreyfus met the
deadly. settled hatred Of his military col
leagues and judges with fearless COM
posure that only once or twice broke
through his outward calm into a passion
ate reiteration Of his innocence.
GENDARMEs BLOCK APPROACH.
The early hours outside the entrance TO
the I.ycee. where the trial took place
were quiet and devoid Of incident Before
the crowd had time to assemble the gen
darmes had blocked all approach 100 yards
in every direction. Through this military
gauntlet the distinguished prisoner was
| escorted from the military prison TO an
ante-room. where he remained until the
opening Of the court
The guard Of six gendarmes surrounded
him and hid him from view on his way
10 the courthouse, but once inside It was
seen that he had withstood in remark
! able fashion his five years of exile and
of mental and physical torture. He was
pale-featured and partly bald, and his
hair was almost perfectly white, but he
held himself erect. saluted with military
precision. and spoke when reused In a
high. stridont voice, that carried with Il
little sympathy. but strong and weil-re-
pressed emotion.
! THE TRIAL HALL.
Tho interior of the Lycee, where the
| trial occurred. had been a concert hall
| The stage was extended beyond the foot
lights 10 accommodate the long, blue
] covered table. around which gathered the
members of the court. while the remaining
| stage space behind the table was hlled
win few highly-favored spectators.
The room was painted light brown
| with the names of famous Bretons' such
as lie Same. Keenan, and ChateauDrlahd'
| Inscribed i'm golden letters on an orna-
| mental band about midway between the
floor and ceiling.
The seats around the table were or pol
! ished mahogany, upholstered in dark red
! a high carved chair being reserved TOT
Tho president Of the court. The edges OF
srff IA Naf a
fine crowd Of civilian reporters, while at
The end of the han nearest the entrance
| were crowded the general public. Be-
/ tween them and the court table rose a
dais. upon which Dreyfus was seated, sur
rounded by his counsel
BRILLIANT UNIFORMS.
Against this sombre setting there stoo'
| ont i'm strong relief the brilliant UNIFORM
| Of the military court ana OF the mes 81
| eeudarmcs who with fixed bayoncts
we're ranked about the prisoner and IN
| court and scattered among the spectator
| i'm the ratio almost of a soldier 10 every
/ civilian. Back of the stage hung cruclllN
| nefore which the witnesses took tl'
| oath. Facing this. at the back OF th'
han was q bust representing the republic
Win the letters "R f." Republiqu'
| Francisco. ,,....,..,,.-o
Al o'clock NM. Labor and Demarge
counsel for Dreyfus. and Major Cairere
| with their assistants. took thelr seats
and the witnesses followed. Then shdI
,,ords from the officer commanding TN
row of soldiers at the back OF the coui
rang out-"Carry arms; present arms
Tbere was a rattle Of arms, and, a mo
mont later. Colonel JOuaust, followed D!
other members Of the court walked on III
stage from a room behind, and took seat
al The table. Deep silence fell upon M
audience. who. up 10 then, had engaged
i'm a buzz Of conversation.
Colonel Jouaust and his colleagues wes
IN fun parade uniform, with aigrettes II
mont OF their peaked shakoes' Noloie
To,aust's aigrette was white; the other
yora tri-colored. on the right hand o
CoIonel Jouaust sat Colonel Brongniarl
Major DeBreon. and Captain Parfait' al
of inc artillery. On his left hahd Wet
Majors Prohllet and Merle, and Captain
Beauyais. also Of the artillery
ola DAME BLANCHE"
An interesting Iigure. seated behind IN
| ..,l'-,e was the woman known as IL
yEor,o blanche" 0he white LADY,. who ha
never absented herself from any or IN
nroceedincs connected with the Dreytu
AFFAIR. including all the sessions OF IN
| Esterhazy. lola. and Picquart trlaiS' an
| the proceedings OF the Nouit VI a. =
| Am the actors i'm the drama are kho"
10 her. Sne is a pronounced Dreytus'a
and very rich. She was dressed to-day
"a .,picture" hat black ana white Trim
mings. and a pink bodice. -,
The official list of the mthDels Vi III
court-martial is as follows:
president Colonel Jouaust' Director
the Engineer Corps. ,,,r.oso
Ticutc,ant-Colonel Brongniart, DlIecto
of the school OF ARTILLERY.
Major DeBrcon, Of the seventh ms
mont Of Artillery. nj. Do,.i,o,,,
Major Prodllet, Of the Tenth Regimen
Major Merle, Of the Seventh Regimen
Of Artillery c.,,o,,.. po-
mcnt Of Artillery
Captain Beauvais, of the Seventh Rea
iment OF Artillery.
NOTABLE ABSENTEES.
ON the courts proceeding 10 the roll
cali Of witnesses, the most notable -
scntees being EsierhaZy Du Patty j
cam. and Nine. Pays Dreyfus half-turr
ed his head towards the seats OF ~
witnesses. especially when the Clerk
The Court called Esterhazy. But wne
! no response was received Droyfus -
| turned to his previous attitude. looAiu