The Jersey City news., 1899-08-07

messed followed. Nm Labori and De-
mango on entering We're greeted with
warm handshakes from numerous friends
in the court room
| Former President Casimir-Perier in a
| frock coat and shepherds plaid trousers,
and wearing the rosette of the Legion of
Honor in his buttonhOle, entered shortly
before seven. An officer met him at the
door and conducted him to the velvet COW
cred chairs reserved for witnesses. The
ex-President found himself between Cen
erals Billot and Chanoine, both in parade
uniform Other ex-Ministers of War,
Generals Mercier and Zurlinden and M.
Cavaignae, were seated in row behind
them.
Lieutenant Colonel Picquart took
seat without any demonstration for or
against him. NJ Matthew Dreyfus, Drey-
fus' father-in-law, M. Hadamard, Jules
Claretie and Marcel-Prevost were among
the audience.
Sharp words of command from the Of
ficer commanding the row of soldiers at
the back OF the Court rang OUT
Carry arms!"
Present arms ~
There was rattle of arms, and, mo-
| ment late, Colonel Jouaust, followed by
the other members of the court walked
on the stage, from a room behind, and
took seats at the table. Deep silence fell
upon the audience, who, up to them had
engaged in a buzz of converse ton. Colonel
Jouaust and his colleagues were in full
parade uniform with aigrettes in the
front of their peaked shakos. Colonel
Jouaust's aigrette was white. the others
were trieolor-
sat Lieutenant Colonel Brongniart Major
de Breon and Captain Parfait ali of the
Artillery. sOn his left hand were Majors
Profillet and Merle and Captain Beauvais
also of the Artillery.
An interesting figure seated behind the
judges, was the famous and mysterious
| lady. known as La Dame Blanche (the
White Lady,. who has never absented her
self from any of the proceedings connect
ed with the Dreyfu affair, including all
essions of the Ester hazy, Zola and Pic
Court of Cessation. All the actors in the
drama are known to her. She is a pro-
nounced Dresfusard very rich, and wears
splendid pearls. She was dressed today
in a picture" hat, with black and white
trimmings and a pink bodice.
The splendid, gold-laced uniforms of
the Generals summoned as witnesses, and
the uniforms of the Judges, soldiers and
various officers present combined to
light up the dark tints with which the
walls of the Hall are painted and gave
a bright appearance to the court room.
Immediately after Colonel Jouaust was
seated he gave the order to bring IN the
prisoner All eyes were then turned TO
the right of the stage beside which was
a door leading to the room in which Drey-
fus was awaiting the summons Almost
everybody but the most prominent officers
benches to obtain a better view. There
were subdued cries of Sit down." amid
which the. door opened and Captain Al
fred Dreyfns, preceded and followed by
a gendarme. emerged into the court room
His features We're deathly pale and his
teeth were set with a determined
but no defiant bearing. He walked quick
ly. with almost an elastic step, and
assembled the steps leading to the plat
form in front of the judges. There he
drew himself up, erect; brought his right
hand simply to the peak of his KEPT or
military cap, giving the military salute
in fashion that showed how years of
Incarceration on Devils Island and terri
BILE anguish of body and mind had not
ing. ing - '''
The prisoner then removed his kept and
took the seat placed for him. facing his
Judges, just in front of his counsels' ta-
BILE and with his back to the audience.
Behind him sat gendarme holding a
sheathed sabre in his hand. Dreyfus, in
a new uniform of Captain of Artillery,
dark blue with red facings fxedly re-
garded the Judges, with immovable fea-
lures and without stirring hand or foot,
scarcely even moving his head, during the
whole course of the proceedings, except
when he entered and left the court room.
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 ad-
journ on account of the absence of GER
tain witnesses, the Clerk of the Court
was ordered to read NJ. D'Ormescheville'
bill Of indictment of 1894 which he did in
loud voice, Dreyfus. in the meanwhile,
listening unmoved as the old charges
against him were read.
After the formal proceedings, which oc-
cupied a couple OF hours, Colonel Jouaust
began the examination of Dreyfus re-
specting the famous fordereau and what
Dreyfus did with or could have known |
of its contents.
When Dreyfus, wearing eyeglasses. |
rose from his seat for examina ton, he
stood erect, holding his kept in his hand |
before him. He looked Colonel Jouaust |
straight in the face during the whole in |
terrogatory Colonel Jouaust began by |
saying
1T results from the documents just
read that you are accused of having |
brought about Vaccinations or held rela- |
tions with a foreign Power, or one or |
more of its agents, in order to procure |
it means by delivering it documents, in |
dicated in the discriminating hordereau, |
agains France. I notify you that You
will be allowed to state during the course |
Of these proceedings anything that ap-
pears useful to YOU for your defense
Dreyfus replied with a vehement de- |
claration Of his innocence, repeating sever
al times
cred with emotion. The agonized manner |
in which he uttered the protestations OF |
innocence had a most painful effect, and
NUT have evoked the sympathy even OF /
Ills most inveterate enemies.
The prisoner grew more composed as |
the examination proceeded, answering
every question without moments hesi-
tation.
Colonel Jouaust submitted Dreyfus to |
a rigorous examination, more in the /
style of a prosecuting counsel than |
Judge and made gestures of impatience
at some direct denials which Dreyfus |
gave repeatedly to the judges questions. |
The prisoners voice resounded frequently |
through the court room as he energetical-
~ replied, mo. my Colonel or Never /
never. to questions put to him. /
Colonel Jouaust handed the prisoner a I
long slip of cardboard. upon which the |
berdereau was pasted, and said.-
& ..Do YOU recognize this documentes
Dreyfus replied with passionate out |
mo. my Colonel I am innocent! I
declare it here as I declared it in 1894. / |
am a victim - Fl is voice here was choked /
with sobs which must have stirred every |
spectator in court. The voice of the pris- I
oner did not seem human. 1t resembled /
tie cry Of q wounded animal.
As<he ended his reply, with the words: /
Five years in the galleys. Ny wifel i
Nv childreni Ny God! I am innocent. I
Innocent Colonel Jouaust said:
s.Then you deny it?n
DPeyfus replied;
YES my Colonel /"
The court adjourned after deciding to (
sit behind closed doors tomorrow and as 4
many or the following days as are necasz +
sary for the examination Of the secret
me nest puolIc sesslqa 4 tze court xIn
>