Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-08

hind the supplementary judges were
a few privileged members OF the public.
On a portion of the stage extending
in front of the proscenium was placed
the bar at which the witnesses were
heard The bar has a wooden frame
of light, polished oak. 1t stood out
prominently against the dark, cloth
covered judges table.
On the right end of this extended
platform stood table for the use of
Maitres Labori and Demange. counsel
for the prisoner, and their two secre
taries.
At the left side was placed table
for Major Carriere, the official repre-
sentative of the government, and his
assistants.
On either side of the hall was a solid
MASS OF NEWSPAPER MEN.
for whom rough pine tables and benches
had been provided.
In the center of the hall were placed
chairs for the witnesses. Behind these
was another batch of the privileged
public and then a row of soldiers. in
parade uniform, drawn across the hall,
with fixed bayonets.
A narrow space between the troops
and the back of the hall was filled with
the general public" including few
journalists and detectives, with gend-
armes sprinkled among them.
Back of the stage hung a crucifix,
before which the witnesses take the
oath. Facing this, at the back of the
hall, was a bust representing the re-
public, with the letters "R. F. Gre
publique Francaise).
At seven o'clock NM Laborie and
Demange and Major Carriere, with
their assistants, took their seats and
the witnesses followed.
Then sharp words from the officer
| commanding the row of soldiers at the
/ back of the court rang out:
Garry arms
present arms
There was a rattle of arms, and, a
moment latter, Col. Jouaust, followed
by the other members of the court
walked on the stage from a room be-
hind, and took seats at the table.
DEEP SILENCE FELL
| upon the audience, who, up to then,
had engaged in buzz of conversation
Colonel Jouaust and his colleagues
were in full parade uniform with aig-
rettes in the front of their peaked
! shakos. Colonel Jouaust's aigrette
was white; the others were tri-color.
On the right hand of Col. Jouaust
sat Lieut.. Colonel Brongniart, Major
DeBroon and Captain Parfait, all OF
! the artillery On his left hand were
Majors Profillet and Merle and Cap
tain Beauvais, also of the artillery.
An interesting figure, seated behind
the judges, was the woman known as
La Dame Blanche (the white LADY,
|. who has never absented herself from
any of the proceedings connected with
the Dreyfus affair, including all SEES
sions of the Esterhazy, lola and Pic
quart trials and the proceedings of the
court of cessation. All the actors in
the drama are known to her. She is a
pronounced Dreyfusard, very rich, and
wears splendid pearls She was dress
ed to-day in a picture" hat, with
black and white trimmings and a piak
! bodice.
The splendid, gold-laced uniform OF
the generals summoned as witnesses
and the uniforms of the judges. soldiers
( and various officers present, combined
to light up the dark tints with which
/ the walls of the hall were painted and
/ gave bright appearance to the court
] room.
! Immediately after Col. Jouaust was
/ seated he gave the order TO bring in
| the prisoner All eyes were then turn
/ ed to the right of the stage beside
which was door leading to the room
in which Dreyfus was awaiting the
summons. Almost everybody but the
most prominent officers stood on their
feet. Some mounted on benches To
obtain better view. There were sub
/ dued cries of "sit down." amid which
! the door opened and
CAPTAIN ALFRED DREYFUS,
preceded and followed by a gendarme
emerged into the court room. His
/ features were deathly pale and his
teeth were set with a determined but
not defiant bearing. He walked quick.
ly, with almost an elastic STEP and as
/ cended the three steps leading to the
platform in front of the judges There
/ he drew himself up, erect, brought his
right hand sharply to the peak of his
KEPT, or military cap, giving the mil.
itary salute, showing that years of in
generation on DEVILS island, and the
! terrible anguish of body and mind haf
not impaired his soldierly instinct anG
bearing. The prisoner then removed
his KEPT and took the seat placed fol
4 him. facing his Judges. lust In front al