The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-11
BRAVE CAPT. DREYFUS.
Prosecuted Man Stood Fierce
Questioning.
CRIED OUT HIS INNOCENCE
The Examiniug OHlcer Very Harsh to the
Accused, but He Held Up Firmly.
Knew Nothing of the Famous Border
eau Scenes In Court.

BENNES, Aug. S.--The ancient Capi-
tai Of Brittany was never less moved,
never more sluggish, than on the mem
oIable day of the opening of the Drey-
fus trial. ..
There was no bowling in front of the
prison. There was no crying of death
to the traitor" or "death to the Jews"
or anything like that. The Paris jour.
nalists who had come to report the trial
seemed oalmed by the quietude of this
dead city.
1t was expected that the Dreyfusites
and anti-Dreyfusites would shun each
other ana put up at different hotels,
but they have tacitly agreed to sink
their differences in each others COM
company.
When the door of the military prison
opened and Dreyfus, guarded by cap
tain OF the gendarmerie, appeared, the
writer witnessed it from a window. He
wore brand new uniform. The stiff
Innings had not yet formed into the
shape of the figure, the whole suit
| seemed an awkward fit. The three
rows of gold braid that were torn from
his cuffs on the day of his degradation
| as stiff as his uniform.
He held his head high as if on pur.
| pose, but his shoulders stopped. The
step was that of man not used to free
| dom and extremely measured and me-
| chanical.
His hair is of reddish gray, his neat
moustache is frankly red. The face had
a drawn and worn expression, the eyes
furtively inquirlng as if looking out for
traps and pitfalls. His complexion is
| fresh, the kind Of freshness that accom-
panies auburn hair. The lips are rather
thin and the chin is that of q strong
man. Indeed, the chin contradicted the
impression Of the eyes.
Captain Dreyfus crossed the hall and
entered a room, the door Of which
closed behind him. The;witnesses were
taken to the rector's room. Generals
Billot, Mercier, Chanoine, Gonz, Zur.
linden and de Boisdeffre were in uni.
form, as many of the field and subaltern
officers were.
The widow Of Colonel Henry leaned
upon the arm Of Captain Wunos. She
was most amiably saluted by Generals
de Boisdeffre and Mercier. She looks
STACY and not ladylike. General de
Pellieux kept aloof. M. Cavaignac's
cheerfulness seemed forced, but former
President Casimir- Perier was blithe OF
boy. He wore a summer suit OF
shepherds plaid, white waistcoat and
straw hat.
Lieutenant Colonel Picquart was il
plain clothes and was cold shouldere(
by the army people. But apparently he
did not mind. He had played the win
ming card and could afford to be in
different.
The coming of the court was an
nounced in military fashion, the sol
diers presenting arms. The judges en-
tered from the wings ana were in full
dress uniform. They proceeded in
Indian file to their places behind long
table on slightly raised platform.
An interesting figure, seated behind
the judges, was the woman known as
La Dame Blanche (the white LADY, who
has never absented herself from any of
the proceedings connected with the
Dreyfus affair, including all sessions of
the Esterhazy, Zola and Picquart trials
and the proceedings of the court of cas-.
sation. All the actors in the drama are
known to her, She is a pronounced
Dreyfusard very rich and wears splen-
did pearls. She was dressed in a pic
ture" hat, with black and white trim
mings and pink bodice.
Soldiers were on guard in the room.
Colonel Jouaust in q stentorian voice
declared,th trial begun and ordered the
| accused to be brought in. All eyes
were turned upon Dreyfus. His fresh
| complexion astonished all. The figure
remains clean built. He entered with
measured step. His mode of saluting
the court was jerky and very composed,
but his fingers betrayed nervousness.
His voice is not good, but it was out of
practice for five years.
Maires Labordi and Demange ap.
peared as counsel for the prisoner and
Major Carriere for the government.
Back OF the stage hung a crucifx, be-
fore which the witnesses take the oath.
The official list Of the members of the
courtmartial is as follows:
President, Colonel Jouaust, director
IN the engineer corps.
Lieutenant Colonel Brongicast, direc.
tor of school of artillery.
Major de Breen Of the Seventh regi.
ment Of artillery.
Major Protillet of the Tenth regiment
artillery
Major Merle of the Seventh regiment
vi dIJllloIys
Captain Parfait of the Seventh regi-
ment of artillery.
Captain Beauvais of the Seventh regi.
ment of artillery.
After Col. Jouaust was seated he gave
the order to bring in the prisoner. The
door opened and Captain Alfred Drey-
fus, preceded and followed by a gen.
darme, emerged into the courtroom.
His features were deathly pale and his
teeth were set with determined but
not defiant bearing. He walked quickly,
With almost an elastic step, and as
ended the three steps leading to the
atform in front of the judges. There
ne drew himself up erect, brought his
right hand sharply to the peak of his
KEPT, or military cap, giving the mill
tary salute, showing that years of in.
generation on Devils island and terri
BILE anguish of body and mind has not
impaired his Soldierly instinct and |
bearing. The prisoner then removed |
his KEPT and took the seat placed for |
him, facing his judges, Just in front of |