Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-14
DRAMATIC SCENES
As MercieT Is Denounced by Dreyius and
Roundy Kissed by the Crowd.

Ecnn~s. France. Aug. 12.-The second
public session Of the second court
martial of capt. Alfred DreyfGs Of the
l4th Artillery. which began in the Ly-
cee here. Monday. opened al 6.30 this
morning.
The sessions Of the court. Tuesday
Wednesd ay Thursday ana Friday, were
behind closed doors il order that the
with the ease could he examined with
out publicity being given to matters
connected with The defence If France
and also so as To avoid the publication
Of matters touching upon the relations
of France with foreign powers.
The red ara white facade uf the Ly-
cce was bathed in sunshine at $40 a.
Nj. when Dreyfus crossed the avenue
~ Il Care from his prison and entered
the Lycre. Stringent police precau-
lions, as observed during the week.
Were again taken. but barely 20 per
sons gathered to witness the prisoner :
appearance.
COL. Jouaust. president Of the court
martial. and thu other members of the
court hogan to arrive shortly after 4
a. NJ. They We're followed by Gems.
Rillot ara Mercier. former ministers Of
war. in uniform. The latter drove up
in an open carriage. ana the small
crowd which had gathered by this time
greeted him with cries Of "Vive
rarmee." ana "Nive MERCER"
on alighting at the entrance Of the
Lycee Gen. MERCER looked very anx-
ious, hut Immediately afterward as
sumed smiling demeanor. He spoke
4 few words I'd the officers at the gate.
laughed but his laugh sounded false.
and his face as he assembled the half
dozen stops ana disappeared within The
Lycec, again took on an expression Of
anxiety.
NJ. Casimir- Peiicr, former President
Of France, arrived on foot shortly af-
terward. and was saluted by the crowd
in waiting.
Then came COL. Picquart. retired, for
merly Of the secret intelligence bureau
Of the general staff, who has done so
much to bring about a revision Of the
Dreyfus case. He was greeted with
shouts Of "Nive Picquart." which he
smilingly acknowledged
The curtain rose today on the same
theatre-like scene as Monday. The
judges. in uniform. We're seated on the
stage, behind the dark cloth covered
table. on which in a row, We're three
kepis with gay colored plumes and
heavy gold laced bands.
Every inch Of the court room was oc-
Cupied, in expectation of a sensational
scene. There We're more women present
than on Monday. The parsonage known
as La Dame Blanche. 1.-THE pale wo-
man" who has attended every move in
the Dreyfus affair, was again present
today. wearing a superb set of pearls.
but owing to the expressed objection
Of Col. Jouau st, she changed her con
spicuous place on the right. behind him.
for a more modest. but still noticeable,
position in the body of the hall
There was large spTinkling Of uni
forms among the audience, and row
of soldiers, with fixed bayonets. was
again arranged at the lower end of the
hall. and rendered honOrs in the Gus
tomary manner to the judges as the
latter entered or left the court.
The proceedings opened tamely, and
the hopes of sensational sitting be
gan to flag as the morning wore on,
and matters began to get tedious.
while NJ. Casimir-Perrier and Gen
MERCER reiterated what is already