Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-08
Dreyfus' Counsel Valves Argument,
Fearing to lrritate Judges.
DEMbNGE ALONE ADDRESSES COURT
Gen eraI Belief That Prisoner VII
Be Condemned.
EXPECT VERDICT TOMORROW

RENNES, September S.-The announce
ment was made this afternoon that the ver-
diet in the Dreyfus court martial will be
rendered tomorrow.
Maitre Labori foregoes the right to speak
for the defense, lest by doing so he irritate
the judges and destroy the good effect
hoped for from the speech of NJ. Demange.
The court, therefore. will deliberate on
the conclusion of NJ. Demange's speech
and the Judgment will probably be deliv-
cred before noon.
There is d nearly universal feeling this
evening that Dreyfus will be condemned.
The hall of the Lycee was crowded this
morning at the opening of the trial of
Capt. Dreyfus.
There was large attendance of ladies
and newspaper writers, who sat up all
night in order to secure front places. At
an early hour a long line was formed by
people awaiting admission. Standing room
at the back of the court now commands
10 and 20 francs for places. and the demand
is increasing as the trial approaches it's
end
Among the privileged witnesses today was
Baron Russell of killowen, lord chief JUS
tice of England, wio was conducted to a
seat by Gen. Chamcin and NJ. Palelogue of
the French foreign office. The lord chief
Was sedtSu dt tile bdth VI lHe
judges table He came here from Paris.
where he has attended the sessions of the
Anglo Venezuelan boundary arbitration
commission in order to see something of
the trial.
Maitre Demange at once opened his
speech for the defense.
In eloquent terms and with impressive de-
livery he brought out strong evidence
against Esterhazy. During the course Of
his remarks he cried:
do you think if Dreyfus and Esterhazy
had been before the court-martial of 1894
that the court would have condemned Capt.
Dreyfus?"
AS he asked this question counsel pointed
to the prisoner sitting before him, and
added:
NO.
Prisoner Was Cheerful.
Dreyfus today appeared cheerful. He
smiled and shook hands with his counsel
on entering the court.
The English chief justice followed the
speech of NJ. Demange with the closest at
tention. The lawyer gave a very fine per-
formance so far as the audience was con-
cerned His voice was exquisitely modu-
lated, sometimes soft and persuasive and
at other times sharply argumentauve.
Finally he filled the room with his stem
torian tones he thundered with indig-
nation at the charges against Dreyfus and
the shameful weakness of the prosecution
and III denunciation of Esterhazy. The
gestures and features of NJ. Demange were
equally expressive
The front rows of the chief witnesses
seats were empty except for the presence
of NJ. Trarieux, the former minister Of
justice. and NJ Cavaignac, former minister
of war, all the generals and officers having
left Rennes by order of the minister of
war General de Galliffet.
Col Picquart has also left Rennes, al
though he holds no rank in the army.
Dreyfus listened to the Grafton of M.
Demange with mask of impassbity re-
sembling his frozen attitude during the
first days of the trial. Whatever the pris-
oners feelings We're he heard NJ De-
mange's plea in his behalf he carefully
concealed them.
Court Adjourned at IL AM.
At II O'Clock NJ. Demange was still
speaking and he announced that he would
need another two hours and a half to finish
his plea so the court adjourned until 7:30
tomorrow morning.
The fact that Maitre Labori has to speak
and that probably the government commits
sary Maj. Carriere, will reply. makes it
practically certain that the verdict will not
be given before Monday.
The general impression was formed that
the speech of NJ. Demange must have had
certain effect on the judges. 1t was a
strong effort argumentatively.
There was rumor after the adjournment
of the court that NJ. Labori had decided
not to speak the idea being that his alb
stentation from so doing, in view of the
has
the court, would be rather an advantage
than OF :ierWiSe to DreyfuS.
NJ Iabori was asked If there was any
truth in the report. and he replied with
shrug OF his shoulders. apparently convey
ing the Impression that the matter was un-
der consideration.
1t was generally noticed today that when
NJ Labori entered the court this morning
he spoke to NJ. Demange in a deprecating
tone and a sharp discussion ensued, al
most bordering on q dispute.
The same thing occurred during the usual
brief suspension of the sitting. The two
lawyers, apparently, wei> at loggerheads
about the best method of conducting the
case, which, it was said, boded no good for
Dreyfus.
Great interest has been aroused here by
the arrival at Rennes Of Max Regis. the
former mayor of Algiers and a notorious
Jew batter He was attended by couple
of Algerians in native costume, and
crowd of people followed him about. He
stopped to take some refreshment at the
principal cafe here, and the place was i'm
mediately invaded by a gaping crowd NJ.
Regis was present in the court yard of the
Lycee this morning, and discussed the sit
uation ,pith the leading anti-Dreyfusards.
His presence is not good omen for the
peace Of the town.
The local papers today publish an open
letter from NJ Regis to the premier M.
Rousseau, declaring that he, M.
R.gis, intends to preserve the greatest
calm, but adding that If an attempt is
made tc arrest him he will resist.
The Proceedings In Detail.
A detailed report of the proceedings fol-
lows:
Amid intense silence and holding the
keenest attention from the audience, Maitre
Demange shortly after the opening of the
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