The Denison review., 1899-09-08
DISORDER IS FEARED.
Trouble Likely to Follow ver-
dict In Dreyfus Case.
WILL BE DELIVERED MONDAY.

Beginning of the End Has Been Reached.
Testimony Is all In and Arguments
Have Begun-Each Side Confident OF
the Result.
RENNEs, Sept. S.-With the speech of
the government commissary, Major
Carriere, the Dreyfus case entered upon
the final stage Of headings and the YER
dict will be delivered on Monday at the
latest. There is talk Of the trial ending
today by holding an extra afternoon ses-
sion for M. Labori's speech and the dec
laration Of the judges. This is, how
ever, declared unlikely, as the govern
ment is likely to desire to have the
Judgment held over Sunday to avert
demonstrations on the verdict 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 the verdict, whichever way
it is given, is practically certain to give
rise to trouble. 1t is understood that
the government has intimated its de-
sire to the president Of the court-mar-
tial, Colonel Jouaust, and there is no
reason to believe that he will not fall in
with its view. Colonel Jouaust yester-
day took the most important decision
yet taken and took it entirely upon his
own responsibility, although he is un-
doubtedly only the mouthpiece Of the
whole body Of judges. His decision to,
exclude the testimony Of Colonel
Schwartzkoppen and Major Panizzartli
was most significant, as it meant that
the court had already reached conclu-
sion and that the pleadings Of counsel
were merely q waste Of time and might
be dispensed with if they were not .
necessity.
Court HAs Made Up Its Mind.
I The court has made up its mind, but
which way? This is the vital point and
forms the sole topic Of discussion. Both
sides are equally confident that the
court will decide in accordance with
their view. The Dreyfusartls declare
that the judges cannot convict Captain
DreFfus after rejecting the decisive
csGssnes which Swartnkoprep and Pam
izzardi would have given in his favor.
The anti -Dreyfusards, on the other
hand, explain the ruling on the ground
that the judges recognize that the evi-
dence of the two military attaches
would be worthless because they would
be morally bound to save their agent at
any cost. .ss:;sissssv
From the popular point of view the
scene in court when Colonel jouaust
delivers the judgment will be- Idivested
of its most sensational feature, owing to
the absence of the central figure. Cap
tain Dreyfus will be taken to an adjoin-
ing room when the judges retire to con-
slider their verdict The reading clerk
will read to him the verdict in the pres
ence of couple of gendarmes. The
public will thus be robbed of the spec
tacle of his emotions, which are bound
to be most profound whether the decree
sends him to the arms of his family or
back to the penal settlement.
Speculation as to the Verdict.
The verdict may be condemnation,
an equivocal acquittal, or form of &C
| quittal that would be equivalent to the
Scotch verdict, mot proven"
| The last will be the case if the judges
should pronounce against him by vote
of four to three. That is he would be
freed, even though the judges in his
favor should be in the minority. Cap
tain Dreyfns thus has five chances
against the prosecutions three.
Extraordinary measures have been
taken to spirit Dreyfus away whether
convicted or condemned. His departure
from Rennes will be enveloped in the
same mystery as when he arrived.