The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-25
DREYFUS COMMISSION
RECOMMENDS REVISION
Court of Cessation to Assemble in
Paris Next Month to Hear
the Notable Case.
VICTORY FOR JUSTICE
Complete Vindication and Restora-
tion to Rank in Army Expected
by the Ex-Captain.

PARIS, Dec. 24.-Captain Dreyfus, ac-
cused of treason to his country, degraded,
dismissed from the French army, and most
bitterly punished. will have another trial,
this time by a civilian tribunal.
AS a result of the examination of all the
evidence submitted to the two courts-mar-
tial, which have already passed on the
question of Dreyfuss guilt, as we'll as on
the petition of Dreyfus for a new trial, and
the additional facts brought to light by
Gen. Andre, minister of war. the commits
sion on revision, representing the Court of
Cessation, reached a decision to-day in IA
vor of the revision of the case by the GRIM
inal branch of the Court of Cessation. The
court will assemble next month and Dreyfus
Will then have full opportunity to make a
complete exposition of the wrongs he has
suffered The former captain, as a result
OF this new trial. expects to obtain a full
and complete vindication, followed by res
toration to his rank In the army.
INTEREST NOT KEEN.
Though it had been announced that the
revision commission would reach a decision
this evening, there was few persons outside
of the Ministry of Justice. where the sittings
of the commission were held. indicating
that the interest Of Parisians In the case is
Dreyfus received the news of the decis-
ion of the commission through personal
friends, who exetnded to him their earnest
congratulations on his victory. The public
WAS compelled TO wait for its information
until the regular editions of the evening
papers were published, as no extra editions
were issued.
The few persons who were at the Ministry
or Justice saw the members of the revision
commission depart shortly after o'clock,
apparently glad that they had completed
their task There was absolute unanimity
among the members of the commission. One
member asserted that on the facts presented
as the result of the investigation made by
Captain large, an officer on the staff of
War Minister Andre, another revision of
the case was made possible.
The details In the report of the commits
sion have not been made public. but 1t is
generally believed that the production of
evidence which had not been submitted to
the court-martial at Rennes and the change
of testimony on the part of some of the wit
nesses before the court-martial, which en-
tirely reversed the view as to the guilt of
Dreyfus, brought about the decision of the
commission to refer the case for retriaI to a
civil tribunal. The submission of the ques-
ton of revision to a commission is consid-
cred In France as tactful move on the part
OF the government TO obtain judicial sup
port for its favorable attitude towards
Dreyfus. Moreover. as the proceedings Of
the commission will extend over four weeks,
the first excitement disappeared and the
people had a chance to >coolly consider the
dctlOn OF the ministers.
WILL CONSIDER ALL PAPERS.
Immediately on the receipt Of the report
of the commission the government will
transmit all the documents In the case to
the procureur general of the Court of
Cessation. These documents include the
modified testimony of M. Gribelin, the prin-
cipal archivist of the headquarters staff
who at the court-martial at Rennes testified
that he believed Dreyfus was guilty of
treason, but who has now altered his evil
dence so as to throw the blame on Colonel
Henry.
The criminal branch of the Court of Cas-
sation Is composed of sixteen members pre-
sided over by M. Loew, who has partfcipat-
ed In many or the most prominent trials of
recent years. Many people are in doubt as
10 whetner this court can definitely decide
the question of Dreyfus's restoration to the
army. some authorities holding that under
the law the rehabilitation of the officer
must be determined by the council of war
A prominent official, however, informed the
Associated Press correspondent Tonight
that he expects the decision of the court
will be accepted as final. Dreyfus did NOT
desire that his new trial should be con-
Quoted by a civil tribunal, as he was
anxious to again go before a court-marfiaI
NJ. Mornard, the Partisan lawyer who rem
resented Dreyfus before the Court of cas-
sation, refused to be interviewed. but a
friend speaking for him said that Dreyfus
had asked to be judged by his peers and
that he had not changed his view His
counsel will again demand a military iudg-
ment of the case.
At the home OF the former CAPTAIN Drav-
fus the decision was fully expected and
preparations are now being made to con-
vince the court of his innocence