Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-11
by President Loubet. who will find

Mdllfe DeIldQSe IHllKS TIE I'VE years
will count for nothing and that Drey-
fus, according to law, will have to sui
fer ten years tentention. Many others,
however, including several lawyers,
hold a contrary opinion and declare
that he will be released in October.
This, as already cabled, is the belief
of Dreyfus himself.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press this afternoon interrogated M.
Coupois, the clerk of the courtmartial,
on this point. He was most emphatic
in declaring that Dreyfus must serve
ten years from the date of fresh
degradation, the courtmartial having
considered the case as beginning when
Dreyfus appeared before them, di5re-
garding altogether his previous sent
ence.
NJ. Coupois said
have no doubt whatever that, ac-
ccrding to the military code, Dreyfus
must undergo degradation again, as he
was reinstated as captain in the army
and he appeared before the court in
uniform. That he will actually be put
through this cruel ordeal, l think
doubtful If it depended on me, know
that | should, and the president of the
republic may think with me"
Col. Jouaust also declared shat Drey-
fus must serve ten years but, speak
ing with friends to-day, he expressed a
conviction that there would not be
fresh degradation. This ceremony re-
quires breaking the prisoners sword
and tearing off his epaulettes. But
Dreyfus never had his sword restored
to him and he only wore undress uni
form without epaulettes, SO that it
would be impossible to carry out the
regulations for degradation. This is
Col. Jouast's view.
Those who think Dreyfus will be re-
leased in October because five years on
Devils Island will wipe out the present
sentence, saw in the fact that he was
sentenced for exactly ten years con-
firmation of their view, but they are
mistaken. He was sentenced to ten
years, not because that happens TO be
double his term on Devils Island, but
because, according to the military
code, the recording of two votes in his
favor fixes the term of detention at ten
years. Had the verdict been unani-
nous he must have been sentenced to
twenty years.
Those processing to have ascertained
since the verdict the opinion of the
judges, declare that the vote of five to
two was not given by mutual agreement,
but because the two judges voted in his
favor from a conviction of his inno-
cenne The present procedure is the
application for revision, signed by Drey-
fus to-day. 1t will be sent to Paris. The
clerk Of the courtmartial must send
complete dossier of the trial, including
all the documents submitted A repor-
ter will be appointed to examine it
infinitely and ascertain whether there
be any flaw in the proceedings. The
result will be submitted to the court
OF revision, which will maintain or an
null the sentence.
An interesting fact developed to-day,
is that the police had taken every pre-
caution to get Dreyfus safely out of
Rennes in the event of acquittal, in
which case, it was unanimously agreed,
there would have been serious disor-
der and probably an attempt upon his
life. The police had arranged to con-
duct him back to the military prison
after the verdict with the same precau-
tons as during the trial. He was to
have been given civilian attire and a
false beard and then to have left the
prison by the small door of the recruit
ing office leading to the Avenue de la
Care. No one would have expected
him to leave through that building,
which is attached to the military
prison. and, thanks to the disguise, the
police hoped he would reach the sta
ton safely where a special train was
waiting to rush him off before the
crowd could have learned of his leav-
ing the prison.