The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-08
SCENES AT THE TRIAL
Jouaust's Bearing Was That Of an lnquisltor
Not Judge.
MERCER LOOKS LIKE AN ANIMAL AT BAY,
The Proceedings are Intensely The
atricni and Jounust Prevents
Charges of Partially.

New York. August IA special to the
ly legal point of view the FIRST days pro-
ceedings in the trial of Captain Dreyfus
may be described as drawn battle,
neither the prosecution nor the defense
having gained a single inch OF vantage
ground. 1t is however impossible for
the most fanatical partisans of the general
staff to deny that the direct, manly hon.
esty with which the prisoner replied to
the long series of questions put to him by
Colonel Jouaust president of the court
martial, with what to the Anglo American
mind savors more of the inquisitorial Sc
verify of an acrimonial prosecutor than Of
the calm impartiality of judicial investi-
cation, caused a favorable impression upon
all present. Both Maitre DeMange and
Maitre Labori stated in conversation that
they deeply regretted that Du Patty de
Clam and Esterhazy had failed to appear
among the witnesses but this flinching
from judicial examination has already a
strong moral influence on the court and
public opinion in Dreyfus behalf.
Another point which, SO far as the au
dience in the Lycee is concerned. told in
favor of Dreyfus was the embittered pas
sion, almost amounting to a challenge to
mortal combat. with which General Mer-
cier pronounced the word present" when
his name was called by the clerk of the
court martial.
The seat assigned to the correspondent
at the trial CHANGED to be near that occu
pied by NJ. Conle of the Figaro. who was
also much struck by the feroclty with
which General Mercier uttered the word
present" accompanied by an expression
Of countenance suggestive of some wild
animal at bay.
Americans will be glad to learn that
after today's sitting NJ. Conle still main
tains his gertrude of Dreyfus' acquittal.
The fact that nine additional witnesses
were cited solely upon the initiative OF
the court indicates that the Judges are
not yet satisfied about Dreyfus' alleged
confession of guilt after his degradation
in 1894 which, by the way, was decided by
the court of cessation in Dreyfus favor.
Colonel Jouaust, president of the court
martial, whose decision in the eyes of the
world will become a sort of tombstone Of
French military honor, has dry sarcas-
tic speech and the rigid severity of his
countenance is emphasized by his keen
glance and long white moustach and I'M
perial. He greeted Captain Dreyfus' con-
vncing deniafs of any knowledge of the
five documents enumerated in the famous
bordereau with an incredulous shrug of
the shoulders, but it is very significant
that Colonel Jouaust refrained from look
ing Dreyfus straight in the face when the
prisoner vehemently proclaimed his inno-
cencc.
Americans, however, sho ~ bear In mind
that the whole proceedings are intensely
theatrical, and that the president of the
court martial may think 1t worth while
thus to discount any future accusations of
Partially.
Dreyfus as he walked to his place on
the stage of the court room passed each
time within five yards of the seat occu
pied by the Tribune correspondent. The
nerves of his neck could be seen quiverng
in a manly struggle to control his emo
tons. His attitude was modest, military
and correct. Not once did he look toward
the auditorium or appeal to the public with
glance or gesture, as on several occasions
did the president of the court, the gov
eminent commissioner and the clerk of
the court. Any impartial, observant Amerl-
can sitting in close proximity to Captain
Dreyfus, as 1t was the privilege of the
Tribune correspondent to do for over three
hours today, T6.Ild unhesitakingly declare
that this man has all the outward tokens
of innocence that human being is capable
OF disclosing.