The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-09-13
HE HOFES TO Be FREE
THE PRISONER VERY SANGUINE.
Various Differences of Opinion Respecting
the Exact Effect of the Judgme nt-Cap-
tain Dreyfus' Application for Revision
Signed aud sent To Paris-Comment of
Leading London Journals on the YER
diet Found by the Court Martial.

Leading London Journals on the YER
diet Found by the Court Martial.
New York. Sept. ia special to
the World from Rennes says:
"A well-founded rumor is spreading
that the judges of the court-martial
will themselves sign a petition, pray
ing President Loubet to pardon Drey-
fus. If this be true. this action and
the inexplicable clause in the verdict
citing 'eXtenuating circumstances,
clearly prove that five officers of the
court convicted Dreyfus while they
We're fully convinced of his limo
cence."
Rennes, Sept. 11.-Dreyfus is neither
broken spirited nor in despair. On the
contrary he is more hopeful than could
be expected under the circumstances.
His chief concern seems to be for his
that the ten years Imprisonment to
which he is sentenced will be wiped
out by the five years of solitary seclu-
sion he has undergone on Devils ISL
and, and he expects TO be released by
Oct. II, which will be five years from
the date of his former condemnation.
He is so sangune that he has made
an extraordinary request of his wife
for n novel to read in the meantime,
explaining that his mind is so shaken
and weighed down by recent events
that he needs TO divert his thoughts
and to try TO get all the recollections
of the last three months out of his
mind. He thinks that reading a novel
will afford the desired mental repose
and keep him from brooding.
Opinions Differ on Sentence.
One strange fact is the extraordinary
difference of opinion respecting the en-
act effect of the Observation-Disclosures he
can be degraded again and whether
the five years solitary confinement he
has undergone will be regarded as
equivalent 10 the ten years detention
to which he is now sentenced and he
will be released next month. This
matter is quite aside from the general
impression that he will be pardoned
in "A few days by President Loubet,
who will find some ground to exercise
clemency.
Maitre Demange thinks the five
years will count for nothing and that
Dreyfus. according to law will have to
suffer ten years detention. Many
others, however. including several law
yers. hold IA contrary opinion and de-
clare that he will be released in Octo-
per This. as already stated. is the
belief of Breyfus himself
The correspondent Of the Associated
Press interrogated NJ. Coupois, the
clerk of the court-martial, on this
point. He was most emphatic in de-
claring that Dreyfus must serve ten
years from the date of n fresh degra-
dation. the court martial having con
Sidprcd the case as beginning when
! Dreyfus appeared before them. disre-
garding altogether his previous sen
! tence.
mo Degradation" Says Jousust.
81 have no doubt. whatever" said NJ.
Coupois. that, according TO the mill
tary code, Dreyfus must undergo deg
radiation again, as he was reinstated as
a captain in the army, and he appeared
before the court in uniform. That he
will actually be put through this cruel
ordeal think doubtful. If it depended
on me l know what | should do and
the president of the republic may
| think with me-"
Colonel Jouaust also declared that
! Dreyfus must serve ten years, but,
speaking with friends today, he eX-
| pressed a conviction that there would
not be fresh degradation. This
ceremony requires breaking the pris-
oner's sword and tearing off his epau-
lets. But Dreyfus never had his
sword returned TO him, and he only
wore undress uniform without epau-
let's. so that it would he impossible to
carry out the regulations for degrade
ton This is Colonel Jouausts view.
Revision Proceedings Begun.
Those who think Dreyfus will be re-
/ leased i'm October because Of five years
on Devils island will wipe out the
present sentence, saw i'm the fact that
! he was sentenced for exactly ten years
a confirmation of their view, but they
are mistaken He was sentenced to
ten years. not because that happens
to be double his term on Devils ISL
and but because. according TO the mil
itary code. the recording of two votes
i'm his favor fixes the term of detention
al ten years. Had the verdict been
unanimous he must have been sen
fenced TO twenty years.
Those processing to have ascertained
since the verdict the opinion of the
Judges declare that the vote of five to
two was not given by mutual agree.
ment, but because the two judges vot-
ed in his favor from a conviction of
his innocence.
The present procedure is the appli.
cation for revision, signed by Dreyfus.
1t has been sent TO Paris. The clerk
of the court-martial must send a COM
plete dossier of the trial. including all
the documents submitted. \ reporter
will be appointed to examine it min.
utely and ascertain whether there be
any flaw In the proceedings. The re.
suit will be submitted TO the court OF
revision. which will maintain or annul
the sentence
NEWSPAPER COMMENT.
what the London DaiIies Think OF the