Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-22
But the Witnesses Testimony
Carries Little Weight.
Prisoners Alleged Loose Way Of
Living Is Again Reviewed.
Picquars Defends Dreyius-M. GrebcIin Shown
in UnenviabIe Light


lrry, on tn" charge Of treason. began
| without incident. at $50 this morning.
There was IA large attendance in the
| lycee at the opening of the court in
| view Of the possible rc-appearancc Of
| Maitrc Labor. leading counsel for the
defence, but though he is progressing
as satisfactorily as possible, his physi-
clans deemed il best for him to remain
| quiet
When il became known that the dis
| tirSuishcd lawyer would not partici-
| pate in the proceedings large num-
| bcF 81 disappointed persons quilted the
| court room, leaving pcrccptihle gaps
! along the benches. The court settled
| quickly down to business ard by 8
o'clock, five witnesses hld already ap-
| P"ar"d N thu, bar. If this rate is con
| tinucd. II is calculated that the court
VIII got through with The 90 Qua Wit
| ntsscs by the beginning Of September
| and ii is considered probable, that the
verdict will be delivered about Sept. :.
General Roget, 30 Baisdcfrc and
| Billot wcr" present on the witness seats
an CCl Picquart took q place Il couple
| of rows behind them The colonel sat
alone. until NJ. Bortullus. the cxainiu-
| ing magistrate. whose evidence was ~
| favorable To- prcyfus. entered and sat
| beside picquart, warmly shaking him
| by TIN hand. All the Witnesses, today.
We're hostile to Drcyfus but as most W
/ the evidence was Federation of old
| statements, the audience followed TIE
dispositions with comparative little in
/ tcrest.
| Ill ,-.,f.,
| fiuns Of Dreyfus with demi-mondaines
| proved the most sensational portion Of
| the morning session.
| The audience, among whom were 4
/ number Of women. listened to NJ
| Grihelin's statements with character
| istic relish. y subdued litter went
| round when NJ. Gribelin even professed
| to know the exact amount of money
| Dreyfus spent upon his various amours
| NJ Gribclin gave his testimony with
| apparent sincerity, but IL did not
| strike one as being particularly intel
| ligent. Nothing in his appearance
! would contradict the contention Of the
| nrcyfusards that he was Major Lauth
| tool in the Vaccinations Of the general
| staff against Colonel Picquart. former
chief of the intelligence department,
who listened to NJ. Gribclin with an air
Of contemptuous Impotence.
Maitrc Dcmange. OF counsel for the
! defence. was more successful than
usual i'll cross-cxaminnG him and Wis
| IDLY disconnected NJ. Grbelin.
Counsel scored distinct hit when
he got NJ. Gribelin to admit he mixed
the intriEues Of Patty de Clam and
Henri tn shield Esterhazy and when
NJ. Gribeln was finally disposed Of. his
evidence had suffered badly.
Dreyfus created a better impression,
today. He entered the court with d
more confident bearing and replied to
the witness in a calm voice without
any theatrical gestures and his re-
marks We're put 50 lucidly that he APP
pcarcd to make an impression on all
the judges, all of whom are reported
to be bitterly opposed to him.
Tho session wound up with Il scene
on account Of the extraordinary con
duct of Colonel Jouaust. president Of
the court. who permitted himself to
make an unwarranted display of par
tility.
NJ. Bertullus had been confronted
with the last Witness. Captain Junck.
latter when Colonel Picquart arose and
asked to be allowed to refute some Of
Juncks remarks. Colonel Jouaust
made Il gesture Of impotence and
shouted:
What, again.
An outburst of hooting and kissing
came from the audience at such a dis
play of unfairneSs from the president
4
pressed the noise. but Jouaust under
stood the we'll mcritcd rcbukc admin
istercd him. He adjourned the court
10 minutes later
A striking figure in court is Matthew
Dreyfus. brother of the prisoner, who
usually sits in one OF the front rows of
the witnesses with his elbow on tn"
back of the seat in front of him, his
chin resting on his hand and his intelli-
gent face turned toward the witness
stand and his eyes and ears follow
every word and gesture of those on the
stage and his look reflects the absorb
ing anxiety of his mind. The audience
may litter and smile but his features
never relax into the Semblance of a
smile. They only soften with a look of
pity as he glances at his brother seated
on the stage and compelled to submit
to the ruthless fire which his enemies,
one after the other level at him from
the witness box.
The most interesting part of today's
proceedings was at the conclusion. Ma
jor Lauth repeated in different words
his evidence given before the court of
cessation. He is not a preposscssing 3
T..
with "A monocle stuck in his right eye,
a bun dog head and was dressed in a
uniform ofAsln officer of the dragons +,
The defence did not follow his deposi- \
ton with close attention as everybody
knew what he would say. A bored /
look fell on the audience and the in :
fantry sergeant who acts as messenger
between Col. JouauSt Major Courier
and the witness. fell asleep in his chair
in full view Of every one. He woke .
with 4 start when Major Lauth unex-
pcctcdly raised his voice.
/,