The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-12
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Details of the Court NTartiars Open
Session.

Rennes. Aug. 12.-The curtain rose
today on the same theater like scene as
Monday. The judges in uniform, We're
seated on the stage behind the dark
covered table on which in row were
their kepis, with gay colOred plumes
and heavy gold laced bands.
Every inch of the court was occu-
pied in expectation of a sensational
scene. There were more ladies present
than on Monday.
The parsonage known as La Dame
Blanche (the white LADY, who has at
tended every move of the Dreyfus al
fair was again present today wearing
a superb set of pearls. But owing TO
the expressed objections of Col JOuauSC
she changed her conspicuous place on
the right behind him for a more modest
but still noticeable position in the BODY
of the hall.
There was a large sprinkling of uni
forms among the audience and a row
of soldiers, with fixed bayOnets, was
again arranged at the bottom OF the
hall and rendered honOrs in the custom
airy manner to the judges as the latter
entered or left the court.
The proceedings opened tamely and
the hopes of a sensational setting be-
gan to fag as the morning wore on and
matters began to get tedious, as NJ
Casimir-Perier and Cen MERCER re1t-
Grated what is already known. But
this was only the calm before the storm
and when the storm broke, it carried
every one in the court with 1t into a
whirlpool of the widest excitement
Dreyfus on entering the court today
Saluted the president with the SOIdleriy
mein as last Monday and the president,
Col. Jouaust returned the salute and
said: Sit down Dreyfus."
The chair of the prisoner was placed
further to the right of the platform to-
day. Instead of facing the judges,
DreyfuS sat with his back to the able
of his counsel thus looking across the
platform straight at the rail at which
the witnesses stood.
Col JOuaust Immediately after the
court had settled down opened the pro-
ceedingS by asking DreytuS the follow
ing question: In January, 1895, the
director of the penitentiary Of the Isle
de Re in the course of duty, searched
the clothes you brought from the prison.
He found this document in an inside
pocket of your waistcoat?'
The president here handed Dreyfus a
paper, and said; DO you recognize it
as having belonged to you?"
Dreyfus-Yes, my colonel"
Jouaust-WhOs was it2
Dreyfus-Mine.
Jouaust-Will you tell me how and
under what circumstances this docu-
ment came into your possession?
Dreyfus-It is a document used dur
ing my trial In order to discuss the
value Of the bordereau 1 wished to keep
Jouaust-The military code gives you
the right to have a. copy of the dOcu-
ments in your case. This document
therefore, was legitimately in your pos
session. Why did you wish to keep it?
Dreyfus-As a souvenir Of the text Of
the bordereau-
JOuaust-That was not proper and
therefore it was taken from you. I
merely wish to elucidate this point;
that will do.
Col. Jouaust then asked Major Car
r1ere If he had any observations to
make in behalf of the government.
The major replied by asking to have
DR. RamsOm'S s report on DreyfuS read
which the clerk of the court did.
The report deals with the measures of
surveillance over Dreyfus adopted dur
ing the voyage of the prisoner to
Cayenne and said among other things
that he was seen on board seated on a
stool and weeping.
NJ. LIE La Roche-Vernet, a secretary
attached to the French embassy at
Berlin, was the next witness called. AL
though he was scared, there was no
hesitation in his replies. He said he
acted as the transmitting agent of the
ministry of war and minister of fopeign
affairs, wherever they were engaged in
the translation of a Panizardi dispatch
which was a very minute and cGmpli-
planned, were first made and finally IN
official translation was drawn up which
was the same as since published.
Questioned respectively regarding the
draft and the transla tions he said they
were purely hypothetical, the first draft
only having two words, Captain Drey-
fus, OF which the translators were real
ly sure, the sense being to the effect
that Dreyfus had been arrested and
that he had no relations with Germany
NJ Paleologue Of the French foreign
Office was then called and disagreed to
Continued on Sixth Pagel