The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-25
OREYFUS ASKS INQUIRY
Wants War Minister to Reopen
Famous Treason Case.
HIS HIGHLY DRAMATIC LETTER


Stands Before the World as the
culprit"-May Cause Tremendous
Political Sensation.
Paris. April 23-Alfred Dreyfus has
submitted TO Minister OF War Andre q
lengthy letter in which he earnestly
asks for a reopening OF his case by
means OF an investigation by the min
lister. as the supreme head OF militar,
justice. Tho letter confirms the re-
ports that Drcyfus has been livinf
quietly here for some time. II promises
to cause a tremendous agitation among
the various elements OF the politica
groups Tor and against Dreyfus. The
first part Of the letter is an earnest plea
that the court which condemned him
at Rennes was improperly Influenced
first by the annotated document
ascribed TO Emperor William. and. sec
ond. by the false testimony of one OF
the Witnesses Czernuski
After arguing on the extent to which
these contributed to his condemnation
Dreyfus recalls in graphic terms the
long series of horrors TO which nc had
been subjected. The letter throughout
is couched in a highly dramatic style.
which is likely to make it one OF the
notable papers Of the case.
II refers 10 Esterhazy az "one who
stands before the entire world as the
culprit'
One Of the leading passages. showing
tho rhetorical style. is as follows:
Il Will not recall. Mr.. Minister. what
/ have endured since 1894 Picture 10
yourself The horrors of a soldier whose
whole life was devoted to duty. to
work, 70 loyalty. and to profound de-
votion for his country, and who in an
instant is stripped OF his good name
and dcspoiled of the honor of himself
and his children. For five years this
soldier is subjected TO horrible suffer
ings. They seek to crush him physi-
cally. TO annihilate him morally. He Is
absolutely innocent of all crime. and
struggles in vain to penetrate the mys-
terry. proclaiming his innocence and
struggling with all the forces OF his
mind and body for that supreme pleas
ure OF vindicating his good name and
character Days, months. years. pass
thus in most cruel agony, amid the
tortures Of a murderous climate. AT
last he IS brought back to France. the
guilty one is discovered and the soldier
hears himself proclaimed innocent by
those who before reviled him as
traitor. 1t was thus. Mr.. Minister. that
hoped to see my martyrdom end. Ny
second condemnation was but an ag-
Sravated reaflirmation of what occurred
IN 1894. When the guilty one was
known and unmasked. and Esterhazy
was recognized as the author OF the
treason, the same men who had cheated
justice in 1894 again sought in 1899 10
cheat justice for the second time by
the same criminal manoeuvres.
In constant thought of ultimate L.
gal revision. | have reassembled little
by little all the divergent elements of
testimony contributing to my convic-
ton. have scorned calumnies and
falsehoods. l have remained silent with
the firm conviction that justice would
surely have its day of triumph. The
victim of criminal tactics and viola
ton of the law twice committed
against me. | now address myself to
the. supreme chief of military Justice
ana, supporting myself by new Iacts
which have been elected and by the
existence of the pretended borderau
annotated by Emperor William. l beg
to ask that you institute an inquiry.
first, upon the uses made of this false
document at Rennes and the conse-
quences It produced on those rendering
Judgment; second. upon the false and
fraudulent Testimony of Czarnuel,f Of
Rennes."
After a deferential salutation, the
letter is signed ALFRED Dreyfus."