The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-17
ROGET TAUNTS DREYFUS.
ATTEMPT TO GOAD THE PRISONER
INTO SOME ACroF VIOLENCE.

| lNIO SOHE ACT OF IIOIENCk.
| Trial Might Then he Ended with n Sword
Thrust or Pistol Shot--Dreyfus Retains
His Self Control - Adjournment Be-
| cause of NJ. Lnbori's Absence Refused
| -Dreyfuss sunerincs In Prison Told.
| Special Cable Despatch 10 THE Sun.
RExNEs. Aug. 16-The policy of the anti
Dreyfus party, from the highest to the lowest
| is now clearly one OF provocation to violence.
| Gen. Roget adopted 1t on the witness stand to-
| day in his insolent attempts. constantly re-
| pcatcd. to induce Dreyfus to let his indignation
| master his discretion in court. Not only THA
| Sun correspondent. but nearly all the other
| American and the English correspondents.
| watched apprehensivcy lest the accused mat
| become exaspcrated and raise his hand against
| the scoundrelly General, who would probably
| have felt himself justified under the military
| code in running his victim through with .
sword or ending tho trial with pistol shot.
| Perhaps situation whore such n denoue-
mont is not only possible. but forced itself upon
| tho minds OF the spectators. will convey some
| idea of tho reasons why everybody in Rennes
| is uncertain OF what an hour may bring forth.
A dull. cloudy morning followed yesterdays
storm, and consequently fewer idlers than
usual watched the privileged persons entering
| the Lycce to attend to-days session OF the
| Dreyfus court martial. Gen MERCER appeared
wearing frock coat and n bowler " hat show
| ing that his taste In dress Is better than his
method Of conveying information to courts
| martial.
Tho court met at 6:30 A. M. M.
| Demange Immediately made a request
for an adjournment. mentioning Mon
day as the day to which he desired the
| trial carried over, but explaining that he would
renew his application on Friday.
He informed the court of NJ. Labori's con-
| dtion. pointing out that the defence was badly
handicapped by his absence. and ended by sup-
porting Dreyfus's letter applying for q suspen-
sion of the proceedings.
Major Carrere read Dreyfuss lotter In which
he states that he thinks it is not impossible
that NJ. Lator will be ready to come into court
on Monday. Major CarrGre said that II NJ.
| Labori's appearance on Monday certain.
he would not oppose the request. but consid-
ering the uncertainty Of NJ Labori's presence
and tho Importance OF tho public consdera-
tions he felt compelled to oppose the applca-
ton. 1t was true. he said. that the defense
had been weakened by the deporable event OF
Monday. but IL was still much better equipped
than the officers of tho prosecution.
NJ. Demange had had the case in his
hands five years, while he (Carrlere)
only began to study it two months ago. there
fore he hoped that the trial would continue In
|
speech was very emphatic, simple words being
accompanied by violent gesticulation and the
blood rushing to his face. A spectator not
hearing his words would imagine that he was
Indignantly repudiating the worst personal
charges
NJ. Demange informed the court that NJ.
Labori's share in the defense was the cross
animation OF witnesses. Major Carriere des
clared that NJ. Demange alone was more thana
sufficient advocate against the prosecution.
| The court at $3.50 withdrew to consider the
motion. During the suspension OF proceed
| ings there was much speculation as to what
would be the decision. n majority thinking
that it would be against adjournment. At the
expiration OF twenty minutes the judges
turned, and the president announced that the
courts unanimous decision was that 1t
would be impossible to grant NJ.
Demanges motion. The announcement was
greeted with murmurs by the audience.
NJ. GuGrin was the first witness He related
the approval OF the Dupuy Ministry. In which
he was Minister OF Justice. OF the prose-
cuton OF Dreyfus. in 1894. but said that he
knew nothing Of the details. as the case was
not in his department.
NJ Lebon. who as Colonial Minister In 1893
gave orders under which Dreyfus was sub
| jected to inhuman tortures received from the
prisoner as he cam @ to the stand look OF indlg.
nation so intense that it was evident that
Dreyfus restrained with difficulty the impulse to
| spring upon the heavy faced, red bearded poll
tican. NJ. Lehon. ignoring the prisoner. an
nounced that he wanted to make personal ex-
| PLANTATION The measures which were taken in
| 1895. he said were dictated by the circum-
stances and he took the entire responsibility
for them.
Certain strange Irregularities In the cable
service to Guiana were discovered which 1t was
impossible to explain. At the same time an
| American boat lowered in the vicinity OF
Devils Island. apparently without any legiti-
mate object. The authorities had reason to
suspect tina: there was some plot on foot. and
accordingly he ordered the construction OF .
high palsade around Dreyfus's hut in order to
| prevent the prisoner from seeing signals from
the sea 1t was also a necessary precaution to
put the prisoner in double irons at night.
NJ Lebon added that he would give the same
ord ers again in similar circumstances.
The witness. having rehabilitated himself.
at least In his own estimation. retired without
saying a word having the remotest bearing
upon the prisoners guilt or innocence.
The spectators marvelled once more at
French judicial procedure. The witness stand
Ia a French court is really n prisoners box.
where all accused persons go to detond them
selves TO their own satisfaction without the
slightest regard to the question nominally be-
| fore the court.
1t seemed strange that NJ. DemanRe should
have cross-eXamincd such an irrelevant wit
ness as l.cbon. but he asked him a number Of
: questions in regard to the treatment OF the
} prisoner by his barbarous custodans.
He elected nothing more consequential. how
ever. than Lebon's affirmation, which he adj
r mItted was not supported by any proof. OF his
} belief that Dreyfus had managed to carry on q
} secT q correspondence while he was on Devils
| Island
Col. Jouaust asked Dreytus the usual queS-
: ton after NJ Lebon had finished. whether or not
, he had anything to say. His response was:
81 am not here to describe the horrors suf-
fcrel for five years. | am not here to oom-
. pain and bear no malice. NV only purpose
is TO defend my innocence and my honor"
1t was splendid rebuff to those who allowed
tho legitimate functions OF tho court to DO
prosttuted INTO an opportunity for guilty
3 wrctches in high places to come into court and