The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-17
WORK OF THE COURT WENT ON
PLEA FOR POSTPONEMENT WAS
UNANIMOUSLY REFUSED.


World should BE Relieved Quickly.
story of Dreyfus' Suffering ON Dew
ills Island the Feature of the Day.
The Prisoner Exclaimed Against
POstpOnement May BE
Granted To-day.
Rennes, Aug. 16.-Immediately after the
Witnesses had entered the court room this
morning, NJ. Demange, counsel for Capt
Dreyfus, applied for an adjournment on
account Of NJ. Laborfs absence. Mai
Carriere, the government commssary, un-
eXpectedly arose and opposed the appli-
cation in the most vehement manner.
Mai. Carrere dilated upon the fact that
the entire world was anxiously awaiting
a decision and upon the necessity of end
ing the suspense. The court retired for
twenty minutes, during which time the
audience animatedly discussed the prob
able results. Col Jouaust on his return
read a unanimous decision of the court
rejecting the application on the ground
that the reasons advanced were INSULT
cent. Capt Dreyfus listened to the an
nouncement with chara acteristlc compos-
ure. This was considered a severe blow
by the Dreyfusites and caused consider
able depression all day, but tonight it
is understood that Maitre Demange will
tomorrow repeat the application for an
adjournment in consequence of a hint
that the government commlssary, Maj.
Carriere. has received instructions not to
oppose il.
The feature of the days proceedings
was the story of the sufferings of Drey-
fus on Devils Island, his prison off the
| coast of French Guiana. Dreyfus wept in
court when the clerk read a document
recounting the details of his Incarceration
The following is the evidence in detail:
Ex-NIinister of Justice Guerin, the first
witness, said he knew absolutely nothing
of the facts in the case. but could repeat
| the surrounding circumstances, which he
had already related before the Court of
| Cessation, if the courtmartial desired.
/ Col Jouaust having explained to the Wit
/ ness that the courtmartial had no cogni-
zance of previous proceedings, NJ. Guerin
! proceeded to repeat his evidence as given
before the Court of Cessation.
He said in brief, that after the cabinet
meeting in October the premier, Gen.
Mercier, and he met to discuss the dis
/ appearance of certain documents from the
headquarters staff. Gen. Mercier- was
| convinced then that Dreyfus was the cul-
| prit. basing his belief on the similarity
of Dreyfus' handwriting to the bordereau
and the fact that the different items OF
| information ID contained came from de-
partments in which Dreyfus had been
| successfully employed. The decision OF
the cabinet to prosecute Dreyfus was bas-
ed solely on the bordereau, no secret doc
arrfr1 al a r1n
| then. NJ Guerin had not learned of thein
| till the Zola trial.
How Labori Treated Him.
NJ Lebon, former minister of the col
| oues, was then summoned to testify re-
! gardng his treatment OF the prisoner. He
said that when the cabinet was asked to
! intervene in favor of a revision he thought
the executive should not interfere with
! the judiciary. and his respect for the
Chose Jugee was strengthened by his per
sonal opinion of the culpabiity of the con-
demned.
ION my soul and conscience" declared
M. Lebon, dramatically, Il say l regard
! the measures l took relative to the pris-
oner on the Isle du Diab.e as warranted
and if I had to repeat them would not
hesitate"
NJ. Lebon then explained the reasons
for the rigorous measures against Drey-
fus. He said a certain telegram sent to
| tfenCn tijuana disappeared. II was ira
ed out of France, but Immediately on
reaching the English lines disappeared
showing the witness said. that efforts
were being made to enable the prisoner tc
evade the regulations. Rigorous, even
painful, measures were therefore taken tC
prevent his escape Lebon therefore is
sued orders that If necessary the prisoner
was to be fired upon. A sensation was
caused by that announcement.
Continuing, NJ. Lebon said he had alsc
issued orders that only copies of letters
addressed to the prisoner should be deliv.
cred to him, the originals being retained
The witness was informed Aug 10 that
an American vessel passed the Is.a Dc
Sault, and orders were then issued that
Dreyfus was to be shot on the slightes
alarm.
Referring to the Weyler forgery, which
was intended 10 convey the impression
that Dreyfus was in communication with
outside sympathizers, NJ Lebon said ht
frankly admitted that he believed in It's
authenticity. as did Col. Picquart. unit
long after its production.
Dreyfus was asked by Col Jouaust II
he saw the Weyler letter. He created @
sensa tion by replying that he had seen IT
but was utterly ignorant of what its con.
tents referred TO-
At this juncture some time was occupied
in reading long report from the ministe,
of The colonies to the minister Of war. Civ.
French Guiana A passage describing the
dread the prisoner expressed to the doctor,
when he feared he was losing his reasor
caused an immense impression Tear,
were even seen 10 glisten in the eyes oi
Gen Blllot, the former minister of war.
At the conclusion of the report, NJ. LIE.
bon asked leave TO explain. He said: "a
do not dispute the accuracy of the report
but It Is partial. Reference has been mos
carefully made TO the precarious heaht
of the prisoner, but the doctor never made
a communication to me on the subject
I do not hesitate to say that II he haf
done SO I should have given orders to hav,
the prisoner treated as all invalids should
be treated 1t is with deliberate inten
that I have been treated as an execu.
toner"
Suffered on the Island.
Col. Jouaust. turning to Dreyfus, then re-
marked: Have you anything 70 say 81
REGARD 10 this GeDosltiOn2'