The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-08
THE FTRsT DAY
Of the Dreyfus Trial as Seen by Emily
Crawford.

Rennes. Aug. 8.-The ancient capital
of Brittany was never less moved,
never more sluggish than on this
memorable day. It seemed a hundred
thousand miles away from Dreyfus and
his exciting case. He, Dreyfus, had
been known to be excited, but he had
been keeping a stiff upper lip and Sun
day he refused to see the last set Of
photographs of his children brought
from Paris by his brother-in-law. He
had remarked to his brother, Matheu
Dreyfus, on the strangeness Of his fate,
so strange that he himself could not yet
realize it. Nothing, he said, astonished
him more than to find factions disput-
ing furiOuSly about MIN and to learn
that he was an object of hatred to most
Of the officers. He said it grieved him
to think that if there were an acquittal
it 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 re-
port the trial seemed Gained by the
quietitude of this dead city.
1t was expected that the Dreyfusites
and anti-Dreyfusites 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 lodged at the
same hotels, but they take their meals
to each other dishes. Rennes does not
want them to be theatrical and so they
do not pose as ferociouS~ patriots, but
are glad to drop the characters as
sumed for the drama-loving public of
Paris.
No idea exists in Rennes that the
eyes of the world are upon her,yet there
must be within her walls 300 press men
representing journalism all the world
over. 1t never before occurred to me
what a far reaching institution the
press is, or at least never realized it
so peculiarly.
We were all up at and after hur-
ried meal we rushed to the court room
of the Lycee, where the trial takes
place. The Lycee is opposite the mill
tary prison and with the parish church
forms block surrounded by four
street Military preparations were go
ing forward to prevent lot of rOughs
coming from Paris to act riOtOusly.
Dreyfus was to cross the street from
the prison to the court room, but no
body was to see him except the mill
tary, which barred the street to the
right and left OF the Lycee door. An
officer whispered when 1 was in the
Lycee to go to the window which he in
dicated and get a glimpse of Dreyfus.
The prisoner was to cross the street
2teten minutes past six and to wait
in a private room for the summons to
appear before his judges. Precisely at
the time named the door of the military
prison opened and Dreyfus, guarded by
a captain of gen d'armerie appeared.
He wore a brand new uniform. The
stifings 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 a 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 inqufring, as if looking out
for traps and pitfalls His complexion
is fresh, the kind of freshness that .ac-
companies auburn hair. The lips are
rather thin and the chin is that of a
strong man. Indeed, the chin contra
diets the expression of the eyes.
Captain Dreyfus crossed the hall
close to me and entered a rOOm the
door of which closed behind him. 1 saw
also the arrival of the witnesses, who
were taken to the rectOr'S room Cen
Zurlinden and De Boisdeffre were in
uniform, as many of the field and su-
baltern officers were.
The widow of Col. Henry leaned upon
the arm of Capt. Wunos. She was most
amiably saluted by Generals De Bois-
deffre and MeTcier She looks stacy
and not ladylike. General Pellieux kept
alOOf. NJ. CaVaignac'S cheerfulneSS
seemed forced, but former President
Casimir-Perier was blithe as a boy. He
wore a summer suit of Shepherds plaid,
a white waistcoat and a straw hat
Lieutenant Colonel Picquart was in
plain clothes and was cold-shOuldered
by the army people. But apparently
he did not mind. He had played the
winning card and could afford to be in
different.
No members of the Dreyfus family
were anywhere visible, but most of the
leading partisans of Dreyfus had come.
The concert room where the trial is
held has a vaulted roof. The walls are
adorned with tablets containing the
names of famous Bretons. Just behind
the seat placed for Dreyfus is a tablet
on which the last name is that of
Renan.
At Z 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 They proceeded in In
dian file to their places behind a long
table on slightly raised platform.
Col Jouaust, the presiding officer, is
a man of dignified appearance, not un-
intellectual. and has an upright, mar
tial air. The counsel for the defense 4
have seats and desks on the stage or
platform to the left of the judges ta
BILE. 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. All were well
in view
Col Jouaust in a stentorian voice de-
elared that the trial be begun and that,
as ordered, the accused be brought in.
All eyes were turned upon Dreyfus His
fresh complexion astonished all. The
figure remains clean built He entered
with measured step. His mode of sa-
luting the court was jerky and very
composed, but his fingers betrayed
nervousness. His voice is not good
but it was out of practice for five
years. The first incident was the de-
claration of the president-colonel that
q had unlimited TlorvaY. RI