The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-11
DREYFUy SENTENCE.
Some Believe He Will Not Serve
....., the Ten Years.
he EXPECTS HIS LIBERTY SOON.
Tho Verdict Has Cansed General In
dignation Throughout Europe. Even
iu Russia, and There Is Talk Of Boy
cOttlng the Paris Exposition.

cOttlng the Paris Exposition.
Rennes, Sept. 1.-THE conviction O.
Captain Alfred Dreyfus on the charge
of treasoN. though it had been antici
pated caused shock to his counse
and friends. The vote of the judges
which was five for conviction and two
for acquittal, Was surprise, for one
of the two favoring acquittal was Colo.
mel Jouaust, president of the council
the other being Captain Profillet. The
sentence of ten years imprisonment
in a French military fortress is too
degrees lower than ever known in the
French army before for conviction of
this kind. 1t is the lowest penalty pos
sible. The two judges In favor Of Drey-
fus pressed for low penalty on ac-
count of his sufferings.
Dreyfus has borne the terrible shock
with marvellous fortitude, one might
almost say with unnatural calm. On
Saturday he seemed stupefied when
Maitre Labori communicated to him
the verdict. but he has since rallied.
He passed quiet night, and he rose
when his orderly brought him water at
5 O'Clock yesterday morning. just as
he did during the trial, when 1t was
necessary.
Nine. Dreyfus and Matthew Drey-
fIs, his brother. visited him during
the course of the afternoon. his brother
subsequently leaving for Paris. The
application to the court of revision was
taken to Captain Dreyfus at noon by
Maitre Labori's assistant, and he sign
ed it.
Yesterday he spoke but little, though
he has seemed in better spirits than
might have been anticipated The
meeting with his wife was naturally
very affecting. but both held up as well
as possible He said to her:
II am not uneasy regarding myself,
as l shall soon be free, but ! think of
you and my poor children. They will
be branded as the children of a
traitor
He was convinced that the ten years
Imprisonment to which he was SEN
fenced will be wiped out by the five
years of solitary seclusion he has un-
dergone on Devils Island and he ex-
poets to be released by Oct. Is, which
will be five years from the date of his
former condemnation. He is so SAN
guine that he has made an eXtraordi-
nary request of his wife for novel
to read in the meantime, explaining
that his mind is so shaken and weighed
down by the recent events that he
needs to divert his thoughts and to
try to get all the recollections of the
last three months out of his mind He
thinks that reading novel will af-
ford the desired mental repose and
keep him from brooding.
A press correspondent called upon
Nine. Dreyfus yesterday afternoon, af-
ter her visit to her husband, and saw
her father, NJ. Hadamard, who said his
daughter was bearing up wonderfully
well, considering the circumstances,
but desired to remain undisturbed, in
view Of the emotional strain of the in
terview M. Hadamard said that Nine.
Dreyfus and the family were hopeful
and looked forward to some favorable
development
"The verdict" he added, "is an in
fanny. Captain Dreyfus is In poor
health. as every one knows. He has
been extremely i'll from the moment of
his arrival In France. and has been
put on a special regime. His health has
not improved and the nervous effect of
terrible blow is bound to
react on his general condition. His
of all outward emotion is
due to his almost incredible force of
will, but 1t does not imply that he is
nsensible to the mental and physical
torture he has undergone. On the con-
,rary, the family just now sec in his
weak state of health an abnormal i'm
Dassivity, an ugly sign, and fear for
1im more than they care to express"
The town has been perfectly calm. |
There has not been sign of DEM
'nstration nor cry for or against
Oreyfus or tho Jews heard anywhere.
A number of people gathered to see
Mme. Dreyfus visit the prison, but
hey were quite respectful
The troops and masses of gendarmes
Who on Saturday gave the center of
iennes the appearance of a military
amp have completely vanished There
re hardly any gendarmes in sight ex-
ept near the Dreyfus residence, where
few are posted.
So far as can be ascertained mill
airy mon are perfectly satisfied with
he verdict, which they interpret as
the honor of the army
nd at the same time doing an act of
mercy to Dreyfus, who. they say. has
efficiently eXpiated his crime in tho
wful existence he passed on DEVILS
sland. They point out that even il
e is sent to Fort Corte it will be to
eccive henceforth the humane treat
nent he has experienced since his re-
urn to France.
One strange fact is the extraordinary
iiference of opinion respecting the
xact effect of the judgment whether
e can be degraded again, and whether
he five years solitary confinement he
as undergone will be regarded as
quivalent to the ten years detention
0 which he is now sentenced, and
'hether he will be released next
lonth. This matter is quite aside from
he general impression that he will be
ardOned in a few days by President
.oubet, who will find some ground to
Xorcise clemency.
Maitre Demange thinks the five years
ill count fer nothing and that Drey-
Is, according to law, will have to suf-
sr ten years detention. Many others,
owever, including several lawyers,
old contrary opinion, and declare
nat he will be released in October.
HE CRIME OF the CENTURY.
ermnns Denounce tho Conviction OF
In