Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-11-10
Minister OF Justice Will Propose
That Role OF Prosecutor be
Taken From Judge.
DUE TO FOREIGN CRITICISM,
Would Restrict Court to Practise More
In Keeping With That Ia
Anglo Saxon Countries.

Paris. Nov. 10.--At the conclusion OF
the Stelnheil case. Minister OF Justice
Barthou will propose certain changes OF
procedure in the courts OF France.
The decision Of the minister. made
known today was Influenced largely by
the criticism expressed IN the United
states and England OF the methods now
in vogue. through the operation OF
which the presiding Judge appears IN
the role Of prosecutor
NJ BarthOu has been much impressed
by this foreign comment. and plans to
take from the president OF the court the
function Of 'interrogatoire" and confidc
TO the public prosecutor and the coun-
sci for the defense the task Of cNamin-
ing the accused and the witnesses.
He would restrict the prcrogyitivcs Of
the Judge to a practise more I'm keeping
with that Of the courts OF Anglo Saxon
countries. II is unlikely, however. that
any effort will be made TO abolish the
general method OF court procedure in
all Latin countries through which the
examination magistrate In an exhaust
i've preliminary investigation contains
testimony often strictly admissible nm
der Anglo-SaXon rules Of evidence, upon
which the state establishes its case
against the accused.
II is the belief OF many American
lawyers here that IN civil cases which
are not tried before a jury. the French
system permitting the introduction OF
indirect evidence and even the opinion
or witnesses, frequently enables the
judge 10 arrive at a conclusion more
certainly just than does the practise
Of similar courts in the United States
and England.
COOK WOLF MOST LOYAL.
No servant ever fought moro LOYALTY
for her mistress than did Mariette
Wolf. cook in the Steinheil household,
when called today as a witness IN the
trial OF Madame Steinheil. who is
charged with the murder OF her hus-
band and stepmother.
When the judge had led her through
labyrinth OF contradictory statements
he suddenly challenged her with this
abstract from her original deposition:
When Madame Steinheil learned
that her husband was dead. she
Calculated, at last am free"
Without the least hesitation the ser
want replied:
NO. have been misquoted What
Mamade steinheil said was AT last
am alone"
The witness said the wife was de-
voted 10 her husband
The woman's testimony aroused
much interest in the courtroom as she
Is suspected of holding the key TO the
mystery.
AS a witness, she was reticent and
volunteered nothing replying frequent
~ Il don't know" OF Il don't remem-
ber.' She testified Madame Steinheil
had known all the Wolf children but
Alexandra, once accused, least OF all
She admitted her mistress addressed
Alexandra by familiar appellat ton.
In he
10 describe the Steinheil home and tell
how Madame Steinhei had leased
Green Lodge" in order that she might
there receive her lovers. II was after
she had expressed the opinion that
Adolphe Stelnheil was ignorant OF his
wife's intrigues that the witness was
confronted with the deposition which
she made for the police soon after the
tragedy.
Mariette Wolf contradicted the testi-
.ncny given yesterday by Barby. the
newspaper photographer She had never
stated, as Barby had said. that she
would deny everything II Madame
Stelnheil We're arrested, The witness
was confronted with Barby and repeat
ed in his presence the deniais She had
made before.
STORMY SCENES.
Several stormy scenes occurred dur
ing the afternoon. At one point Mad
anne Steinheil Interrupted angrily and
shouted deiantly that II IL were true
she had received $1,000 from her lover.
ChOunard. the iron manufacturer. he
had made hundred times that amount
from clients whom she mad brought
him.
The testimony OF Maiette Wolf. like
that Of her son Alexandra. who followed
her on the stand, was wholly favorable
10 the defendant Alexandra admitted
the accused woman had been In the
habit Of addressing him as thou" and
that she had kissed him on New Years
day.
He offered the opinion that Madame
Steinhell had been led TO accuse him
through suggestions on the part Of the
police and newspaper reporters.