The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-12


occasional rustling OF a reporters note.
book or the neigh OF an artillery horse
picketed in a street beside the Lycess.
Now and then there was the sound of
the rattling OF n rifle or the caanking OF
a sword OF some officer hastily crossing
the court yard where the troops were
stationed.
NJ. Labori said he did not desire to
speak.
Major Carriere. however claimed the
right 10 reply.
When the court resumed it, session
after a brief adjournment. the gov
ernment commissar-y began his reply.
He promised to be brief
NJ. Demange made n brief reply and
then Colonel Jouaust president OF tho
court. asked Dreyfus IL he had any
thing 10 add in his behalf. The pris-
onelr rose and in n voice choked with
emotion, declared he had only one thing
10 say, but OF that he was perfectly as
sured. He said:
Il affirm before my country and be-
fore the army, that / am innocent Ny
sole aim has been to save the honor OF
my name, the name borne by my chill
dren. l have suffered five years OF the
awful torture, but today at least.
feel assured that / am about 20 attain
my desire through your loyalty and
Justice"
Colonel Jouaust-Have you finished.
Dreyfus?
DreyfQs-Yes, Mr.. President
The court then retired TO deliberate,
and the prisoner left the hall, never
to return, as, in accordance with the
law, the verdict was rendered In his
absence.
THE VERDICT.
The ringing OF a bell announced the
re-entry OF the judges, an officer or
dered: Carry arms" present arms
the rattle of rifles followed and then
Colonel Jouaust marched in, saluted,
and laid his kept on the table. The
other judges did likewise, the gen.
darmes shouted "Silence." and the stfli-
ness Of death feTl on the audience, who
were waiting heart in mouth for the
announcement OF Dreyfus' fate.
Colonel Jouaust began by reading the
Judgment which opened with the qucss-
tion referred TO the judges by the court
Of cessation:
Was Dreyfus guilty of entering into
Vaccinations TO send secret documents
TO foreign power?"
He then gave the answer that the
court, by a majority OF five to two.
found Dreyfus guilty.
The pent up feelings OF the audience
were expressed in a long. deep drawn
VII. WHICH, tOlOHtl JDudISI Te9tG ln>u
the word guilty" The word was pro-
nounced under his breath
owing To uhe threat OF vigorous pam
| ishment for uttering any cry there was
not outburSt, but the faces Of the ma
| jorfty of the spectators reflected an ex-
preston Of anguished surprise
NJ. Labori heard the verdict with a
pallfd visage, while VI. Demange folI
| back in a chair as though horror struck.
| Colonel Jouaust read the judgment
| without tremor OF his voice and ap-
| parently unmoved.
The silence was broken by a rush OF
| the reporters to drop their previously
prepared kilograms into the letter box
| opening into the street, where a gen.
| darme took them and gave them to
| the respective messengers for transmits
sion by wire.
This noise called forth a stern cry
F., OF "Silence." "SElence." and again all
around was hushed until Colonel Iou-
| aust finished speaking. He concluded
| by saying the court would remain sit
| ting until the room was cleared. He
| asked the audience 10 go out quietly
| and not to raise a shout OF any so-a
The gendarmes then closed around
| the audience and pressed them outside
Not a cry or a word was raised by any
one. Everything passed Off with COM
plete calm.
1 <Ao 1AA~ P1DlSAs LIlE
| Kept them moving away from the court.
| The small crowd of people outside
| cheered for the army, but the gen.
| darmes did not interfere and there was
not the slightest disorder.
| THE SENTENCE.
The judgment was read To Dreyfus
| in a little room by the clerk OF court.
| Dreyfus listened impassive, did not
give the slightest sign Of emotion, did
| not utter a word and marched back TO
prison Ike an automatton.
1 Ii il understood Dreyfus viii be sent
70 Fort Corte, in the island OF Corsica
1t is reported here this evening THAI
| as Dreyfus has been condemned TO ten
years detention and as he has already
suffered five years solitary amprlson-
ment, which counts as double the or
dinary detention, he VIII be released at
the end OF a fortnight.
Meanwhile, unless the president OF the
republic pardons him, which many
think certain, as being the only solu-
ton Of the present situation, Dreyfus
VIII have 20 be degraded here again
within eight days.