The record-union., 1899-08-17
The Trial Continues, Despite the
Illness of Labor.
Testimony Brought Out at the He airing at
RennsS Yesterday.
The Feature of the Days Proceed
ings the Story of the Sufferings
of Dreyfus While a Prisoner on
Devils Island.


RENNES, Aug. 16.-The second trial
by ourt-martial of Captain Alfred
Dreyfus was continued this morning,
Major Carriere, the representative OF
the Government, having refused to
agree to an adjournment of The case
until Monday, applied for by Nj. j1e-
mango, counsel for the prisoner, and
Captain Dreyfus, owing to the murder
Gus attack upon Nj. Labori, lealtng
counsel for the defense.
The feature of the days proceedings
was the story of the sufferings OF
Dreyfus on Devils Island, mis- prison
off the coast of French Guiana. Drey-
fus wept in court when the clerk read
a document recounting the details OF
his incarceration.
The proceedings opened with the
application Of NJ Demange for an ad-
journment. This was followed by the
deposition of Nj. Guerin, the former
Minister of Justice, who, however, only
repeated the evidence he had given be-
fore the Court of Cessation.
M Lebon, the former Minister of the
Colonies, a big, red-bearded man, then
testified in justification of his instruc-
tions to treat D1eyfus vigorously. de-
claring that the extreme striugency
dated only from the time he thought
an attempt would be made to rescue
the prisoner.
Colonel Jouaust asked Dreyfus if he
had any questions to put to the wit
ness, and he replied, in an emotional
voice:
mo, my Colonel, am here to de-
fend my honor. I do not wish to
speak of the artocious suffering, ply
sical and mental, which for five years
/, a Frenchman, and an innocent man,
was subjected to on lie Du Diable.
NJ. Demange asked that the official
report of the treatment of Dreyfus ON
the lie Du Diable, which was ub-
Ished in the newspapers last week,
should be read. The clerk of the court
did So and in a sympathetic tone re-
counted the narrowing tale of Dreyfus'
mental and physical sufferings and IN
human treatment on the island
Deep drawn breaths of indignation
came from the hearers as the reading
proceeded. Dreyfus at first watched
the faces of the Judges, with his usual
composure, but gradually, as the story
proceeded, and incidents of his awful
existence were brought up before him,
his eyes grew dim, and tears glistened
in his eyes and slowly trickled down
his cheeks. Dreyfus could stand It no
longer, and for the first time during
his trial gave way to his emotions and
silently wept The faces of the au-
Will
prisoners emotion and even the Cap
tain of gendarmes, sitting beside Drey-
fus, turned and gave him a look of un-
concealed compassion.
General Mercier, who with NJ. Lebon,
was seated in the front row, listened to
the reading Of the report unmoved,
while Colonel Jouaust followed it with
an air of forced tolerance.
NJ. Lebon afterward returned to the
stand and added a few more words in
Justification of his conduct, and then
Colonel Jouaust ordered the next Wit
ness brought in. All eyes We're turned
toward the door on the right of the
stage. and a moment later the form
of a woman, dressed in deep mourning,
appeared in the doorway, and, accom-
panied by a non-cOmmissioned officer,
advanced to the platform. 1t was the
widow of Colonel Henry, the French
officer who committed suicide in prison
after confessing to forging certain doc
uments in the case With pale face
and hand upraised before the crucifix,
she took the oath to tell the truth.
Nine. Henry is of medium height,
and has a common cast of features,
and certainly could not be considered
attractive. She at once put herself at
ease. leaning forward with both hands
resting on the rail of the witness stand.
In an attitude of complete se!f-posses-
sion she gave her evidence, accom-
panying the words with frequent ges-
lures.
Her evidence, however, was OF little
weight She admitted the frequent
visits of Esterhazy to her husband
and said her husband told her he had
forged one document in order to save
the honor of the country" She gave
her evidence in a matter of fact way,
and was in no wise the sympathetic tg-
ure that anti Dreyfusards have tried
to make her.
General Roget, in undress uniform,
followed. His evidence was vitriolic
diatribe against Dreyfus from begin
ming to end.
The court adjourned until to-mor-
row On the conclusion of General Re-
gets monologue.
Colonel Jouaust previously asked
Dreyfus if he wished to say anything,
and the prisoner, who, during the time
of General Roget's illumination against
him. several times made movement as
if TO rise and retort, but was waved
down by Colonel Jouaust, rose, and In
that voice which is not agreeable IN
ordinary times, but when. stranSled
with emotion as it was to-day, has a
thrilling effect on his hearers, he cried:
My Colonel, it is a frightful thing
that every day they tear out my heart
and soul without my being able to re-
ply. 1t is awful torture for an inno-
cent man and a loyal soldier. 1t is
frightful thing frightful: frightful.
The audience, profoundly stirred, be
ban to applaud. but the applause was
quickly suppressed.
NJ. Demange then announced that he
would question General Roget to-nor-
row.
The following is the evidence in de-
tail:
Ex-Minister of Justice Guerin, the
first witness, said he knew absolutely