The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-08-08
Famous Prisoner Of Devils Island
Again Before a Court.
martial.
Emphatic Affirmation of His In.
nocence in Reply to the
Charges.
His Manner Showed High Nerv-
ons TensiOn--SOme Incidents
of the Trial.

REsSES. Aug. s.-The proceedings Of
the courtmarrial before which Captain
Dreyfus is on trial opened at 40 a. II.
Captain Dreyfus entered the court room
with a firm step, though his features
were pallid. He is partly bald and
what hair he has is gray and close
cropped.
He answered the formal questions Of
the Judge as to his name, age, etc., in a
clear, determined voice. He sat facing
the Judges with his hands resting on
his knees. an impossible figure. The
trial opened, so far as Rennes is con-
cerned, in All atmosphere of perfect
tranquility. The population is appar-
emily indifferent. Only a small crowd,
at the most 50 persons had gathered
outside the entrance to the Lycee by
6 o'clock. A majority Of these were
journalists.
The principal personages in the trial
arrived between $50 and : o'clock. The
generals passed with hardly a cheer by
the spectators, General Mercier alone
being greeted with a few cries of give
pArmee." and ''Vive Mercier,' as he
drove up in a closed carriage. Lieuten-
ant Colonel PicQuart arrived O. foot
at $50 wearing a silk hat and black
frock coat with the red ribbon Of the
Legion of Honor in the button hole. No
demonstration was made upon his arri-
val, but he appeared to be in a most
cheerful mood. Smiling and chatting
with friends. and if he may be judged
by his bearing, he is sanguine of a
favorable issue of the trial.
Dreyfus in a new uniform of captain
of artillery, dark blue, with red facings,
fxedly regarded the judges, with im-
movable features and without stirring
hand or foot, scarcely ever moving his
head, during the whole course of the
proceedings, except when he entered
and left the court room. After the
formal proceedings which occupied a
couple Of hours. Colonel Jouaust began
the examination of Dreyfus, respecting
the famous bordereau, and what Drey-
fus did or could have known of its con-
tents.
When Dreyfus, wearing eyeglasses,
rose from his seat for examination, he
stood erect, holding his kept in his hand,
before him. He looked Colonel Jouaust
IN the face during the whole interrog-
atory.
An Accusation and q Denial.
Colonel Jouaust began by saying:
1T results from the documents Just
read, that you are accused of having
brought about Vaccinations or held re-
lations with a foreign power, or one or
more Of its agents, in order to procure
1t means by delivering it documents, in
dictated in the discriminating bordereau,
to commit hostilities or undertake war
against France. I notify you that you
will be allowed to state during the
course Of these proceedings anything
that appears to you useful for your de.
Tense"
Dreyfus replied with a vehemen,
declaration OF his innocence, repeating
several times:
81 am innocent" in a voice that
quivered with emotion. The agonized
ann in which uttered the protesta-
tons Of his innocence had a most pain.
full effect and must have evoked the
sympathy even Of his most inveterate
enemies.
The prisoner grew more composed as
the examination proceeded, answering
every question without a moments hes
itation. The acoustics Of the courtroom
We're a~bominable, only those within a
few feet Of the judges being able to fol.
low the examination closely. Even NJ.
Labor, who was seated behind Drey-
fus, within three yards Of him, held his
hand to his ear in order to catch the
questions and answers.
Moro an Accuser Than a Judge.
Colonel Jauaust submitted Dreyfus
TO a rigorous examination, more in the
style OF a prosecuting counsel than a
Judge and made gestures Of Impotence
at some direct denials which Drevfus
gave repeatedly to the judges questions.
The prisoners voice resounded fire.
quently through the courtroom as he
theoretically replied:
mo, my colonel" or "never, never"
to questions put to him.
The widow Of Lieutenant Colonel
Henry, dressed in deep mourning, was
present in court and replied to her
name in the roll call Of witnesses.
After the court had decided not to
adjourn on account Of the absence Of
certain witnesses, the clerk of the court
was ordered to read NJ. dOrmesche.
velle's bill of Indictment Of 1894, which
he did in a loud voice, Dreyfus, in the
meanwhile, listening unmoved as the
old charges against him were read.
Colonel Jouaust then handed the
prisoner q long slip Of cardboard, upon
which the bordereau vas pasted.
"Do you recognize this document?"
Drcyfus replied with a passionate
outburst: "No, my colonel, 1 am inno-
cent" II declare it here, as l declared
1t in 1894; l am a victim -. His
voice here was choked with sobs, which
must have stirred every spectator in
court. The voice of the prisoner did