The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-11
First Days Proceedings Of This Famous
French Court-Martial.
PRISONER UNDER EXAMINATION
His Conduct Full of Spirit and Animation, but Not Defant-He Shows
Intense Feeing-His Earnest Protestaton of His Innocence Pro-
duces a Dramatic Scene-Put Under Rigid Examination by
the President ofthe Court-Description of the Court
Room and Opening of the Court-No Popu.
lar Demonstrations.

Rennes, August THE second court
martial of Captain Dreyfus began here
today with as theatrical a setting and
with as much military pomp as could
we'll be devised by a nation pre-emi-
nent in state craft and dramatic eff
feet. Contrary to general expectation,
the day vas void Of riotous incident.
Not a single attempt at violence mark
ed the ANXIOUS hours in or out of court.
The we'll oiled machinery of the mill
tary party moved smoothly, ~precluding
any attempts at a factional outbreak,
but the hand of repression was iron
sinewed, though gloved in velvet.
The attitude of the court was omin-
Gus toward the prisoner, but Dreyfus
met the deadly, settled hatred of his
military colleagues and judges with
fearless composure that only once or
twice broke through his outward calm
into a passionate r~eiteration of his in
nOcence.
The early hours outside the entrance
to the Lycee, where the trial took place,
were quiet and devoid of incident. Be
fore the crowd had time to assemble
the gendarmes had blocked all ap-
proaches $50 yards in. every direction.
Through this military gauntlet the dis
tinguished prisoner was escorted from
the military prison to the anteroom,
where he remained until the opening
of the court. The guard of six ger
darmes surrounded and hid him from
view on his way to the courthouse, but
once inside, it was seen thai he had
withstood in remarkable fashion his
five years of exile and of mental and
physical torture. He was pale featured,
partly bald and his hair almost per-
fectly white, but he held himself erect,
saluted with military precision and
spoke when reused in a high, but
stringent voice that carried with it lit
tie sympathy, but strong and we'll re-
pressed remotion.
THE TRIAL HALL.
The interior of the Lycee where the
trial occurred had been a concert hall.
The stage was extended beyond the
foot lights to accommodate the long
blue covered table around which gath
cred the members Of the court, while
the remaining stage space behind the
table was filled with a few highly ia
vored spectators. The room was paint
ed a light brown, with the names Of
famous Bretons such as Lesage, Re-
nan and Chateaubrian inscribed in gol-
den letters on an band
about midway between the floor and
the ceiling.
The seats around the table were Of
polished mahogany, upholstered in dark
red, a high carved chair being reserv-
ed for the president of the court. The
edges of the room were lined with plain
tables for the crowd of civilian re-
pOrters, while at the end of the a
nearest the entrance were rOWded the
general public. Between them and the
court table rose a dais upon which
Dreyfus was seated, surrounded by his
counsel.
Against his somber setting there
stood out in strong relief the brilliant
uniforms of the military court and OF
the files of gendarmes who, with fixed
bayonets, were about the prisoner and
the court and scattered among the
spectators in the ratio of almost a SOL
der to every civilian. Back of the
stage hung a crucifix, before which the
witnesses took the oath. Facing this,
at the back Of the hall vas a Dust rep
resenting the republic, with he letters
'R. F." (republique Francaise.)
At Z o'clock NM. Labor and Deman-
age, counsel for Dreyfus, and Major
Carriere, with their assistants, took
their seats and the witnesses followed.
Then sharp words from an officer
commanding the row of soldiers at the
DdCk OF the court rang Oul. LARRY
arms" present arms"
There was a rattle of arms and. a
moment later, Colonel Jousaust, fol-
lowed by other members of the court,
| walked on the stage, from a room be-
hind and took seats at the table.
Deep silence fell upon the audience,
| who, up to then had engaged in a buzz
of conversation.
Colonel Jousaust and his colleagues
--z-. c.I1 ,,~;o,~o III
aigrettes in front of their peaked
shakos. Colonel Jousaust's aigrette
| was white; the others were tricolor.
On the right hand Of Colonel III
saust sat Lieutenant Colonel Brongni-
art, Major De Broom and Captain Par
fart, all OF the artillery. On his left
hand were Majors Profillet and Merle
| and Captain Beauvais, also of the ar
| tillery.
! THE WHITE LADY.
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 ses-
sions of the Esterhazey, lola and Pic
| quart trials and the proceedings of the
court of cessation. All the actors in the
| drama are known to her. She is pro-
nounced Dreyfusard, very rich and
wears splendid pearls. She was dress
ed today in a picture" hat, black and
| white trimmings and a pink bodice.
| On the court proceeding to the roll
! call of witnesses, the most notable alb.
| sentees being Esterhazey, Du Patty de
| Clam, and Nine. Pays. Dreyfus hall
turned his head towards the seats OF
the witnesses, especially when the clerk
| Of the court called Esterhazey. But
| when no response was received, Drey-
| fus returned to his previous attitude
| looking straight in front Of him. al
| Colonel J%ousaust. Altogether about 10t
| witnesses will be called on both sides
Major Carriere, the governments
| com,nissary, then said that in view OF
the official mission of General Chan.
| onine and NJ. Paleologue to furnish the
| court with all the necessary explana.
lions respecting the secret dossier
their dispositions as witnesses, would
be dispensed with, adding the consid.
Grafton of the dossier would probably
occupy four days.
THE PRISONER ENTERS.
Immediately after Colonel Jousaus'
arrived he gave the order to bring il