The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-08
ENDING DREYFUS' TRIAL
A Verdict Is Expected Not Later
Than Monday Next.
FOREIGN WITNESSES EXCLUDED,

Colonel Jouaust. Decides That the
Testimony of Colonels Sch wartzkop-
pen and Panizzardi Cannot Be Ad-
mitted-The Chances For Acquittal.
Rennes, Sept. 8.-Yesterday came
the beginning of the end of the Drey-
fus trial. With the speech of the goy-
ernment commissary. Major Carriere,
the case entered upon the final stage
Of pleadings and the verdict will be
delivered on Monday at the latest
There is even talk of the trial ending
today by holding an extra afternoon
session for M. Labori's speech and the
deliberation of the judges. This, how
ever, is considered unlikely, as the
government is anxious to have the
judgment withheld over Sunday, in
order to avert demonstrations, which
would probably develop bloodshed on
day when the workmen are free.
The government is not only fearful
regarding Rennes. but is particularly
concerned regarding Paris and other
large towns where passions have been
heated and where the verdict, which
ever way it is given, is practically cer-a
tain to give rise to trouble. III
1t Is understood that the govern
ment has intimated It's desire to the
president of the court martial, Colo
mel Jouaust, and there is no reason to
believe that he will not fall in with
its views.
Colonel Jouaust yesterday took the
most important decision yet taken,
and took it entirely upon his own
responsibility although he is undoubt-
edly only the mouthpiece of the whole
body of judges. His decision to ex-
clude the testimony of Colonel
Schwartzkoppen and Major Panizzardi
was most significant, as 1t meant that
the court had already reached a con-
clusion and that the pleadings OF
counsel were merely a waste Of time
and might be dispensed with, II they
were not necessity.
The court has made up its mind, but
which way? This is the vital point.
and forms the sole topic of discussion.
Both sides are equally confident that
the court will decide in accordance
with their view. The Dreyfusards de-
clare that the judges cannot condemn
Captain Dreyfus after rejecting the
decisive evidence which Schwartzkop-
pen and Panizzardi would have given
in his favor. The antiDreyfusards, on
the other hand. explain yesterdays
rulings on the ground that the judges
recognize that the evidence of the two
military attaches would be worthless,
because they would be morally bound
to save their agent at any cost.
From the popular point of view the
scene in court when Colonel Jouaust
delivers the judgment will be divested
of its most sensational feature, owing
to the absence of the central figure.
Captain Dreyfus will be taken to an
adjacent room when the judges retire
to consider their verdict. A moment
before they are to re-enter bell will
be rung, and as they take their places
behind the long table on the stage tho
infantry guard will present arms and
remain at present arms, while Colo
mel Jouaust, standing in the center OF
the platform, reads the verdict.
Captain Dreyfus will not be brought
back to the court room, and will not be
present at the public meeting Of tho
Judges, but when the court room has
been cleared by the gendarmes, which
will be done as soon as Colonel Jouaust
concludes. the reading clerk of the
court will proceed to the room where
Dreyfus will be waiting and read to
him the verdict, in the presence Of &
couple of gendarmes.
The public will thus be robbed OF
the spectacle Of his emotions, which Z
are bound to be most profound. wheth-
er the decree sends him to the arms
of his family or back to the penal set Z
tlement.
The verdict may be condemnation.
an unequivocal acquittal, or form OF
acquittal that would be equivalent to
the scotch verdict, mot proven" Tho
last will be the case If the judges
should pronounce against him by
vote of four to three. That is. he
would be freed, even though the judges
In his favor should be in the minority.
But this. naturally, would be very un- !,
as he would carry the
stigma for the rest of his days.
Captain Dreyfus has five chances
against the prosecutions three. II
convicted. the judgment will be car
ried to the military court of appeals.
which will be formal matter. The
appeal court will only quash the judg-
ment and order retrial, If it should
be established that the present court
martial has erred in matter of pro-
cedure. This is in the highest degree
The court of cessation will also have
the right to order retrial, II it should
decide that the court martial has de-
waited from it's instructions. This Is
he only loophole for Dreyfus, and his
friends will undoubtedly fight this !
point tooth and nail.
Extraordinary measures have been
aiken to spirit Dreyfus away, whether
acquitted or recondemned. His depart
Ire from Rennes will be enveloped in
he same mystery and secrecy as was
lis arrival.