Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-08-23
THE DREYFUS TRIAL.
DRAMATIC FEATURES OF THE
FARCE AT RENNES.
hooking Disregard for All the Neces-
sary Restraints that Are Put Upon
Testimony Court Refused to Adjourn

The public and dramatic features of
the Dreyfus trial Wednesday were the
refusal of the court to allow a postpone
ment on account of the wounding by an
assassin of NJ Labori. counsel for Drey-
fms; the recital of the cruelties 10 which
Dreytus was subjected on Devils Island,
with ex-Colonial Minister Lebon's at
tempt to explain and justify these bar
barities; the yirulent attacks of Gen. Ro
get upon the accused and Col. Picquart,
apparently introduced to provoke an out
burst of personal violence. and the re-
buke given by Dreyfus to those who are
converting his trial into an opportunity
for his enemies to attempt to exculpate
themselves.
During the day there was the usual
shocking disregard for all the necessary
restraints that are put upon testimony.
Ihree witnesses We're examined, each of
whom was allowed to make profession
of faith in the guilt OF the prisoner, to
argue against him and to work on the
prejudiees of the court by giving out the
impression that to save this man was to
condemn the whole army.
One of these witnesses was the brutal
Lebon, former minister Of the colonies,
who was responsible for the savage treat
ment of Dreyfus in Guiana This model
of justice declared that his respect for
the chose jugee, which was founded upon
illegalities and perjuries, was strength
ened by his personal opinion of the culpa
bility of the condemned. Next came the
effort to intensity prejudice against the
accused through the testimony of Hen
rvs widow. This wsman said in refer
ring TO her wretched husband: You
know his sentiments, gentlemen. He
committed forgery on account of Col.
Picquart's proceedip IS, and it was in or
der to save the army, compromised by
the dishonesty of its enemies" The
man was, in fact, coarse criminal, pos
sibly a traitor himself, and his concep-
tion of honor was what might be expect
ed in any forger or swindler. If she pos
sessed good taste and sensibility Nine.
Henry would court seclusion and silence.
The last of the three witnesses was the
yindictive Gen. Roget, who was permit
ted, like MERCER. to deliver long and
bitter speech against the prisoner.
The refusal Of the court to allow an
adjournment is variously interpreted.
While it is admitted that the defense is
handicapped by NJ. Labori's absence,
there is also n disposition to believe that
the court is already convinced that there
is no real case against Dreyfus.
In Dreyfus' Favor.
Thursday for the first time the Dreyfus
court martial listened to testimony in ia
vor of the accused. Col. picquart and
NJ. Bertulus, examining magistrate, were
both on the stand giving their grounds
for belief in Dreyfus' innocence. NJ. Ber-
tulus was the first witness to testify in
favor of the prisoner Bertulus was the
examining magistrate whose seizure of
papers at the house of Nine. Pays led to
his belief in the guilt of Col. Henry. NJ.
Bertulus repeated his testimony before
the court of cessation, including Renry's
famous confession to him when he beg
ged him 10 save MS for the honor of the
army
When Henry was examined by Ber-
tulus, the latter said to him: Ester
hazy and Du Patty de Clam are guilty.
Let the latter blow his brains out, JUS
tiee will have it's course with EsetrhaZy.
He is now making charges against you
which may lead your enemies to accuse
you of supplying him with documents"
Henry, on hearing this, was speechiess.
Then throwing his arms aro"nd the mag
istrates neck he cried: "Save Us lor the
honor of the army; Esterhazy is scoun-
drel''
The next witness was Lieut.. Col. Eic-
quart He first told of his connection
with the general staff and how he be-
came interested in the Dreyfus affair,
evidently referring to the crooked prac-
tees of the generals. After his recital
of his first acquaintance with the case,
Col. Picquart said: Il have other things
to say, and will tell all, but now | do not
wish to break the direct chain of evil
dence" Picquart was content to talk
without notes. He seldom hes;tated, and
showed u wonderful memory. He said
the resemblance of Dreyfus' handwriting
to the bordereau was only rumor. Drey
fus gazed gratefully at his defender.
Col. Picquart asked how Dreyfus could
know the military secrets which had
been betrayed when he (Picquart), as
chief of the intelligence Bureau, did not
know them and which could have been
known only in the bureau of Du Patty de
Clam. The innuendo in this last remark
caused a sensation. The court here ad
journed.
Revolt Is Feared.
The authorities claim to have definite
information of a plot involving an upris-