The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-08

vno row OF boiuicfs ~ ttuo uuch "a VIZ
Garry arms! Present armsi'
There was q rattle of arms and moment
later Colonel Jouaust. followed by thu
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 then had engaged In buzz OF con-
versation.
Colonel Jouaust and his colleagues were
In full parade uniform with aigrettes In
the front OF their peaked shakos. Colonel
Jouaust's agrette was white, the others
were tri-colored
On the right hand OF Colonel Jouaust
sat Lieutenant Colonel Brongnfart Major
DeBroon and Captain Parfait, all of the
artillery. On his left hand were Majors
Profillet and Merle and Captain Beauvais.
also OF the artillery
An interesting figure seated behind the
judges was the woman known as La Dame
Blanche tthe white LADY,. who has never
absented herself from any Of the proceed
ings connected with the Dreyfus affair, in
Guiding all sessions of the Esterhazy. lola
and Picquart trials and the proceedings OF
the court of cessation. All the actors in
the drama are known to her. She Is a
pronounced Dreyfusard, very rich, and
wears splendid pearls. She was dressed
today In black and white trimminge and q
pink bodice.
The splendid gold laced uniforms of the
judges, soldiers and various officers pres
ent combined to light up the dark tints
with which the walls of the hall were
painted and gave bright appearance to
the court room. Immediately after Colonel
Jouaust entered the order was given and
bring In the prisoner.
All eyes were then turned to the right
of the stage beside which door leading
49,. -. ~.
Ing tho summons. Almost everybody but
the most prominent officers stood on their
feet; some mounted on benches to obtain
better view. There were subdued cries
of 'Sit down." amid which the door opened
and Captain Alfred Dreyfus entered, pre-
ceded and followed by gendarmes.
His features were deathly pale and his
teeth were set with a determined but not
defiant bearing. He walked quickly with
almost an elastic step and assembled the
three steps leading to the platform In
front OF the judges. There he drew him
self up erect, brought his right hand
sharply to the peak of his copl, or military
cap. giving the military salute. showing
that years of Incarceration on Devils ISL
and and the terrible anguish of body and
mind had moi impaired his soldierly in
stinct and bearing. The prisoner then re-
moved his cori and took the seat placed
iol MIN, ldtiub MS 1hust5, JuSl III lIDIl OIL
his cornsel's table and with mis- hack TO
the audience. Behind him sat gendarme
holding a sheathed saber in his hand
Dreyfus In a new uniform OF captain OF
the artillery. dark blue with red facings.
intently regarded the judges with inmova-
BILE features and without stirring hand or
foot, scarcely ever moving his Fad dur
ing the whole course of the proc ssdings.
except when he entered and left the court
room.
After the formal proceedings, which oc-
cupied a couple of hours, Colonel Joua-
ust began the examination OF Dreyius re-
speeding the famous bordereau and what
Dreyfus did with or could have known OF
its contents
When Dreyfus, wearing eye glasses. rose
from his seat for examination, he stood
erect. holding cap In hand before him. He
looked Colonel Jouaust in the face.
Colonel Jouaust began by saying: 1T
results from the documents just read that
you are accused OF having brought about
Vaccinations or held relations with a for
eign power or one or more of its agents
in order 10 procure it means by delivering
1t documents, indicated In tho terminating
hordereau to commit hostllitles or under
take war against France. | notify you
that you will be allowed to state during
the course OF these proeee lilgs anything
that appears to you useful for your de-
Tense"
Dreyfus replied with vehement deciara-
tion OF his innocence. repeating several
times: II am innocentw In riico yuich
quivered with emotion. The agonized
manner in which he uttered his protesa
tons OF innocence had most painful ef
feet and must have evoked tho sympathy
even Of his most inveterate enemy
The prisoner grew more composed as the |
examination proceeded, answering every
question with a moments hesitation.
The acoustics of the court room were
abominable. only those within few feet
of the judges being able to follow the ex-
animation closely. Even NJ, Laborl, who |
was seated behind Dreyfus. Within few |
yards of him, held his hand to his ear
in order to catch the questions and an
swers.
Colonel Jouaust submitted Dreyfus to a |
rigorous examination, more in the style OF |
a prosecuting counsel than a Judge, and |
made gestures of Impotence at some direct |
denials which Dreyfus gave repeatedly to |
the Judges questions.
The prisoners voice resounded frequent |
" through the court room as he energet- |
lcally replied mo, my colonel" or
Never, never" to questions put to him.
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- |
|ourn on account of absence of certain wit |
nesses the clerk of the court was ordered |
20 read NJ. d'Orme Cheyille's bill OF in |
iictment of 1894, which he did In loud |
voice, Dreyfus in the meanwhile listening |
nnmoyed as the old charges against him |
we're read
Colonel Jouaust then handed the pri- |
soner long slip OF cardboard upon which /
he bordereau was pasted:
do you recognize this document"
Dreyfus replied. with a passionate out |
burst: ''No. my colonel, / am innocent. |
declare 1t here as | declared 1t in 1894. |
am victim -
His voice here was choked with sobs, |
which must have stirred every spectator
N court The voice OF the prisoner did |
iot seem human. 1t resembleS the cry Of |
wounded animal.
AS he ended his reply with the words:
Five years In the galleys. my wife! my |
children! my God I am innocent! limo
,ent!" Colonel Jouaust said: Then you
ieny it?'
Dreyfus replied: eyes. my colonel"
On the court proceeding to the roll call |
II the witnesses. the most notable alb
Ientees being Esterhazy, Du Patty dc Clam
md Mile. Pays, Dreyfus half tuined his
read toward the seats of the Witnesses |
md especially when the clerk of the
curt called Esterhazy But when no re-
ponse was received, Dreyfus returned to
lis previous attitude. looking. straight in
ront of him. at Clonel Jouaust
Altogether q hundred witnesses will