The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-09
Courl Martial Sits in Secret
Session.
VICTIMS STRENGT TIL FAILS
UNABLE TO EAT AND HIS FAMI-
LY is ANXIOUS.
TIL. SECRET sDosslER CONSIDERED
Examination Yesterday Lasted Five Hours
Witnesses for The Prosecution Make
Grave Contradictions in
Eyidenc

Eyidenc
Rennes, France, Aug. S-The ponce
arrangements in the vicinity of the Lycee
this morning were precisely the same as
those OF yesterday, but not more than
hundred persons had gathered at the ear
" hour $3.50 O'clock fixed for the open
ing of the days proceedings in the trlai.
of Capt. Dreyfus. The prisoner was con
ducted to the I1ycee at 6:15 and exactly
the same precautions were observed as
on yesterday. The secret sitting lasted
until 11:I5 when the court adjourned
until tomorrow morning.
The correspondent of The Associated
Press learns that the court martial, was
able this morning, to consider only part
of the secret dossier. The documents
were submitted to the judges in the order
in which they were classified. General
Chamoin gave lucid explanations of the
points which were not clear to Colonel
Jouaust. General Chan1oin took the
documents individually and explained
them.
Major Carriere will later on state the
conclusion he draws from the dossier.
Maitres Labor and Demange who listen
ed with close attention to General Cha
moins explanations did not enter into
the discussion on the subject, today's
consideration of the dossier being Of a
general character and more i'll the nature
of preliminary examination.
The secret dossier remains in a strong
box, in room contiguous to the court
room.
This strong box is guarded night and
day by an officer specially detailed for
this duty.
Up to the end Of the sitting the day
passed quietly. There was much big
ger crowd than yesterday, assembled in
the hope of obtaining a glimpse Of Drey-
fus during the few seconds occupied by
him in crossing the Avenue de La Care
on his way back from the Lycee TO his
prison. The crowd numbered about =
900 persons and was composed purely OF
sight-seers, who were allowed to pass
freely before the Iycee until few mo-
ments before Dreyfus emerged. Then
the chief of gendamerie made sign
to his assistant who blew a whistle. Be
fore the shrill sound had finished the
clatter of hoofs was heard and a mo-
ed gendarnes. followed by gendarmes on
foot, galloped into the AyenRe from a
side street, wheeled around and divided
into two detachments, stretching across
the avenue and cleared a space of 300
yards in front Of the Lycee. The horse
men rode on the sidewalks, clearing ev
cry body out The newspaper men We're
driven away. Then a detachment OF i'm
fantry, headed by a bugler, dashed up
at the double. and formed across the
avenue from the door of the Lycee to the
Postern gate Of the Manutention. The
soldiers were stationed shoulder TO
shoulder facing outwards. and toward
the spectators, who were crushed behind
the mounted gendarmes a hundred yards
off.
Soon afterwards somebody shouted
"IIere he isl and the spectators. many
of them had come from neighboring
town expressly to see Dreyfus, eraned
their necks and stood on tip toe, hoping
to catch view OF the famous prisoner
as, preceded and followed by gendarmes
and with a captain Of gendarmes beside
him. he passed through the lane of sol
diers, with quick military step, eyes
front and with soldierly bearing, but
left arm and shoulder Of the continental
officer accustomed always to resting his
hand on the hilt of his sword Dreyfus,
however, being under arrest, is deprived
of his sword The crowd just perceived
the prisoners head and shoulders as he
passed by the gaps between the heads
of the infantrymen, whose red kepis,
dark blue tunics and bright. red, baggy
trousers, threw a band of color across
the roadway.
Less than a minute was occupied in
crossing the roadway and immediately
after Dreyfus reached the wall of the
Manutention the Postern gate was
thrown open and he disappeared within.
The shrill whistle was again heard,
the gendarmes wheeled around and gal
Topped back to their barracks. the crowd
quickly dispersed and in a few minutes
the vicinity of the Lycee was almost
deserted.
The condition of Dreyfus is disquiet
ing. His wonderful will power alone is
lending him strength to go through the
present ordeal. Physically he is ex-
tremely weak. His stomach refuses all
solid food and he is only able to take
milk. His family is very anxious.
CONTRA EVIDENCE.
Paris, Aug. S-The Jour today says
there are grave contradictions in the evil
dence of General MERCER and former
President Casimir-Perier before the
Court of Cessation and it understands
counsel for Dreyfns are preparing Il
dramatic coup Counsel propose, when
the respective dispositions are presented
to the court martial. to charge either
General MERCER or NJ Casimir-Perier
with perjury, under article 127 Of the
military code An arrest would then
occur instantly, while the accused is
still in the witness box.