The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-11
Witnesses in the Trial Of Nine.
Steinheil, Accused of Muir
dering Her Husband and
Stepmother, Favoring Her.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE
LACKING IN MANY WAYS
RumOr That the Present Pro-
ceeding May Be Abandoned
by the Prosecution and New
Investigation Entered Upon,
MORE ANTl-DREYFUS TALK

Paris. Nov. I0.-Testimony today In the
trial of Nine. Steinheil, charged with the
murder of her husband and her step
mother, was distinctly favorable to tie
defendant.
Marietta Wolf, cook in the Steinhell
household, and her son. Alexander. whose
appearance was awaited with profound
interest, threw 10 new light on the N.Y.
terry but by a further mass Of contrsdic-
tons strengthened the impression in the
accused WOmans favor. Nine. Steinheiis
rUrss also retraCt5d ner previous dep
sition IN which she expressed tire opinion
that the defendants illness after the
crime was simulated and Maurice Bor-
deref, a wealthy merchant, whom the
state assumes Nine. StcinheiI desired to
marry. testified to his absolute belief N
her innocence.
Case Breaking Down.
The states clrcumstantiaI case against
Nine. Steinheil seems to be breaking down
and il is already TumOred that the trial
may be abandoned and a new invesuga-
ton ordered. Anti-Dreyfus papers, Ike
the Libre Parole and the Patrie, have
again began to reYamp their previous in
situations that the crime involved a po-
litical plot, for the destruction Of evil
denco regarding the death of ex-President
Felix Faure, which the aEti-Dreyfusards
never have ceased to claim was due to
foul play, because, as they alleged. NJ
Faure opposed the revision OF the Dreyfus
/ case.
Louis Anethene Gregori, who shot Ma
ior Dreyfus at the canonizatiOn of lola
in the Pantheon in 1908. has written an
open letter to NJ. de Wales. presiding
judge. demanding that ne be heard on the
subject of the death of the former pres
ident and the anti-DreyfusaTds seek to
give color to their insinuatiOns by en-
phasizing the yelled threats which Nine
Steinhen repeatedly made in open court
/ to reveal her relations with prominent
men in every walk of life should she be
driven to bay.
/ Judge de Wales. however, evidently as
sumes that former intrigues have no bear
/ ing on the case and twice has practically
defied her to draw IN whatever scandal
/ and names she pleased. You may name
whom you will.' he said to her.
Proposed Court Reform.
At the conclusion Of the steinhen case
/ Minister of Justice BarthOu will propose
/ Of France.
/ This decision of the minister. made
I known today, was influenced largely by
/ the criticism experienced in the Unit81
States and England of the methods now
/ in vogue, through the operation Of which
I 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 fUnc-
/ ton Of 'interrogatorire' and confide to
{
| the defense the task of examining sle
/ accused and the witnesses
/ He would restrict the prerogatives Of
/ the judge TO q practice more in keeping
with that of the courts of Anglo-SaxOn
I countries. 1t is unlikely, however. That
any effort will be made to abolish the
] general method Of court procedure in all
latin countries through which the exami-
| nation magistrate in an exhaustive pre-
liminary investigation secures testimony
upon which the state establishes its case
| against the accused.
It is the belief of many American law
/ yers here that I'm civil cases which are
not tried before a jury the French sys-
I tenn permitting the Introduction of indi-
/ rect evidence and even the opinion or
! witnesses, frequently enables the Judge
to arrive at a conclusion more certainly
just than does the practice of similar
( courts in the United States and England