Émile ZOLA. L.A.S., [June 1? 1891], to a "dear colleague" [the journalist Montguyon]; 1 1/2 pages in-8. Open letter about a criminal case, published in Le Figaro on June 3, 1891. [Jeanne Weiss had poisoned her husband, and was sentenced on May 29 by the Oran Assize Court to twenty years' hard labor. She poisoned herself that same evening, leaving a letter to give to her son when he turned fifteen. People wondered whether this vow should be obeyed. Montguyon put the question to Zola, Daudet, Dumas fils and Father Didon]. "You ask me, my dear colleague, whether the letter left by Mme Weiss, with this suscription: 'To give to my son when he is fifteen', should be opened by the magistrates, or whether they should keep it and comply later with the dead woman's last wish. But this letter does not belong to the magistrates. Mrs. Weiss escaped, freed herself by killing herself. She paid her debt to justice, and more harshly than she should have. In my opinion, the letter should be placed in escrow. Then, when the specified date arrives, a family council will be convened, which will decide. The family alone is competent. And surely the family only has to bow to the final will of a woman who may have been an adulterous and criminal wife, but who was not a bad mother. When the father is there, alive, to defend himself, who would dare prevent the mother from rising from the depths of her tomb, to speak to her son, perhaps apologize, explain her crime and ask forgiveness?"...