The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-08
OF the Dreyfus Courtmartial
With His Argument.
HAS NOT YET FINISHED
Hall of the Lycee Is Packed
With Spectators
Lord Chief Justice of England
Us Present.
Labori May Decide Not to
Talk.

Rennes, Sept. s.-The Hall Of the
I.ycee was crowded this morning at the
opening of the fifth day Of the fifth
week of the second trial by court mar
tial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus OF the
artillery charged with treason
There was a large attendance OF lad
les and newspaper writers who sat up
all night in order to secure front places.
At an early hour long llne was
formed of people awaiting admission
Standing room at the back OF the court
now commands IS and 20 francs for
places, and the demand is increasing as
the trial approaches its end
Among the privileged visitors today
was Baron Russell of KillOWeen, LORD
Chief Justice of England, VINO was con-
Quoted to a seat by General Chamoln
and NJ PaIeolOgue of the French Tor
efgn office. The lord chief justice was
seated at the back of the judges table
He came here from Paris, where he was
attending the sessions of the Anglo
Venezuelan arbitration commission, IN
order to see something of the trial
Maitre Demange at once opened his
speech for the defense. In eloquent
terms and with impressive delivery he
brought out strong evidence against
Esterhazy. During the course of his
remarks he cried:
DO YOU think if Dreyfus and Ester
hazy had been before the court martial
of 1894, that the court would have con-
demned Captain Dreyfus2
pointed to the prisoner sitting before
him. and added no
Dreyfus today appeared cheerful. He
smiled and shook hands with his coun-
sci on entering the court. The English
chief Justice followed the speech of NJ.
Demange with the closest attention
The lawyer gave a very fine perform
ance so far as the audience was con-
cerned. His voice was exquisitely mod
ulated, some times soft and persuasive,
and at other times sharply argumenta-
tive Finally he filled the room with
his stentorian tones as he numbered
with Indignation at the charges against
Dreyfus and the shameful weakness of
the prosecution and in denunciation of
EsterhaZy-
The gestures and features of NJ. De-
mango We're equally expressive. The
front rows of the chief witness seats
We're empty except for the presence OF
NJ. TrarieuX, the former minister of
Justice and NJ. Cavaignac, former min
lister of war, all the generals and Off
GERS having left Rennes by order of
the minister of war, General de CALI
fet.
Colonel Picquart has also left Rennes,
although he holds no rank in the army
Dreyfus listened to the Grafton of M.
Demange with a mask OF lmpasS1b1l-
ity resembling his frozen attitude dur
ing the first days of the trial. Whatever
the prisoners feelings were as he heard
Demange's plea in his behalf, he care
fully concealed them
At Il o'clock NJ. Demange was still
speaking and he announced that he
would need another hour and a half to
finish his plea SO the court adjourned
until 7:3O tomorrow morning. The fact
that NJ. LabOri has to speak and prob
ably the government cOmmissary,
Major CarTiere. will reply, makes it
practically certain that the verdict will
not be given before Monday.
The general impression formed was
that the speech of NJ. Demange must
have had a certain effect on the judges.
a a
"
There was a rumor after the adjourn
ment of the court that NJ. Labori had
decided not to speak. the idea being
that his abstention from so doing, in
view of the irritating effect his every
utterance has on the court, would be
rather an advantage than otherwise
TO Dreyfus
NJ. Labori was asked if there was any
truth in the report and he replied with
q shrug of his shoulders. apparently
conveying the impression that the mat
ter was under consideration. 1t was
generally noticed today that when NJ.
LabOri entered the court this morn
ing ne spoke to NJ. Demange in q
deprecating tone and q sharp discus
sion ensued almost bordering on a dis
pute.
The same thing occurred during the
usual brief suspension of the sitting
The two lawyers apparently were at
loggerheads about the best method of
conducting the case, which it was said,
Great interest has been aroused here
by the arrival at Rennes of Max Regis,
the former mayor of Algiers and a no
torious Jew batter. He was attended
by couple of Algerians in native cos
tune and a crowd of people followed
him about He stopped to take some
Eefreshment at the principal cafe here
and the place was Immediately in
Taded by a gaping crowd. NJ Regis
was present in the court yard of the
lycee this morning and discussed the
situation with the leading anti -Drey-
fusaris. His presence is not a good
omen for the peace of the town.
The local papers today publish an
open letter from NJ Regis to the
premier, NJ Waldeck- Rousseau. de-
claring that he, NJ. Regis, intends to
preserve the greatest calm, but adding
that if an attempt is made to arrest
him he viii resist
SPEECH OF NJ. DEMANGE
Amid intense silence and holding the
keenest attention from the audience. NJ
Demange shortly after the opening of
the proceedings of the Dreyfus court
martial today rose to make the speech
Tor the defense. His opening remarks
seemed TO meet with approval
However solemn the occasion NAV
ne, ne declared. I must at the outset
protest with all my soul against the al
legation which one of the witnesses did
not shrink from uttering This witness
did not hesitate to declare that who
ever advocated the revision Of this case
that is to say whoever believed in the
innocence Of DreSfus-was working
against the army and against the coun-
Try. here declare that he does not