The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-13
| THE DREYFUS TRIAL.
Col. Jouaust Refuses to Exam.
inc Witnesses.

Rennes. Sept. To-day came the
beginning of the end iu the Dreyfus
trial. With the speech Of the govern
meas commissary, Major Carriere, the
case entered upon the fnal stage of
pleadings and the verdict will be
delivered Oh Monday at the latest.
There is even talk tonight of the final
ending tomorrow BY holding an extra
afternoon session for NJ. Labori's speech
aud the deliberation of the judges.
This. however, is considered unlikely,
as the government is anxious TO have
the judgment withheld over Sunday, 10
order to avert demonstration which
would probably develop bloodsbed on e
day when the workmen are free.
Tie government is not only fearful
regarding Rennes, but is particularly
concerned regarding Paris and other
large towns, where passions have been
heated aud where the verdict, which
ever way it is given. is practically
certain to give rise to trouble.
1t is understood that the government
has intimated its desire to the president
of the courtmartial, Col. Jouaust, apd
there is 40 reason to believe that as
did not fall in With it's views.
Col. Jouaust this morning took the
most important decision yet taken, aud
took it eatirely apon his own RESPONSE,
bility. although he is undoubtedly only
the moushpiece of the whole body of
judges. His decision to exclude the
testimony Of Col. Schwartskoppeu and
Maj. Panizzardi was most significant,
as it means that the court had already
reached q conclusion and that the
pieadings of counsel were merely 3
waste Of time and might be dispensed
With, if they were not necessity.
The court has made up it's mind. but
which way? This is the vital point,
and forms the sole topic of discussion
tonight. Both sides are equally conf
dent that the court will decide IN
accordance With their view. The
Dreyfusards declare that the judges
csuoot condemn Capt. Dreyfus after
rejecting the decisive evidence which
Sehvartzkoppeo aud Panizzardi would
have given in his favor.
The anti-Dfeyfusards, on the other
hand, explain today's rulings on the
ground that the judges recognize that
the evidence of the two military
attaches would be worthless. because
they would be morally bound to save
their agent at auy cost.
A sample of this reason was given
By an anti Dreyfusard journalist. who,
when praisiog Col. Jouausts's decision,
explained "What weight could be
attach to the testimony Ct Schwartz
koppen and Panizzardi The receiver
Of stolen goods must shield the thief as
much as he can"
From the popular point of view the
scene in court when Col. Jouaust de-
livers the Judgment will ba divested of
it's most sensational feature owing to
the absence Of the central figure Capt.
Dreyfus viii be taken to az adjacent
room when the judges retire to consider
their verdict. A moment before they
are to reenter, bell will be ruog. aud,
as they take their places behind the long
table on the stage, the infantry guard
will present arms and remain at present
arms. while Col. Jouaust, standing 10
The centre of the platform, reads the
verdict.
Capt. Dreyfus will not be brought
back TO the court room, and will not be
present at the public meeting of the
judges, bat when the court room has
been cleared by the gendarmes, which
will be done as soon as Col Jcuaust
concludes, the reading clerk o: the
court will proceed to the room where
Dreyfus will be waiting aad read te
him the verdict, in the presence of q
couple Of geudarmes.
The public will thus be robbed OF
the spectacle Of bis emotions, which
are bound to be most profound. wheth-
er the decree sends him to the arms OF
his family or back to the penal settle
meot.
The verdict may be a condemnation
40 aoequivooal acqui,tal, or form Of
acquittal that would be equivalent tc
the Scotch verdict ''not proven" The
last will be the case if the judges
should pronounce against him by q
vote of four to three. That is, be
would be freed even though the judges
io his favor should be in the minority.
But this, naturally, would be very un.
satisfactory as he would carry the
stigma for the rest Of bis days.
Capt Dreyfus thus has FIVE chances
against the Prosecutions three. Uua-
nimity, six to one, FIVE to two, four to