Harry Rice to Francis, April 13, 1885

Mr. Rice to Mr. Francis.

Sir: Your letter of the 11th instant I have received. In reply I have to say that the information you received that I left Lippa in the year 1881 is not true, and I can prove it to you.

The second information, stating that I was born on the 17th January, 1864, is true, and I will inform you how I received my citizen paper.

It was before the election of Grover Cleveland when I went to the Democratic headquarters, and told them I want to leave the United States for a visit to Europe. I am in this country five years, but I am not quite twenty-one years of age.

The clerk who was there that time went to some gentleman there and came back and gave me a card, stating that I should go to the judge, when I would receive my papers. But then I considered and did not go there; for the first thing I did not want to vote false, and, second, I was a Republican.

On the 15th of December I received a letter, when I had to go Europe, and on the 19th I received my (naturalization) paper. Then again something happened, and I could not leave on that day, so I left two weeks later; it was in January.

This is the whole fact, which I notify you now. The whole difference between my twenty-first birthday is only a few days, which may be in the law a good deal.

I will go to the gentleman I was employed last, and will ask him to give me a statement when I left Lippa.

This is all I can notify you, and all I know. If you, dear sir, can help me out of this case, I would be greatly obliged to you, as I lose lots if I cannot go back any more.

Hoping you will pardon the mistake I made and not withdraw your help,

I remain, &c.,