Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-11
VERDICT DISCUSSED
Feeling in Official Quarters Friendly
to Dreyfus.
DlSlNCLINATION TO Be QUOTED
Difference Between American and
French Practices.
CAPTAIN LEMLY'S OPINION

The Dreyfus verdict is attracting much
attention throughout official quarters but
naturally those in responsible position
whose opinion would be valuable are re-
strained from commenting upon it because
of the national aspect of the case The
feeling is general. however, in favor of
Dreyfus, and a strong current of sentiment
has developed against the injustice. which
according to the prevailing belief he has
been subjected to. Some OF the officials ex-
press fear that this sentiment will have a
serious effect on the Franco o-America n
treaty when 1t comes before the Senate, as
that instrument has not proved very pop
ular and the present feeling may turn the
tide against it.
At the French Embassy.
The French embassy here is practically
closed, as Ambassador Cambon is in Paris
and the several secretaries and attaches
are on summer leave. Throughout the Drey-
fus agitation there has been the strictest
injunction at the embassy to avoid any
public reference to the affair The officials
nave watched it with intense personal in
tereSt and have privately reflected the pre-
Eailing sentiment in governmental quarters
IN France. When the court of cessation di-
rected the retrial of Dreyfus the official
view was expressed that since the highest
court had acted, all personal opinion must
give way and the decision of the court
supported as just. Outside of the feelin
as to the merits of the case the French
officials have maintained that preiudices
coIoret the press reports of the trial sent
abroad. thus preventing the outside, public
from forming dispassionate Judgment
Judge Advocate Lenly's Opinion.
Capt. Lemly. judge advocate general of
the United States navy. was willing TO ex-
press his opinion of the procedure of the
court-martial as it was reported in the
American newspapers. He had read the
full reports of the detailed proceedings and
confessed his surprise at the result of the
trlaL OF course, he said. it would not be
fair to pass judgment upon the French
court-martial methods as a finalitv on
these reports. but speaking comparatively
he did not believe that more than q small
traction of the testimony produced before
the Dreyfus court-martial would have been
admitted as evidence in an American
court-martial. For instance. he noted that
the generals and other persons hostile to
Dreyfus were permitted to omen their
statements with the declaration that they
We're satisfied OF the guilt of the defendant
Before witness could have uttered three
words in that line American court-mar-
tial would have silenced him peremptorily
and would have notified him. that they
cared nothing for his beliefs. but demand
ed only a simple statement of the facts in
his knowledge bearing on the case But
perhaps this regular practice in
France, though it shook our notions of the
proprietieS.
The TheOr! of the Court.
One of the highest authorities on mill
tary Jurisprudence In the country said:
"The Dreyfus trial presented some very
remarkable features as judged from the
standpoint of American military trials. The
evident theory of the court has been that
Dreyfus was guilty, and the burden of
proof mas been upon him to prove his in
nocence. whereas We consider it the most
elementary principle that the burden of
proof Is on the prosecution to prove man
guilty, else he stands acquitted. Further
more, the talk Of French generals before
the court at Rennes showed complete dis
regard Of the elementary principles of evil
dence, as they Were free to express opin-
ions, heaTSay and loose conjecture, with
out reference to the personal knowledge
they possessed For these reasons there
is no parallel between the French and
the American system of court-martial, and
the suggestion that we have enough to do
to look after the Carter case is quite un-
lar1ty Of the American military procedure
and its care in preserving all the essential
guarantees against oppression"
Net Possible In America
Representa- tive Hepburn of Iowa said that
he had ceased to marvel at the methods Of
French army justice after observing how
the trial of Dreyfus was conducted. No
such trial verdict possible in the
in any way affect diplomatic reat ons be-
tween this country and France, nor did he
think it would interfere with United States
exhibitors at the coming exposition.