New-York tribune., 1908-11-29
THE STEINHEIL CASE
RAISES POLITICAL ISSUE.
Reuices Dreyfus n air and Mystery
of President FGure's Death.
Especial by French Cable to The Tribune ;

tcopyrisht 1905 by The Tribune Association
Paris, Nov 2S-The Steinheil murder and its
exciting developments, including the arrest OF
Nine. Steinhei for completely in her husbands
assassination, have fairly electrified Paris Moth
ing else is spoken OF in the boulevards. in the
cafes, In the clubs and at fashionable gatherings.
It monopolizes the attention OF senators and
deputies and threatens TO crop up az an after
math Of the Dreyfus affair Already the old
parties are taking UP their positions OK combat
NJ. Georges Berry. deputy of Paris, has given
notice of en- Interpolation in the chamber de-
fnanding that the Minister of Justice explain
why for six months he maintained NJ. Leydet in
the task of discovering the assassins Of Stein
he'll and preparing the case for government
prosecution when 1t was well known that Judge
Leydet had been himself one OF Nine. Stein
heils lovers
Judge Leydet was yesterday replaced by Judge
Andre. a stanch republican magistrate, whose
political views are those of the Cabinet and
who selected in preference TO Judge Bour-
desux Judge Boucard, who IN routine course
would have succeeded to the duties relinqtlished
by Judge Leydet II is matter Of common
notoriety that Mime. Stenheil was alone with
the late President Felix Faure in his cabinet at
the Elysee palace at the moment of his death,
in February 1899 The strange and mysterious
exploits and adventures OF this fascinating but
fatal woman are soon TO be brought to light In
a leading article This morning the "Matin'
asks was Felix Faures death due to poison!
The old anti f-Dreyfusards up in arms and
say that President Felix Faure was done away
with by foul means to suppress certain papers
in his possession that would have prevented the
revision of the Dreyfus trial. and they suggest
that Nine Steinheil played an important role
in this matter. The government organs on the
other hand, see in Nine. Steinhel merely
crazy, hvsterical sentimentalist irresponsible for
her acts
It is perhaps only in France that this melo-
dramatic figure could thus become the centre
of the political situation The reactionary and
ultra-Catholic 'tiauIois" foresees in the Stein
he'll case a resurrection Of the Dreyfus agitation
NJ Ernest Judet also hnds political back
ground to the Steinhei murder. and writes in
the 'sEcair":
The disorder has not ended 1t is only just
beginning The incredible career Of Nine Stein
he'll, the fantastic story Of her 1iaisons her
weakness and her relations and the romantic
dramas in which she played part are all COM
ing to light At the same time the inquiry
which dates back TO the famous origins OF her
notoriety follows her to the room in which Pres
ident Felix Faure died. A certain section OF the
public sees therein only commonplace meet
ing. Others seek the clew TO a plot against
the President OF the republic, who was an in
yincIbIe obstacle for the leaders Of the Dreyfus
agitation, an obstacle which it necessary to
break down at any price and by any means.
Edouard Drumont takes similar view IN
'Iibre Parole" Behind every mystery of cor
rIpt debauchery blood, he says "raffaire
1.-THE Dreyfus easel is to be seen. "Laffaire'
was there when Felix Faure died in a national
palace in manner which has never been in
yestieated "L'affaire" was there in this lonely
street in the Vaugirard quarter. where a tragedy
Was enacted over which both MN. Leydet and
Hamard have tried 70 draw the veil 1t was
.I'affaire" which guided the judicial authorities
who desired to discover nothing in the impasse
-onsin The same "affaire' will lurk to-mor-
RON, behind the seats of the ma gstrstes who
will Judge the case.
These utterances reflect the views OF the
nartisan mind which just now Is peculiarly SEN
sitive to melodramatc impressions. Meanwhile
Forer,ier Clernenceau and his Minister of Justice,
NJ. BRAND never lose touch with the practical,
second thought common sense OF the public
feeling of France as we'll of Paris, and intend
4o stand aside and leave the whole matter in
.bs hands of the courts OF Justice and ignore
+he efforts of their political opponents, who seek
In tbe steinhefl business to find the means Of
-ov5,;np the spectre Of the Dreyfus affair.