The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-05
.STE|NHE|L TRIAL IS
SENSATIONAL
DEFENDANT SAID TO BE MOST
DRAMATIC WITNESS SEEN
IN PARIS COURT.

Paris. Nov. 4.-Madame Marguerite
Steinheil. whose examination on the
charge of numbering her husband and
her stepmother, Nine. Japy. was con-
cluded in the assizes today, made a
wonderful single handed fight for her
life. displaying as much skill in con-
founding the judge as she is thought
to have done in battling the police
She presented dramatic figure. her
black mourning gown accentuating the
pallor of her face. When caught In
the meshwork Of conflicting stories.
she had recourse tn tears. or. with up
lifted eyes ard arms extended. she
made fervent pleas to the jury. Ex-
perienced court reporters consider
Nine. Steinheil the most consummate
actress who has ever appeared before
the bar nf justice. while the dramatic
critics believe she might have been -
world-famed tragedienne.
A New Sensation.
a new sensation was added to tn.
trial late this afternoon. when NJ. Au-
bin. the prisoners attorney. inter-
rupted the proceedings to present let
tiers received by him and signed Yea,
Iefevre." in which the writer stated
that he wished to confess participation
in the murders of which Mrs. Stenheh
is accused. After reading the letters.
the attorney dramatically introduced
the writer, who in the meantime had
made his way to n place beside NJ.
Aubin.
The newcomer proved to be about 81
years old. He demanded n hearing.
Refusing to reply to the preliminary
inquiries as to his profession and
Gomiciie. the young man shouted that
he had been an accomrliee in the as
sassination of Adnlphc Steinheii ana
Madame Japy. He continued:
Il was an accomplice in the assas-
sinations at the home of Madam.
Steinheil. Filled with rcmorse, wish
now to confess my part In the crimes.
l was disguised as woman and wore
a wig of red hair. My accomplicc.
wore long cloaks. We committed the
murders and then escaped to the for
est ut Mt. Morency. where we burnen
our DISCUSSES"
Madame Steinheil confronted Le-
fevre. hut she said she was unable tn
recognize him as one of the murderer>.
whom she had described
Judge Devalles ordered that Lefevre
he placed under arrest. Later the NAV,
admitted he was Rene Col'ard. All
actor. and denied any connection with
the crime.
Sentiment Favors AcquittaI.
The procedure of the criminal courts
of France. which makes the judge n
prosecuting attorney. naturally awak-
ems sympathy for the prisoner. ano
the public belief is strong that Nine.
Steinheil will not be convicted. The
intense interest in the case is shown
by the fact that the newspapers every
half hour print extras containing the
testimony.
As the proceedings were closing the
first direct mention of the late Fe-
lix Faure a former president of
France. was heard. Much interest In
the case lies in the friendship that
existed between Nine. Steinheil and the
late president. and several times the
prisoner made vague reference to -
high political parsonage. who had been
my friend" She said she met Faure
on a trip to the Alps
Owing to the many trying ordeals of
the day. her lawyer asked for an ear
ly adjournment and the hearing was
brought to close by the judge re-
ferring to the accusation against |
Frederick Harrison Birmingham. an
newspaper man, but the |
prisoner persisted that she had never |
accused him, but had only |
said he resembled one of the assassins. |