Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-08

At o'clock MN. Labor and De
mango and Major Carriere with their
assistants took their seats, the wit
nesses followed. Then sharp words of
command rang out: Garry arms; pre-
Setn arms" There was rattle or
arms and a moment later COL Jouaust.
followed by the other members Of the
court walked on the stage and took
seats al the table. Col. Jouaust and
his colleagues We're in full parade uni
form. On either side Of Col. Jouaust
sat Lieut.. Col. Brongniart, Major de
Breeon and Capt. Parafit, Majors Pro
fillet and Merle and Captain Beauvias.
of the artillery.
An interesting figure, seated behind
the judges, was the famous mysterious
lady known as La Dame Blanche,
(the white LADY, who has never ad-
scented herself from any of the proceed
ings connected with the Dreyfus affair
She is pronounced Dreyfusard. I'm
mediately after Col. Jouaust was
seated, he gave the order to bring in
the prisoner All eyes were then
turned to the right of the stage be-
sides which was a door leading to the
room in which Dreyfus was awaiting
the summons.
Almost everybody but the most
prominent officers stood on their feet
Some mounted on benches too obtain q
better view. There were subdued cries
of sit down amid which the door
opened and Captain Alfred Dreyfus
preceded and followed by gendarme
emerged into the court room. His fea-
lures We're deathly pale and his teeth
were set with a determined but not de-
fant bearing He walked quickly, and
ascended the three steps leading to the
platform in front of the judges. There
he drew himself up erect. brought his
right hand sharply to the peak of his
KEPT, or military cap. giving the mill
tary salute in a fashion that showed
how years of incarceration on Devils
island and terrible anguish of body and
mind had not impaired his soldierly in
stinct and bearing.
The prisoner then removed his KEPT
and took the seat placed for him fac
ing his judges just in front of his coun-
sells table and with his back to the
audience. Behind him sat gendarme
holding a sheathed sabre in his hand
Dreyfus, in new uniform of cap
tain or artillery with red facings, fix
edly regarded the judges with immov-
able features and without stirring
hand or foot scarcely moving his head
during the whole course of the pro-
ceedings, except when he entered and
left the court room.
After the formal proceedings which
occupied couple of hours. Col
Jouaust began the examination of
Dreyfus respecting the famous Borde-
rau and what Dreyfus did with OF
could have known of its contents.
When Dreyfus. wearing glasses. rose
from his seat he stood erect holding his
kept in his hand before him. He look
ed Col. Jouaust straightin the face dur
ing the whole interrogatory. Col. Jou-
aust began by saying: 1T results
from the documents just read that you
are accused of having brought about
Vaccinations or held relations with a
foreign power or one or more Of its
agents. in order to procure it MEANS
by delivering it documents. indicated
in the discriminating borderau, to com
nit hoStilitieS or undertake wal
against France. l notify you that you
will be allowed to state during the
Soui 90 VI tiitSt l'lotttiiiiSS e'AAS 'Aii'-S
that appears to you useful for your de-
fence
Dreyfus replied with a vehement
declaration of his innocence, repeat
ing several times: Il am innocent, II
a voice that quivered with emotion
The agoniZed manner in which he ut
tered his protestations of innocence
had a most painful effect and mus
hax l,n n
most inveterate enemies. The prison
er grew more composed as the eXami
nation proceeded, answering ever!
question without moments hesta
ton.
Col. Jouaust submitted Dreyfus t