The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-13

Gerdarues were plentiful; distrib-
used among toe audience aud posted 10
the gang ways around the court room.
The silence was ooly broken by the
occasional rustiog OF reporters note
book, OF the neigh of "a artillery horse
pcke,ed in street beside the Lycee
Now and then there was the SQUAD OF
tie rafting of rifle Of the ciankiog of
sword CT some officer hastily crossing
the coa=s yard. where the troops we're
stationed
Afte. the conclusion of the speech
of NJ. Demapge and the reply by the
government commissary, Col. Jou-
aust, president of the court, asked
Dseyfus if he had anything to add
10 his behalf The prisoner rose,
and. in voice choked with emotion,
declared he had only one thing to
say. but of that be was perfectly as
cured. He said
81 affirm before my country and
before the army that | am innocent
Nv sole aim has been to save the
honor Of my name, the name borne
by my children. have suffered Eve
years of the most awful torture. But
today, at least. l feel assured that |
am about to attain my desire, through
YOUR loalty and Justice
Col Jouaust "Have you finished,
Dreyfas ?"
Dreyfus eyes, Mr.. President.
The court then retired to deiiber-
ate and the prisoner left the hall,
never to return, as in accordance
with the law, the verdict was rem
dered IN his absence.
The ringing of bell announced
the reentry of the judges, an officer
ordered. "Carry arms,' and "PreseDs
arms" the rattle of rifles followed.
and then Col. Jouauet marched in,
saiuted and laid his kept or the
table The other judges did like
wise the gendarmes shouted, "Si-
lence y and the stiffness of death
fell on the audience, who were wait
ing, heart IN mouth, for the announce
ment of Dreyfus' fate.
DREYFUS FOUND GUILTY.
Col. Jouaust began by reading the
Judgment. which opened with the
question referred to the judges by
the court of cessation, was Dreyfus
guilty of entering into machination
to send secret documents to foreign
power he then gave the answer,
that the court, by a majority of to
2, found DreJfus guilty.
The pent up feelings of the audi
ence were expressed in long, deep
drawn "On !" when Col. Jouaust
reached the word guilty" The
word was pronounced under his
breath. Owing to the threat of Wig
orous punishment for uttering any
cry there was no outburst, but the
faces Of the majority of the spectat-
ors reflected an expression of an
gulshed surprise.
NJ Labori heard the verdict with
pallid vissage, while NJ. Demange
fell back 10 a chair as though horror
struck.
Col. Jouaust read the judgment
without a tremor of his voice and
apparently unmoved
he concluded by saying the court
would remain sitting until the room
was cleared. He asked the audience
to go out quietly and not to raise a
shout of any sort
The gendarmes then closed around
the audience aud pressed them out
side Not cry or word was raised
by anyone Everything passed off
with complete cain.
AS the people emerged the gen.
darmes kept them moving away from
the court The small crowd of peo
Pile outside cbeered for the army, but
the gendarmes did not interfere and
there was not the slightest disorder
The judgement was read to Drey-
fus in an adjoining little room by the
clerk of the court Dreyfus listened
impassive, did not give slightest sign
of emotion, did not utter word and
marched back to prison like az auD.
nation.
1t is understood Dreyfus will be
sen. to Fort Corte, in the island of
Corsica.