The record-union., 1899-08-20
Opinions Differ as to the Judgment
of the COurt-MartiaI,
Whether the Verdict VIII Be for or
Against the Accused.
The Tribunal Said to Share the
Feelings of the Military Wit
nesses, but Some Signs of the
Judges Coming Around in Favor
of Dreyfus.

copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press)
RENNES, Aug. 19-Opinions differ
as to what the Judgment of the Drey-
fus tribunal will be. TownSpeople who
know we'll General Germain and Gen
eral Lucas of the army corps think the
decision will be against the accused
On the other hand, at the Hotel Mo
dere which is now the great conyer-
Sational news center. the idea prevails
of a reluctant judgment in his favor.
The tribunal certainly shares the
feelings of the military witnesses, but
there are signs of coming around. L
noticed a member of the court-martial
watching Dreyfus to-day with an ex-
preston of compassionate interest.
Then, again, Colonel Jouaust, the Press
ident, did not rebuke him for apostro-
phising Captain Cuignet, who led the
procession of military witnesses to-day,
nor order him, as he was wont to do,
not to speak until he was addressed.
Maitre Demange is more hopeful, al
though acknowledging the perverse use
the Nationalists make of the Schneider
and Panizzardi kilograms to int1ame
patriotic sentiment. That party now
demands the full publication of the Sc
cret dossier so as to heap disgrace on
the military attaches and the illustrious
German Prince involved, a Prince who
lived long in Paris.
l should not be surprised at tie.
This would enable the prisoner to leave
the court a free man, but would show
that half the Judges believed him
guilty.
Captain Cuignet to-day gave his tes-
timony in a hollow voice, quite differ
ent from that in which some days ago
he made his virulent attack on Drey-
fus. His attitude. however, was as as
sertive as before, though his language
was less so. To-day his task was to
destroy the effect of the question of
Maitre Demange, and to set up again
the demolished theory of General Mer-
cier.
Cuignet was in the fourth bureau of
the general staff when DreyfuS was In
another bureau there. but not under
his orders. They were both engaged in
calculating what work invasion would
throw on the railways. but were en-
gagged on different lines. Dreyfus, he
said, constantly came to him for infor-
nation which he had no cause to do.
Cuignet kept refusing until he was tired
out by the opportunities of the ac-
cused. Then, by degrees, he gave him,
Cuignet deposed. all the notes he him.
self had made.
Dreyfus, according to the witness,
never returned the notes. When search
was made at his home they were not
found. What had become of them
DreyfuS was not the man to cast them
away. Cuignets insinuation was that
they were sent to Berlin. The conclu-
sion was far fetched. but the members
of the court-martial made note of it.
Cuignet then defended Esterhazy
against Picquart and next against Du
Patty de Clam. THE traitor" he ex-
claimed, lis not Esterhazy, but Drey-
fus"
Here Captain Dreyfus lost his self
control. Starting to his feet, he vio-
lently apostrophised Cuignet who went
on with his invective. the diction being
clear, measured and slow.
No new fact was brought forward by
Captain Cuignet, and everyone was
tired of him. When he turned to Colo
mel Schneider's Ems telegram, which
he compared to another dispatch from
Ems, that let loose invasion upon
France. M. Demange shrugged his
shoulders.
1tueIdI lie bOlSueiLIe WAS dlSO d. Will
ness. He denied that Colonel Picquart
on the occasion of the first Dreyfus
trial was sent with secret papers to the
President of the court-martial. He was
a cautious witness. but he had to sup
port the other Generals.
Colonel Picquart at the end was al
lowed to defend himself against the
malignant insinuations and assertions
of the witnesses.
Until Maitre Demange and .Maitre
Labori speak one should risk no opin-
ion as to the outcome. General Billot
thinks there will be many fluctuations
before the trial is over. but he conf
IDENTIFY expects a verdict of guilty. The
Government seems more neutral since
the Foreign Minister NJ. Del Casse, re-
turned from his visit to Count Mura-
vieff.
MAY BE SET FREE.
NEW YORK, Aug. ia dispatch
from Rennes to the Tribune" says:
According to impressions just commu-
nicated to your correspondent from