New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06
REVISION FOR DREYFUS.
THE COURTS DECISION.
Supplementary Investigation Or
dered-LabOri's Action.


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 courts decision does not discuss the
merits of the case. 1t merely recites the va
rious steps taken I'm behalf of a revision OF the
| trial. declares that these steps conform with
the legal requirements of the French code, and
| concludes with the statement that the docu-
ments presented warrant the court in receiving
| the appeal. but d not permit final judgment.
Therefore sur mentary investigation is or
dered It is expected that this investigation will
take some tme-perhaps two three months
as II involves hearing oral testimony and a
thorough sitting OF the evidence on the points
which thus far have been presented through
documents. The ultimate form of the final de-
cision also remains oDen.
The Criminal Branch OF the Court of Casa
ton will conduct the supplementary investiga-
ton. and thereafter its findings will be pre-
scented by the United Branch of the Court of
Cessation, which is the supreme civil authority.
1t is the expectation of the highest government
authorities that the courts final decision will
rehabilitate Dreyfus. but the Court Of Cessation
has the right to order another trial before a
military court
The decision given at the close OF the
third days hearing. Comparatively little pub
lie interest has been taken I'm the sessions Of
the court and the courtroom was almost de-
serted there being less than fifty persons pres
ent at the final session. Among these were
Naitre Labor, who defended Dreyfus at Rennes,
and several members OF the Dreyfus family
Most Of the day given to the address Of
Maitre Mornard. Of Dreyfus's counsel. He
covered much the same ground as Attorney
4 hat
the case made against Dreyfus tissue OF
invention.
Counsel referred to Dreyfus's great qualities
Of heart and exalted character, and turned tow
ard NJ Labor, as II making q personal appeal
to have his statements confirmed. ThereupOn
NJ Labor arose and left the courtroom. caus-
ing some commOtion.
NJ Labor was quoted as saying in the cor
ridor that he did not wish by his presence to
confirm the euogy pronounced upon his former
clients heart and character.
Following NJ. Mornard's address the court re-
tired remained clOseted for hour. and then
returned and gave out the decision sustaining
the appeal for a revision OF the trial and order
ing a supplementary Investigation. This de-
cision from the highest tribunal in France goes
a long way toward the complete rehabilitation
OF Dreyfus the subsequent steps being gener-
ally regarded as formalities for carrying out
this favorable attitude OF the court.
Albert Dreyfus an Alsatian Jew and a captain
I'm the 18th Artillery OF the French Army. detailed
for service the Information Bureau OF the
French Ministry OF War. arrested on October
l.. lssA The charge against him OF having
sold military secrets foreign power. The great
est secrecy was maintained in the affair and he
isolated In prison and treated with much harsh
ness lie was tried in secret. and. being found
fFfar sfaff nd
10 solitary confinement the lie du Diabe. on the
coast Of French Guiana. Ills stripes were torn
from him and his sword broken in public Ia Paris
in January 1895 and he taken to the lie du
Diable IN March OF that year where he was treated
with great severity.
The chief evidence against him had been
memorandum. known as the bordereau. the frag-
ments Of which found IN n waste paper basket
and pasted together. II unsigned and undated.
but the handwriting declared 20 be that Of
Dreyfus. But u was found. In 1895. resemble
that OF another officer. Major Esterhazy. more
than that OF Dreyfus. and attempts TO free the
latter set foot. The agitation increased
IN Importance until. IN 1885. the Minister OF War
declared In the Chamber OF Deputies that Dreyfus
guilty. and referred 10 three documents not
before brought 20 public notice. commandant
Pcquart showed that OF these were Irrelevant.
and declared the third a forgery and six weeks
later Colonel Henry admitted forging II and COM
mitted suicide. This led 10 reorganization Of the
Patty du Clam. who had been most active against
Dreyfus. were retired. The Court OF Cessation
ordered trial BY martial I'm June. 1899
and the result Of this. in September of the same
year. verdict that Dreyfus guilty. but
with extenuating circumstances. lie sentenced
TO ten years Imprisonment from which the term
already served to be deducted. The members
OF the court then united in a recommendation to
mercy and President Loubet pardoned the prisoner
September 10. 1893. Since that time the agitation
OF the has been continued By the friends OF
Dreytus. EsterhaZy dismissed from the French
Army. and in 1899 he published a statement that he
wrote the bordereau by order of Colonel Sandherr.
the assistant chief of tho intelligence department,
TO which all the officers concerned IN the affair be-
longed. After his release Captain Dreyfus pub
lshec a volume devoted to his experiences. His
his behalf AZ both trials. Maitre Labor.
IL announced from London in June. 1901. at
the time of Maitre Laboris visit TO England, that
Il had developed that the relations between the
lawyer and preyfus had greatly changed since the
Rennes trial which concluded IN September
1899. NJ Labori's friends were reported 10 have
said that Dreyfus had treated his lawyer shame
fully. They declared that the last time DTeyfus
stayed In Paris he never went near NJ. Labori and
had in other ways shown what they stlgmatized
as utter lack OF gratitude. VI. Labor Il
added. did not conceal mis- appreciation OF these
circumstances. but he ardent ever. de-
claring in private that Dreyfus wrongfully
convicted, the slightest suggestion to the contrary
being sufficient TO send the lawyer into a passion
ate AT Of denunciatiOn of Drcyfus's detractors