Dreyfus Events

… Convicted of Treason dreyfus.1 · dlc004

Accused of disclosing classified military information to the … ambassador in …, the … officer … has been judged guilty of treason by the …, based off a handwriting analysis and the contents of a secret dossier.

"Messieurs, I present the intercepted bordereau, addressed directly to the … ambassador. While the letter's handwriting is no "clear" match to that of M. …, no spy would ever compose a clandestine letter using their own hand. The accused must, no doubt, have imitated or traced his own handwriting, leaving in it enough of its natural character for his correspondent to recognize it, but introducing into it, for greater safety, alterations borrowed from the hands of his brother and his sister-in-law, in one of whose writings I have discovered the very same double-s as seen in the bordereau!"

The … Trial dreyfus.2 · dlc004

Insisting that … has been falsely convicted, his supporters have identified … as the likely culprit. … however, has now been acquitted by the … in a closed-door trial—subsequently shaving his mustache and fleeing the country.

"In summary: Not only did we intercept a letter from the military attache addressed directly to Esterhazy, not only does his handwriting fit the bordereau much better than …'s, and not only is he neck-high in debt. But the man admit his contempt for France and her army in writ! Honorable Generals, do you truly not see what I see?" "M. Capitaine, we see only a man overstepping his bounds. The true culprit has already been caught, … treacherous nature exposed for all to see. Consider this a closed matter."

J'accuse...! dreyfus.3 · dlc004

A scathing newspaper opinion has been published in the newspaper L'Aurore by …, accusing the French government and … of antisemitism and the unlawful conviction of ….

"I accuse the three handwriting experts of having made false and fraudulent reports, unless a medical examination declares them suffering from vision and judgment disease. I accuse the war offices of having carried out in the press an abominable campaign, to mislead public opinion and cover up their fault. Finally, I accuse the first council of war of having violated the law, by condemning an accused with unrevealed evidence, and I accuse the second council of war of having covered this illegality, by order, by committing in turn the legal crime of knowingly acquitting a culprit."

At-home Asphyxiation dreyfus.4 · dlc004

Servants at the home of the …ard vanguard … found their employer dead in … bedroom. A tragedy, wept one. Assassination, cried another. Natural causes, a third hoped. Whether one or the other, a blow against …'s case.

The coroner confirmed that afternoon that no foul-play was involved. A special investigation was conducted upon the request of the surviving family. Monoxide poisoning was the culprit, from an improperly swept chimney. Yet, rumors persist: skulduggery and assassination abound, strangely without anyone eager to claim the kill.

… Accused of Libel dreyfus.5 · dlc004

Furious with what … considers the defamation of the …'s good name and reputation, … has charged the author of "J'Accuse...!", …, with criminal libel, demanding the … be jailed for … insolence.

Shouts of fury, indignance, triumph and loss drowned the judge's drones. His detractors said that a harsher punishment was due. His supporters cried martyrdom, same as they had done in Dreyfus. A scandal besmirching France, from one; a pity he wasn't around for a noose, from another. The one thing they all agreed on: Émile Zola had the wrong punishment.

…ard Board Game Spreads dreyfus.6 · dlc004

A well-to-do socialite associated with the … has recently produced a parlor game titled "The … Affair and the Truth", further promoting the idea that … was unlawfully convicted among … high society.

"So how do I win?" "Well, you see that naked lady at the end of the trail, climbing out that well? That's Truth. You move your piece towards it, through the broken law tablets, letters, landmarks, and newspapers." "I see. And that broom, and those hideous masks?" "Masks of prejudice, my friend. Swept into the dust bin of history where they belong." "So why does one of them look like my dear mother?" "I see your glass is empty, friend. Let me be of assistance."

Anti-…ard Riot in … dreyfus.7 · dlc004

Spurred on by a particularly inflamatory opinion piece in the …-affiliated newspaper the … …, large crowds have taken to the streets, burning effigies of … and shouting anti-… slogans.

"There they go again, screeching "Long live the Army" and "Down with the Jews" from the top of their lungs. Tonight comes the fires, tomorrow the clean-up. Same old song." "All this trouble for one Jewish soul? I'm starting to think it would be better if we leave that man in jail, guilty or not."

The Retrial dreyfus.8 · dlc004

… Admits Guilt in Interview. dreyfus.9 · dlc004

In an interview with a local journalist, …, now living in exile in …, and suspected by many of being the real culprit of the … Affair, has apparently admitted … guilt, confessing that he was the bordereau's true author.

"I wrote the bordereau at the request of Colonel Sandherr, who died today. It is unfortunate that Colonel Sandherr died, as he knew the fact. But nevertheless, it is possible for me to prove that it was I who wrote the slip, despite the disappearance of this witness. The bordereau was to be used to materially prove the guilt of …, the intelligence office having been able to collect against … only moral proofs. It was known, however, through the French spy service, that the … General Staff was in possession of documents that only … could communicate to it."