The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-08


| filled a quarter of an hour before pro-
ceedings opened in the Dreyfus case.
Behind the members of the court sat
supplementary judges, who must at
tend all sittings, and be able to replace
any member who may fail or otherwise
be unable to be present. Behind the
supplementary judges were a few priv
| ileged members Of the police. On
| portion of the stage was placed the
bar at which witnesses were heard. On
the right end of this extended a platform
for the use Of Maitres Laborie and De-
mango, counsel for the prisoner, and
| their two secretaries. At the left side
was placed a table for Major Carriere,
official representative of the govern
ment, and his assistants. On the other
side of the hall were rough pine tables
and benches provided for newspaper
men. In the center of the hall We're
| placed chairs for witnesses. Behind
| these were another batch of the priv
ileged public, and then Of soldiers in
parade uniform, drawn across the hall
| with fixed bayonets. A narrow space
| of troops and the back of the hall was
i.hed with the general public, including
few journalists, with gendarmes
sprinkled among them. Back of the
| stage hung a crucifix, before which wit
| nesses take the oath.
At I o'clock NM. Laborie and Demange
and Major Carriere, with their assist
| ants, took their seats, and the witnesses
| followed Laborie and Demange We're
greeted with warm handshakes from
| numerous friends in the court room.
Former President Casimir Perier en-
| oh Infn hA dofot
| found himself between Generals Billot
anu Chanoine, both in parade uniforms.
| Other ex-ministers of war, Generals
| Mercier and Zurlinden and Cavaignac
were seated behind. Colonel Picquart
| took seat without demonstration for
or against him. The widow of Lieuten-
| ant Colonel Henry, dressed in deep
mourning, was present in the court, and
replied to her name in the roll call of
witnesses. An interesting figure seated
behind the judges was woman known
as La Dame La Blanche, 1.-The white
| lady" who has never absented herself
from any of the proceedings of the
Dreyfus affair. All the actors of the
| drama are known to her She is a
pronounced Dreyfusard, very rich and
wears splendid pearls. The officers
commanding the row of soldiers at the
back of the court gave the command
carry arms" present arms There
|
! ter Colonel Jouanst followed by other
members of the court, walked on the
stage from the room behind, and took
seats at the table. A deep silence fell
upon the audience.
Immediately after Colonel Jouanst
was seated he gave orders to bring in
| the prisoner Almost everybody but the
most prominent officers stood on their
| feet. Some mounted benches to obtain
a better view. There was subdued
cries of "Sit down. amid which the
door opened, and Captain Alfred Drey-
fus, preceded and followed by gen.
darme, emerged into the court room
His features were deathly pale and his
teeth were set with determined, but
not defiant bearing. He walked quiet
| ly, with almost an elastic step, and as
! cended the three steps leading to the
platform in front of the judges. There
| he drew himself erect, brought his right
| hand sharply to the peak OF his mill
| tary, giving a military salute, showing
that his years of incarceration on Dew
IFS island and terrible anguish of body
| and mind had not impaired his soldier
ly instinct and bearing. The prisoner
then removed his KEPT and took seat
placed for him facing his judges. just
| in front of his counsels table, and with
his back to the audience. Behind him
sat gendarme, holding sheathed
| saber in his hands.
| Dreyfus, in a new uniform of cap
tain of artillery, dark blue with red
facings, fxedly regarded the judges
with immovable features and without
stirring hand or foot, scarcely even
moving his head during the whole pro-
ceedings. On the court proceeding to
| the roll call Of witnesses, the most
| notable absentees being Esterhazy,
Du Patty de Clam and Mile. Pays. Drey-
fus half turned his head towards the
| the clerk of the court called ESterhazy
| But when no response was received,
Dreyfus returned to his previous atti-
| tude, looking straight in front Of him
| at Colonel Jouanst. Altogether about
100 witnesses will be called on both
sides.
commissary, then said that in view of
the official mission of General Chanoine
| and M. Paleologue to furnish the court
| with ali necessary explanations respect
ing the secret dossier, their dispositions
as witnesses would be dispensed win,
| adding that consideration of the dos
rier would probable occupy four days.
| The court afterwards retired to dellb-
| crate upon the case of the absent WIT
nesses. Dreyfus was withdrawn into
| an inner room during the court re-
| tirement On the final return OF the
court Major Carriere said the absence
| OF ESterhaZy. ought not 10 prevent lhe
| trial proceeding.
| Let him come or not" he said; IT
| matters nothing to US"
After the court had decided not to
| adjourn on account of the absence of
| certain witnesses, the clerk of the court
! was ordered to read NJ. d'Ormes Che
| ville's bill of indictment of 1894, which
he did in loud voice, Dreyfus mean
while listening unmoved as the old
| charges against him were read. Colonel
| Jouanst then handed the prisoner
| long slip of cardboard upon which the