The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
APPEAL OF DREYFUS FOR
REVISION OF HIS TRIAL
GRANTED BY THE COURT
Supplemental Investigation to Es-
tablish All Doubtful Points
Also Ordered.
ANOTHER GREAT VICTORY
For the French Army Officer Who
Was Convicted of Treason and
Sent to Devils Isle.

PARIS, March 5.-The criminal branch OF
the Court OF Cessation to-day granted the
appeal OF Alfred Dreyfus for a revision OF
his trial at Rennes The court held that
sufficient showing had been made to war
rant re-opening OF the case, and ordered
supplementary investigation TO establish
all the doubtful points which have been the
basis for the present application to reopen
the case. The decision is another marked
success for Dreyfus, although it is not yet
final, owing to the extended supplementary
investigation which must follow the courts
/ decision.
The decision was given at the close Of the
third days hearing. Comparatively little
interest has been taken in the session of the
court and the courtroom was almost de-
serted, there being less than fifty persons
/ present at the final session. Among these
were Maitre Labori. the famous lawyer
who defended Dreyfus at Rennes. and sew
eral members of the Dreyrus family.
| Most of the day given 70 the address
Of Maitre Mornard, one of Dreyfus's coun-
sci. He covered much the same ground as
Attorney General Boudoin and Counselor
Boyer, arguing that the case made against
Dreyfus was a tissue Of invention He
| closed with an eloquent appeal saying that
/ the honor OF the army and its officers de-
manded the removal OF the stain OF this I'M
| just conviction.
| An incident occurred during NJ Mornard's
address. Counsel referred to Dreyfus's
| great qualities of heart and exalted char
/ acter and turned toward NJ. Labor, as If
| making a personal appeal TO have his state
ments confirmed, Thereupon NJ. Labori
| arose and LEFT the courtroom, causing some
| commOtion. NJ. Labori was quoted as say
| ing III the corridor that he did not wish,
! by his presence, to confirm the eulogy pro-
nounced upon his former clients heart and
/ character.
Following Nj. Mornard's address the
court retired, remained closeted for an hour
/ and then returned and gave out the decision
| sustaining the appeal for a revision of the
trial and ordering "a supplementary investi-
| cation. This decision from the highest tri-
| bunal of France goes a long way toward
| quent steps being generally regarded as for
malities for carrying out this favorable at
| titude of the court.
! The courts decision does not discuss the
| merits of the case. 1t merely recites the
| various steps taken in behalf of a revision
| OF the trial, declares that these steps con-
| form with the legal requirements OF the
| French code and concludes with the state
| ment that the documents presented war
| rant the court in receiving the appeal, but
| do not permit final judgment. Therefore
| the supplementary investigation is ordered.
| 1t is expected that this investigation will
| take some time, perhaps two or three
months, as 1T involves the hearing of testi-
| mony and thorough sitting of the evil
uence on the points winch thus far nave
| been presented through documents. The
| ultimate form of the final decision also
| remains open. The criminal branch Of the
Court OF Cessation will conduct the
Supplementary investigation and there
| after its findings will be presented by
| the United Branch of the Court of
| Casa ton, which is the supreme and
| final authority. 1t is the expectation Of the
| highest government authorities that the
courts final decision will rehabilitate Drey-
fus, but the Court of Cessation has the
right to order another trial before a mill
tary court.
1t was announced from London in June,
1901 at the time of Maitre Lebori's visit to
England, that it had developed that the re-
lations between the lawyer and Dreyfus
had greatly changed since the Rennes trial.
which was concluded in September, 1899 NJ.
LaboriS friends were reported to have said
that Dreyfus had treated his lawyer shame
fully. They declared that the last time
Dreyfus staid in Paris he never went near
NJ. Labor and had in other ways shown
what they stigma tiZed as an utter lack of
gratitude NJ. Labori. it added, did not
conceal his appreciation of these circum-
stances but he was as ardent as ever, de-
claring in private that Dreyfus was wrong
fully convicted, the slightest suggestion to
the contrary being sufficient to send the
lawyer into a passionate denunciation OF
Dreyfus's detractors. ,