Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-11
LAST DAY IN COURT.
Scenes a, the Close Of Most Infamous Pro
ceeding Of the Age.

RcneS. France. sept. She APP
pearance OF the streets when Rennes
awokc. this morning. left no doubts IN
the minds OF any one that the final
crisis IF the great triul had been reach
cd. instead OF scattered gendarmes
guarding th- vicinity of the prison ana
the l.ycca. the whole town bristled with
soldiers. all the streets near the court
We're guarded at intervals by double
lines Of infantry. two companies ~ in
fantry sat on the church steps adjoin-
ing the Lycee. with their arms stacked
In front ~ them while IN the courtyard
uf the prison ana at various other
points caValary could be seen in resdi-
ness.
Every one entering the court Was
subjected u the closest scrunity. Even
the women who attended the session
were deprived of their small surshad-s
before being permitted 10 pass.
A larger crowd than usual Witnessed
the passage Of Dreyfus. and he was
also closely followed by the Judges In
his appeal to them he strongly accen-
tuated the words:
Why you must not say a thing is n
possibility. a judge mus have proof
y
Of a Judge"
Baron Russell Of Killowen. the lord
chief justice " England. was again
present Among the prominent wit
nesses, only Senator TrarieuN. the for
mer minister Of justice. remained seat
"a in the front row Of the witnesses
seats
In tha second row Of the privileged
public. facing the Judges. sat Matthew
DreyfuS brother of the prisoner. whose
sunkcn eyes and careworn face reflect
Cd his anxiety and anguish. 1t was eVi-
dent that he had not slept during the
night. lie was attired in black. with
little black neckte. His brother sat
besides a captain of gandarmes. and as
NJ. Demange refuted the arguments
made in the speech of the government
commissary. Maj. Carriere. the prison
ar continually turned his face toward
Matthew to watch the effect it had
upon him.
Dreyfus. however. did not display the
intense emotion with which his heart
on this critical morning, must have
been bursting.
Gendarmes We're plentifully soWn
among the audience and We're posted in
the gangways around the court room.
There was a pleasant contrast in their
pretty, blue uniforms. with white cord
trimmings to the sober attire of the
majority of the spectators. They kept
their eyes roaming over the court. and
their hands rested on the black leather
cases in which nestled big army re-
volvers.
The silence was only broken by the
occasional rustic of a reporters note
book or the neigh of an artillery horse
picketed in a street beside the Lycee.
Now and then there was the sound of
the rafting of a rifle of the clanking
of the sword of some officer hastily
crossing the courtyard where the troops
We're stationed.
NJ. Demange continued his plea until
the court suspended its session at 10
o'clock, at which time it was announc
ed that counsel would need another
hour to conclude his speech.
When the session was resumed NJ.
Demange took up his argument again,
concluding at 11.35 A. NJ, and the
court adjourned until 3 p NJ. when
Major Carriere made a brief reply
A loud clapping of hands greeted the
conclusion of NJ. Demange's finely de-
livered peroratiOn.
DreyfuS, however, appeared impas-
sible. But, as he left the stage, he ex-
claimed to those around him:
Il am not guilty"
The prisoners hearers replied with
cries of "Courage!" Courage"
After NJ. Demange had spoken.
Maitre Labori arose and formally re-
nounced his right to plead.
The perOration of M. Demange was a |
splendid piece of Oratory His voice |
Numbered through the court and echo |
ed outside, and the officers and troop !
ers stationed in the courtyard crowded |
around the entrance hall. standing on |
tiptoe to catch a glimpse of the speak !
er. while inside the hall many of the |
audience sat wiping their eyes.
The speech was very skillfully ar
ranged. and was devoted to demolish- |
ing. stone by stone, the edifice built up |
by the general staff. going over every |
point brought up in the bordereau and |
refuting the arguments of eGns. Mer
cler and Roget. The lawyer declared |