The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-12

CALAAC oSPIclIIbti E"4OddJ civ
the beginning of the end of the Drey-
fus trial.
With the speech of the government
commissary, Major Carriere, the case
entered upon the ina stage Of plead
ings and the verdict will be delivered
on Monday at the latest.
There is ever talk tonight of the trial
ending tomorrow by holding an extra
afternoon session for M. Laboris speech
and the deliberation of the judges.
This, however, is considered unlikely,
as the government is anxious to have
the judgment withheld over Sunday in
order to avert demonstrations which
would probably develop bloodshed on
a day when the workmen are free.
The government is not only fearful
regarding Rennes, but is particularly
concerned regarding Paris and other
large towns where passions have been
heated and where the verdict, which,
either way it is given, is practically
certain to give rise to trouble.
1t is understood that the government
has intimated it's desire to the presi-
dent of the court-martia1, Colonel Jou-
aust, and there is no reason to believe
that he will not fall in with it's views.
TESTIMONY OF FOREIGN AT
TACHES EXCLUDED.
Colonel Jouaust this morning took
the most important decision yet TAX
en-, and took it entirely upon his own
responsibility, although he is undoubt-
edly only the mouthpiece of the whole
body of judges. His decision to exclude
the testimony of Colonel Schwartzkop-
pen n Major Panizzardi was most
significant, as it means that the court
had already reached a conclusion and
thai the pleadings Of counsel were
merely a waste of time and might be
dispensed with, if there were not a ne
cesSity.
The court has made up it's mind-but
which way? This is h vital point
and forms the sole topic of discussion
tonight. Both sides are equally conf
dent hat the court will decide in ac-
cordance with their view. The Drey-
fusards declare hat the judges cannot
condemn Captain Dreyfus after reject
ing the decisive evidence which
Schwartzkoppen and Panizzardi would
have given in his favor.
The anti-Dreyfusites, on the other
hafd, explain today's rulings on the
ground that the judges recognize that
the evidence of the two military at
taches would beWOrthleSS. because they
would be morally bound to save their
agent at any cost.
"A sample of this reason was given
by an anti-Dreyfusard journalist VINO
when praising Colonel declS-
ion. explained: What weight could
he attach to the testimony of Schwartz
koppen and Panizzardi? The receiver
of stolen goods must shield the thief as
much as he can"
HOW. THE VERDICT WILL BE
RENDERED.
From the popular point of view the
scene in court when Colonel Jouaus
delivers the judgment will be divesteo
of it's most sensational feature, owing
to the absence of the central figure
CAPTAIN Dreyfus will be taken to ar
adjacent room when the judges retire
to consider their verdict. A momen
before they are ito re-enter, a bell VIII
be rung, and, as they take their places
behind the long table on the stage, thu
infantry and guard will present arms
and remain at present-arms, while COL
onel Jouaust, standing in the center
of the platform, reads the verdict.
Captain Dreyfus will not be brough'
back to the court room, n will no
be present at the public meeting OF the
Judges, but, when the court room has
been cleared by the gendarmes, Whicf
will be done as soon as Colonel Jou'
aust concludes, the reading clerk o.
the court will proceed to the room
where Dreyfus will be waiting, and
read him the verdict in the presence OF
a couple of gendarmes.
The public will thus be robbed of thu
spectacle of his emotions. which arr
bound to be most profound, whether
the decree sends him to the arms OF
his family or back to the penal settle
ment.
ONE OF THREE vERDICTS POS
STBLE.
The verdict may be a condemnation
an uneQuivocal acQuittal, or a form OF
sacouittal that would be equivalent tt
the Scotch verdict mot proven"
The last Will be h case if In
judges should pronounce against him
by a vote of four to three. That is, ht
would be freed, even though the judges
in his favor should be in the minority
But this, naturally, would be very un-
satisfactory, as he would carry tbs
stigma for the rest Of his days.
DREYFUS' CHANCES.
Captain Dreyfus thus has five chance
against the prosecutions three-un'
nimity, six to one, five to two, four tt
three. or three to four, will set him a
liberty, while unanimity, six to one, o.
five to two will convict him. II con
victed. the Judgment will be carried t
the military court of appeals, which
will be a formal matter. The appea
court will only quash the Judgment ant
order a r~e-trial, if it should be estab
lis1ed that the present court-martia
has erred in a matter of procedure. TIL:
is in the highest degree improbable.
The court of cessation win also hav
the right to order a re-trial, II l
should decide hat the court-martia
has deviated from its instructions. Thl
is the only 1ophole for Dreyfus, n nj
friends will undoubtedly fight this poin
tooth and mali.
TO SPIRIT THE DEFENDANT
AWAY.
Extraordinary measures nave oeel
taken to spirit Dreyfus away, whethe
acquitted or recondemned. His depar
ture from Rennes will be enveloped II
the same mystery and secrecy as wa