New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-08


The Government Commissioner
the rosette OF the Legion Of Honor IN MS put-
tonhole, entered shortly before 7 O'CLOCK An
officer met him at the door and conducted MN
TO the velvet covered chairs reserved Efor VIII
nesses The ex-Presdent found himself be
tween Generals Bot and Chanoine, both IN
parade uniform other ex-Ministers or war;
Generals MERCER and Zurnden and NJ. Cavalg-
nae. were seated in a row behind thern'
Lieutenant Colonel Picquart took seat with
out any demonstration for or against him.
Matthew Dreyfus. Dreyfus's father-in-law, NJ
Hadamard. Jules Claretie and Marcei-freVost
were among the audience
The large. airy we'll lighted room In when
| the trial takes place is in the form OF concer'
| hall with a stage and proscenium Ihe plat
| form Of the stage has been brought lor"aiu
! beyond the footlights. The room Is paihteu
| light brown with the names OF famous frehch-
| men such as lie Sage. Renan and ChAteauoriahd
| inscribed in golden letters on an ornamental
| hand about midway between the floor and the
| ceiling.
CHIEF ACTORS IN THE DRAMA
| A long table covered with dark blue CLOTH
was ranged in front Of he stage behind which
| were the seats Of the members of the court
| martial a higher backed armchair having been
| provided for the president. The seats were OF
| nolished mahogany and were upholstered IN
| dark red cloth.
| Behind the members of the court sat the
| supplementary judges. who must attend all slt-
| tings and be able to replace any member VINO
! NAV fall i'll or otherwise be unable to be pres
ent. Behind the supplementary judges were
few privileged members of the public
| On a portion of the stage extending in front
| Of the proscenium was placed the bar at winch
| the witnesses were heard The bar has a
wooden frame Of light polished oak. II stooo
| out prominently against the dark. cloth COW
| cred judges table
| On the right end Of this extended platform
| stood a table for the use Of Maitres Labor and
! Demange counsel for the prisoner. and their
| two secretaries
At the left side was placed table for Major
| Carrere, the official representative of the Gov
eminent. and his assistants
On either side Of the hall was solid mass Of
| newspaper men for whom rough, pine tables
| and benches had been provided.
| In the centre of the hall were placed chairs
| for the witnesses Behind these was another
batch Of the privileged public, and then row
| Of soldiers. In parade uniform. drawn across the
| hall with fixed bayonets.
A narrow space between the troops and the
back Of the hall was filled with the general
public" which consisted Of few journalists
and detectives. with gendarmes sprlnkled
among them
Back Of the stage hung a crucfx, before
which the witnesses take the oath. Facing this
| at the back Of the hall, was a bust Of the Re-
public with the letters "R. F." (Republique
| Francaise)
OPENING OF THE TRIAL
| At o'clock NM. Labor and Demange and
Major Carriere with their assistants. took their
seats and the witnesses followed.
Then sharp words of command from the Off
Ger commanding the row of soldiers at the back
Of the court rang out
Garry arms"
Present arms"
There was a rattle Of guns and moment
later. Colonel Jouaust followed by the Other
members Of the court walked on the stage, from
a room behind and took seats at the table.
Deep silence fell upon the audience. who, VI
to then had engaged in a buzz Of conversation
Colonel Jouaust and his colleagues were II
full parade uniform. with aigrettes in the from
| Of their peaked shakos. Colonel Jouaust:
aigrette was white; the others were tricolor.
On the right hand OF Colonel Jouaust sa
Lieutenant Colonel Brongniart. Major de Breor
and Captain Parfait all Of the artillery. On hi'
left hand were Majors Profllet and Merle anC
Captain Beauvais, also Of the artillery.
An interesting figure, seated behind th'
Judges was the famous and mysterious woman
known as La Dame Blanche" who has never
absented herself from any of the proceedings
connected with the Dreyfus affair including al
sessions Of the Esterhazy. lola and Picquar
trials. and the proceedings OF the Court OF Cas-
sation. All the actors in the drama known
10 her. She is pronounced Dreyfusard
wealthy. and wears splendid pearls. She wa
dressed to-day in picture" hat with blast
and white trimmings and pink bodice
, BRIGHT TINTs IN sOMBRE SETTING
, The splendid gold laced uniforms Of the gen
erals and the uniforms Of the Judges soldiers
; and various officers present combined to ligh
: up the dark tints with which the alls OF tn
= hall were painted. and gave a bright appearance
I to the courtroom.
| Immediately after Colonel Jouaust was seate,
he gave the order to bring in the prisoner AL
eyes were then turned TO the right OF the stage
beside which was a door leading to the room
! in which Dreyfus awaiting the summons
Almost everybody except the most prominen
, officers stood their feet. Some mounted OF
benches TO obtain better view. There wer
subdued cries OF "Sit DOWN. amid which tn