SCANDAL RECALLED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 159, 15 July 1935, Page 3

SCANDAL RECALLED

DEATH OF CAPT. DREYFUS 1 ' . REMARKABLE CASE By Telegraph —Copyright —Press As. ( PARIS, July 12. | The death has occurred of Colonel Alfred Dreyfus, the French officer i who was sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil’s Island for alleged ■ treason in 1894 and who was released five years later following a fight by his family for his liberty. His was one of the most remarkable cases in history of a miscarriage of justice. In 1894 Dreyfus, who was attached to the French Ministry of. War, was found guilty of betraying secrets to Germany, and sent to Devil’s Island for life. Convinced that he had been wronged, his family commenced a fight for his rehabilitation which had far-reaching consequences, and stirred France to her depths. Fresh evidence implicating another officer was discovered, but official quarters declined to acknowledge that a mistake had been made. The battle spread over a number of years, and was waged with great bitterness, intense interest growing as it progres-

sed. Emlie Zola was moved to write his famous ‘‘J’Accuse” after the acquittal of the officer suspected of being the real betrayer, and the author r was condemned to a year’s imprison--1 ment in consequence. Finally DreyI fus was brought back for a new , trial, and this lasted a month. On ! September 9, 1899, the court-martial,, by five votes to two, found him I guilty with extenuating circumstances, and after an incoherent, ' judgment sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment. This amazed the public, and finally the Government decided to pardon Dreyfus. He was set at liberty and settled in Paris, In 1903 fresh facts came to light, and another hearing was demanded, from the Court of Appeal which after long inquiry, quashed the sentence in July, 1906. Dreyfus was completely rehabilitated, he was promoted major in the army, and reached the rank of colonel in 1919, when he retired and shortly afterward was awarded the Legion of Honour.