Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-18
LOOKED DARK FOR DREYFUs.
Before Discovery of Schneider ForE-
cry His Chances of Acquittal
Were Slim,

NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE Rennes cor
respondent of the Tribune, describing
Wednesdays proceedings in the trial of
Captain Dreyfus. cables:
The chances of Dreyfus' acquittal are be-
coming smaller and smaller; had judgment
been pronounced Wednesday night, it
would in all probability have been a con-
demnation. The testimony of General
Roget made visiby profound impression
on the court. 1t must be remembered that
all the members of the court-martial are
from early youth have been imbued with
a respect for military authority and pres
tige amounting to religion. 1t should
also be remembered that General Roget
war when the discoveries We're made there
which led to the first Dreyfus court-martial
in 1894, was formerly subchief of the fourth
bureau of the general staff, and that Drey-
fus served under his immediate orders and
supervision. General Roget turned toward
Dreyfus and, in a ringing voice, with un-
fiinching glance, said:
"DreyfuS has denied any knowledge of
the plans of concentration of troops in case
of mobilization: but Dreyfus himself, in
1888 drew three maps showing the zones
of concentration of the French army.
These maps in the fourth bureau of
the general staff
Dreyfus made no reply but turned and
spoke to Maitre Demange. General Roget
then drank two glasses of water, wiped his
mustache, mcpped with a white handker-
chief the pei spiration from his forehead
fus, said:
.''Dreyfus denied having any knowledge
OF the manual of arms, but in a letter from
Colonel Jeannei, dated June g. 1886 which
l now hand to the court, Colonel Jeannel
declares that he distinctly remembers hav-
ing given Dreyfus copy of the manual of
1t will be remembered that the zones of
concentration and the manual of arms are
Two OF the i've subjects enumerated in the
bordereau, and any. evidence tending to
connect Dreyfus with them is of vital i'm
portance. The prisoners face flushed with
hectic excitement as he declared:
1t Is frightful to be compelled for five
gays iny 70 listen to such charges without be-
ing able to defend myself. 1t is veritable
torture to an innocent man"
his face became livid and waXen; he ap-
peared more Lervous and disheartened than
az any previous period of the trial. Maitre
Demange seemed embarrassed by his fail
day, and, either from inability or want of
mastery of the facts, made no attempt, by
sscr9;tlnizing ser; cross-questions, as Maitre La
bori would doubtless have done, to sift the
truth OF General Roget's testimony, which,
Ike that of Mercier, Billot, Zurlnden and
teavaignac, ea was an impassioned pleading
eral Rogets evidence was a violent and ir-
relevant distribe against Colonel .Picquart
csnara, Senerai zls, MERCER, in CIVILIAN dress. and
uniform seemed immensely pleased when
Nine, Henry testified that she had had no
knowledge of the person whom her late
husband referred to in his famous last let
ter to her, when he said:
You know In whose interests I acted"
a galaxy of general officers congratulated
Nine Henry when she descended from the
witness stand and from their radiant
countenances 1t could be read that they
regarded Dreyfus' condemnation as a fore
gone conclusion.
A dispatch to the Times from London
says: Sir John Bridge. chief police mag
istrate of London. when asked what he
thought of Mercier's evidence in the Drey-
fus case. said:
The blackguard is not much of a recon-
mendation for commissions from the ranks.
is he? Distinctly bucolic, one of the pa
pers described him. I should think so.
And don't see that he has brought for
ward single damaging fact against Drey-
fus. do you?"
The chief magistrate added: They are
bound to put stop to the charges thai
are being leveled against the army. They
have gone on too long, already
DO you mean that they must convict
Dreyfus2"
Il mean that they are bound to convict
him. If they acquit him the French army
will be ruined in the eyes of Europe for
ever, with or without reason. The convic-
ton Is growing stronger here day by day
that Dreyfus will be convicted and then
pardoned Nothing apparently is inconsist-
ent in France"