French novelist defended Dreyfus in open letter

On January 13, 1898, the French journalist and novelist Emile Zola published an open letter entitled J'accuse in defense of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army who had been dubiously convicted of spying.

Learn more about the Dreyfus Affair. Sentenced to prison for libel, Zola fled to England; he was granted amnesty and returned to France, but died of carbon monoxide poisoning before Dreyfus was exonerated.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Captain Kidd hanged for piracy

On May 23, 1701, Captain William Kidd, convicted of piracy and murder, was hanged in London. His body was later tarred and hung up in a gibbet - an iron cage - at the mouth of the River Thames as a warning to others.

Learn more about Captain Kidd.

South Carolina becomes eighth U.S. state

On May 23, 1788, South Carolina ratified the US Constitution, becoming the eighth American state. Learn more about the history of South Carolina.