The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-09
CLOSING SCENES.
Strong Appeal of Demange on Behalf
of His Client.

Rennes, Sept. 9.-The appearance on
the streets of Rennes this morning left
no doubts in the minds of any one that
the final crisis of the great trial had
/ been reached. Instead of scattered gen
darmes guarding the vicinity of the
prison and the Lycee, the whole town
bristled with soldiers, all the streets
near the court We're guarded at inter-
walls by double lines of infantry, two
| companies of infantry sat on the
church steps adjoining the Lycee, with
their arms stacked in front of them
while in the court yard of the prison
and at various other points cavalry
could be seen in readiness, so that ev-
cry one entering the court was sub
| jected to the closest scrutiny. Even
| the women who attended the sessions
were deprived of their small sunshades
before being permitted to pass
A larger crowd than usual witnessed
the passage of Dreyfus from the prison
to the Lycee, but the crowds were no
where large and aside from the pres
ence of the military, the town was as
tranquil as usual.
The morning of the day which was
to decide the fate of Dreyfus broke duh
and cheerless and the court room was
filled with cold, unsympathetic light,
This was enhanced by the grave aspect
of the audience The faces of the judges
also reflected the solemnity of the Oc-
casion
The last session of the court martial
opened at 1880 a. m.
Madame Labori was among the few
ladies present and on the press seats
there were only about fifty reporters.
The prisoner looked flushed and in ill
health apparently suffering from the
great strain.
NJ. Demange resumed his speech for
the defense, which was interrupted yes
terday by the adjournment of the court.
The audience listened to his remarks
with the most serious attention and he
was closely followed by the judges. In
his appeal to them he strongly accent
uated the words: you must not say
a thing is a possibility. A judge must
have proof No doubt must rest on the
conscience of a judge"
Baron Russell, of KiIIowen, the lard
chief justice of England, was again
present.
Among the prominent witnesses only
Senator Trarieux, the former minister
of justice, remained seated in the front
of the witness seat. In the second row
of the privileged public, facing the
judges sat Matthew Dreyfus, brother
of the prisoner. His sunI1en eyes and
careworn face reflected his anxiety and
anguish. 1t was evident that he had
not slept during the night. He was at
tired in black. Captain Dreyfus sat
beside a captain of gendarmes and as
NJ. Demange refuted the arguments
made in the speech of the government
commissary Major Carriere. the pris
oner continually turned his face toward
Matthew to watch the effect 1t had upon
him.
Captain Dreyfus. however, did not
display the intense emotion with which
his heart on this critical morning must
have been bursting. Gendarmes We're
plentifully distributed among the audi
ence and posted in the gangways
around the court room. There was a
pleasant contrast in their pretty blue
uniforms. with white cord trimmings TO
the sombre attire of the majority of the
spectators. They watched what was
going on in the court and their hands
rested on the black leather case in
which nestled big army revOlVerS.
The silence was only broken by the
occasional rustling of a reporters note
book or the neigh of an artillery horse,
picketed in a street beside the lycee.
Now and then there was the sound of
the rafting of a rifle or the clanl1ing
of the sword of some officer hastily
crossing the court yard where the
troops were stationed.
NJ. Demange continued his plea until
the court suspended its session at 10
o CLOCK. at WDlCn time II was announced
that counsel would need another hour !
to conclude his speech after which it
was added they would retire to con-
slider their verdict. The court will then |
be cleared A bell will be rUng just
before the judges re-enter and a second !
bell will be rung minute or so later |
Then the doors of the court will be |
closed and no more persons Will be al |
lowed to return to the hall
The troops quartered in the chapel |
and refectory of the lycee are ready |
NJ. Demange concluded at 11:35 a. m. |
and the court adjourned until 3 p. m, |
which time Major Carriere will I
make a brief reply. The court will !
then deliberate on its verdict.
a loud clapping of hands greeted the |
conclusion of NJ Demange's finely de- |
lfvered perOratiOn. Dreyfus however !
appeared impossible. But as he left |
the stage he exclaimed to those around !
him: I am not guilty"
The prisoners hearers replied with |
cries of Courage, cOuragei"
After NJ. Demange had spoken Mai |
tre Labori arose and formally re- |
nounced his right to plead.
The peroration of NJ. Demange was /
a splendid piece of Oratory. His voice /
thundered through the court and /
echoed outside. The officers and troop /
ers stationed in the court yard crowd /
ed around the entrance to the hall, |
standing on tiptOe to catch a glimpse
Of the speaker, while inside the hall |
many of the audience were moved to /
tears The speech was very skilfully |
arranged and was devoted to demOlish-
ing stone by stone the edifice built up
by the general staff, going over every
particular brought up in the bOrdereau /
and refuting the arguments of Generals
Mercier and Roget. The lawyer de-
clared he did not believe Henry and /
Esterhazy were accomplices, otherwise
Henry would have suppressed the bOr-
dereau. But Henry might have given
information to Esterhazy, believing
him to be man of honor and when |
T7ea 7Te-rar =
his hand in that of a traitor he COM
mitted forgery upon which counsel !