The Forrest City times., 1899-08-18
SUFF[R|NGS Of DREYFJS
The Feature of the Days Proceed
ings In the Court-Martial
at Rennes.
COURT WOULDN'T ADJOURN TO MONDAY
M. Lebon Tried 20 Justify Himself In
Ordering the Rigorous Trentmcni
of the Prisouer-The Widow o.
/ Col. Henry Gave Testimony 81
Very Little Weight.

Rennes, Aug. 1.-THE second tria
by court-martial of Capt. Alfred Drcy
fus, of the French artillery, charged
with treason. was continued, Mai. Car
riere, the representative of the govern
ment, having refused TO agree to the
adjournment of the case until Mon
day, applied for by NJ. Demange, coun.
sci for the prisoner, and Capt. Drey.
fus, owing TO the mnrderous attack
upon Maitre Labori, leading cornsel
for the defense.
The Featue of the Day.
The feature of the days proceed
ings was the story of the sufferings o.:
Dreyfus on Devils island. his prison
off the coast of French Guiana. Drey.
fus wept in court when the clerk read
a document recounting the details OF
his incarceration.
The proceedings opened with the ap
plication of Demange for an adjourn
ment. This was followed by the depo
sition of NJ. Guerin, the former minis
peated the evidence he had given be-
lore the court or cessation.
NJ. Lebon's Testimony.
M. Lebon, the former minister oi
the colonies, big, red-bearded man,
then testified in justification of his in
structions to treat Dreyfus rigorous
ly, declaring that the extreme strin
gency only dated from the time he
thought an attempt would be made &c
rescue the prisoner.
Col. Jouaust, president of the court
martial, asked Dreyfus if he had any
questions to put to the witness. and he
replied, in an emotional voince: No
not wish to speak here of the atrocious
suffering, physical and mental, for
five years, |. Frenchman and an in
nccent man, was subjected to on the
lie du Dable."
Oaicial Report Read.
M. Demange here asked that the Of
fetal report of the treatment of Drey-
fus on the lie du Diable. which was
published in the newspapers last week
should be read. The clerk of the court
did so, and in a sympathetic tone, re-
counted the narrowing tale of Drey-
fus' mental and physical sufferings
and inhuman treatment on the island.
signs of Indignation.
Deep-drawn breaths of indignation
came from the hearers as the reading
proce eded. Drcyfus, Mt first, watched
the faces of the judges with his usual
composure; but, gradually, as the
story proceeded, and incidents of his
awful existence were brought up be-
fore him, his eyes grew dim. and tears
glistened III his eyes, and slowly
trickled down his cheeks.
Dreyfus Wept silently.
Dreyfus could stand it no longer,
and for the first time during his trial
gave way TO his emotions and silently
wept. The faces of the audience ex-
pressed sympathy with the prisoners
emotion, and even the captain of gem
darmes, sitting beside Dreyfus, turned
and gave him a look of unconcealed
compassion.
Gen. Mercier, who with NJ. Lebon,
was seated in the front row of the
"itItSctH StotNs bStSiiNo W tiAt itoo-
Ing of the report unmoved, while Col.
Jouaust followed it with an air of
bored tolerance.
NJ. Lcbon Recalled.
NJ. Lebon afterwards returned to the
stand and added n few more words in
justification of his conduct. and then
Col. Jouaust ordered the next witness
TO be brought in. All eyes were
turned towards the door on the right
o. the stage, and moment later, the
form of woman, dressed in deep
mourning, appeared in the doorway
and, accompanied by non-commis-
stoned officer, advanced to the plat
form.
Col Henry's Widow.
It was the widow OF Col Henry, the
Preach officer who committed suicide
In prison after confessing TO forging
certain documents in the case. With
pale face and hand appraised before the
crIcifiN, she took the oath to tell the
truth. Nine. Henry is of medium
height and has common caste of
features and certainly could not be dc
scribed as attractive. She at once put
herself at ease, leaning forward with
beth hands resting on the rail of the
witness stand. In an attitude of com
rlete self-possession, She gave her evil
dence, accompanying the words with
frequent gestures.
Her Evidence of Little weight.
Her evidence, however. was of little
weight. She admitted the frequent
visits of Esterhazy to her husband and
said her husband told her he had
forged one document, I'm order to save
the honor of the country" She gave
her evidence in q matter-of-fact way
and was in no wise the sympathetic
figure the anti-Dreyfusards have tried
to make her.
Gen. Roget, in undress uniform. fol-
low ed. His evidence was vitriol;c
diatribe against Dreyfus from begin
ming to end.
The court adjourned until Thursday
on the conclusion of Gen. Roget's
monologue.
Costly Fire at Westchester. NY.