The court then rendered the following decree:
After listening to the accused and their counsel, and to the public prosecutor, and after deliberating in conformity with the law;
Considering that, on the spontaneous demand of General de Pellieux, the latter declared at yesterday’s session a fact relating to the Dreyfus case, and that, in support of his declaration, he invoked the testimony of General de Boisdeffre;
Considering that the latter, at today’s session, has confirmed the declaration of General de Pellieux;
Considering that, in the terms of the decree of February 7, the court has ordered that all incidents relating to the Dreyfus case should be excluded from the trial, and that consequently every question relating to these incidents must be excluded as of no utility and contrary to the aforesaid decree;
Considering that consequently the presiding judge was right in refusing the floor to the defence for the putting of any question under this head, and in ordering that the trial should be proceeded with;
Adopting, furthermore, the reasons indicated in the aforesaid decree;
Considering, as concerns Major Esterhazy, that the presiding judge, after having summoned the witnesses to the bar, invited the counsel of M. Zola to put to him such questions as he might deem useful, and that the counsel refused to put any questions at that moment, and that the presiding judge had to question him officially;
Considering, further, that the direction of the trial belongs exclusively to the president of the assize court in conformity with the law;
For these reasons,