The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-08-08


hemently Declares Himself the Victim Of
a Conspiracy.
Rennes, Aug. S.-The ancient capi-
tai of Brittany was never less moved
never more sluggish, than yesterday.
It seemed a hundred thousand miles
away from Dreyfus and his exciting
case. He tDreyfus) was known to be
a good deal excited but he had been
keeping a stiff lip, and on Sunday he
refused to see the last set of photo
graphs Of his children brought from
Paris by his brother-in-law.
He had remarked to his brother,
Matthew Dreyfus, on the strangeness
of his fate, so strange that he himself
could not yet realize 1t. Nothing, he
said astonished him more than to
find factions disputing furiously about
him and TO learn that he was an OBJ
ject of hatred to most Of the officers.
He said it grieved him to think that
il there were an acquittal 1t would not
change their minds.
But he was spared such unseemly
manifestations as those which so shook
Zola's nerves last year and terrified
his wife. There was no bowling in
front of the prison. There was no
crying of death to the traitor" or
death to the Jews" or anything like
that. The Paris journalists who had
come to report the trial seemed calm
ed by the quietude of this dead city.
1t was expected that the Dreyfusites
and anti-Dreyfusite would shun each
other and put up at different hotels,
but they have tacitly agreed to sink
their differences in each others COM
pany. They not only lodge at the
same hotels, but they take their meals
at the same tables and amicably pass
to each other the dishes.
No idea has Rennes that the eyes
of the world are upon her, although
there must be within her walls 300
press men, representing journalism all
the world over. They were all up at
8 o'clock yesterday morning, and after
a hurried meal rushed to the concert
room of the Lycee, where the trial
takes place. The Lycee is opposite
the military prison, and with the par
fish church forms a block surrounded
by four streets. Military preparations
were going forward to prevent a lot
of roughs coming from Paris to act
riotously. Dreyfus was to cross tho
street from the prison to the court
house, but nobody was to see him ex-
cept the military, which barred the
street to the right and left of the Lycee
door.
The prisoner was to cross the street
at 6:10 and to wait in a private room
for the summons to appear before his
Il, i
the door of the military prison opened
and Dreyfus, guarded by a captain Of
gendarmerie, appeared. He wore a
brand new uniform. The stiff Innings
had not yet formed into the shape Of
the figure, the whole suit seemed an
awkward fit. The three rows of gold
braid that were torn from his cuffs
on the day of his degradation were
glinting in the sun. The man was as
stiff as his uniform. He held his
head high as If on purpose, but his
shoulders stopped. The step was that
of man not used to freedom, and ex-
tremely measured and mechanical.
One might think he marked the time
as he walked.
His hair is of reddish gray, his neat
mustache is frankly red. The face had
a drawn and worn expression, the
eyes furtively inquiring, as if looking
out for traps and pitfalls. His COM
pleXion is fresh, the kind of freshness
that accompanies auburn hair. The
lips are rather thin, and the chin is
that of a strong man. Indeed, the
chin contradicted the impression of
the eyes. Captain Dreyfus crossed the
hall and entered a room, the door of
which closed behind him.
The witnesses were taken to the di-
rectors' room. Generals Billot, Mer-
cier, ChanOine, GOnse, Zurlinden and
De Boisdeffre were in uniform, as
many of the field and subaltern Of
ficers were, The widow of Colonel
Henry leaned upon the arm of Cap
tain Wunos. She was most amiably
saluted by Generals De Boisdeffre and
Mercier.
General De Pellieux kept aloof. M.
Cavagnac's cheerfulness seemed forced.
but former President Casimir-Perier
was blithe as boy. Lieutenant Colo
mel Picquart was in plain clothes and
was cold shouldered by the army peo-
pie. But apparently he did not mind.
He had played the winning card and
could afford to be Indifferent. No
members of the Dreyfus family were
anywhere visible, but most of the lead
ing partisans of Dreyfus had come.
At O'Clock the coming of the court
was announced in military fashion,
the soldiers presenting arms. The
judges entered from the wings, and
were in full dress uniform. Colonel
Jouaust, the presiding officer, is a man
of dignified appearance, not unintel-
lectual, and has an upright, martial
air. The consul for the defense have
seats and desks on the stage or plat
form to the left of the judges table
The seat of the accused is in front and
also on the stage. Facing it, on the
right side, are desks for the registrar
and prosecuting officer.
Colonel Jouaust, in a stentoria1
voice, declared the trial begun, and or,
dered the accused to be brought In. All
eyes were turned on Dreyfus. Hi
fresh complexion astonlshed all. Tn,
figure remains clean built. He enter
ed with measured step. His mode o
saluting the court was jerky and yer,
raA l,sst Ia