The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-08
DEADLY HATE Did
NOT DAUNT OREyFUS
First Day of the Court Mar
tiaI at Rennes.
A DRAMATIC SETTING
WITH THE INEVITABLE lady
IN WHITE" on HAND
He PASsIOhAiELY ASSERTED INNOCENCE
President Of The Court Cues Toned Dreyfus
After the Manner Of Prosecuting
Counsel. Prisoner Denied
Hayiog Conf.sssd.
Having Confess d.

Rennes, August THE second court
martial of Captain Dreyfus began here
today with as theatrical setting and
with as much military pomp as could
well be devised by nation pre-eminent
IN stage craft and dramatic effect.
Contrary to general expectation the day
was void of riotous incident "S9t a
single attempt at violence marked the
anxious hours in or out Of court. The
we'll oiled machinery of he. military
party moved smoothly, procluding any
attempt at a fractional outbreak. but The
hand of repression was ifon-sinewed
though gloved in velvet. the attitude
of the court was OMNIBUS toward the
prisoner, but Dreyfus met the deadly,
settled hatred of his military colleagues
and judges with fearless c1inposure that
only once or twice broke through his
outward calm into passionate rcitera-
ton of his innocence
The early hours outside the entrance
TO the Lycee, where the trial took place
We're quiet and devoid of incident. be-
fore the crowd had time to assemble
the gendarmes had blocked all approach
100 yards in every direction. Through
this military gauntlet the distinguished
prisoner was escorted from the military
prison to the ante room where he re-
manned until the opening of the court.
The guard of six gendarmes surrounded
and hid him from view on his way TO the
court house, but once inside it was seen
that 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 perfectly white, but he held him
self erect saluted with military precis
ion, and spoke when reused in high
but strident voice that carried with it
little sympathy but strong and well re-
pressed emotion.
IN THE COURT ROOM.
The interior of the Lycee where the
trial occurred had been a concert hail.
The stage was extended beyond the
footlights to accommodate the long blue
covered table around which gathered
the members of the court, while the re-
naming stage space behind the table
was filled with few highly favored
spectators.
The room was painted a light brown,
with the names of famous Bretons, such
as Lesage, Renan and Chateaubriand
inscribed in golden letters OH an orna-
mental band about midway between the
floor and ceiling. The seats around the
table were of polished mahogany, up
holstered in dark red, a high carved
chair being reserved for the President of
the court. The edges of the room We're
lined with plain tables for the crowd
of civilian reporters, while at the end
of the hall nearest the entrance were
crowded the general public. Between
them and the court table rose a dais
upon which Dreyfus was seated sur
rounded by his counsel.
Against this 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 ranked about the prison
er and the court and scattered among
the spectators in the ratio of almost a
soldier to every civilian.
Back of the stage hung a crucifix, be-