The Washington times., 1909-11-05
MADAME STEINHEIL
KEEPS FIGHTING ON
Papers Scoring Tribunal for
Not Delving Deep Into
Alleged Scandal.
Continued from First Page)


about the contradictions in her own
story on the occasion Of her former
examinations. She weeps softly for a
moment. then raises her hands above
her head and cries:
I was forced to lie. They made me
say what they wished. / am like a
hunted beast"
All this affects the jury, despite the
occasional warning of de Wales to them
that they must not let their feelings
sway them. To the casual observer
and 10 the French public generally the
acquittal OF the woman seems a GER
tainty. Not because they think her
innocent, for there are few who think
that but because of the profound pity
which her fight inspires.
1t has been said that Madame Stein
he'll aspired to become a second Pompa-
dour. woman ruling France through
her lovers. In all her political intrigues
she has never shown the brilliant
cleverness Of a Pompadaur as she dis
plays it in her unequal battle In the
Plais Justice today.
Makes Friends.
And her cleverness and courage are
winning. Even those who believe her
guilty are aroused by her courage and
by the overwhelming odds against
which she battles.
The French public, though. is noting
the excessively severe, inquisitoriaI
methods Of de Wales rather as an indi-
cation Of kindness toward the prisoner
It is often the case IN French courts
that judges assume an unnecessary cal
lous attitude toward an accused person
as a sign that he wishes a favorable
verdict, knowing that his severity
arouses the pity of the jury.
Auditors in the courtroom are asking
themselves if the grim. bitter prose-
cutor. who bats and badgers Madame
Steinheil hour after hour, may not have
come 70 feel the emotion that led Jean
Lefebvre to raise his thin Apache voice
in a terrible sen-denunciation TO save
the woman.
Is In Despair.
Lefebvre is In despair today over the
failure Of his attempt to save Madame
Steinheil. When he was taken from
the courtroom after his dramatic con-
fession. the authorities. who suspected
hoax took him before a magistrate
for examination For several hours he
protested that he was the murderer.
That he and his companion, disguised
he In woman's dress, and his companion
IN long robe-had picked the lock
Of the Steinhen house in the Impasse
Ronsin, that they had killed AdoIphe
Steinhefl and Madame Japy. that they
then had bound and gagged Madame
Steinhen, and escaped.
But the pale youth could not with
stand the batting OF the officials, and
finally tearfully admitted that his story
was false.
LefebvFe whose real name is Rene
Collard. viii be examined by a commits
sion to determine his sanity. II he is
found mentally sound he, undoubtedly,
win be sentenced 10 a long term in
prison on a charge OF hindeFing the ad-
ministration Of justice.
In his questioning today, De Wales
declared that the manager of a Jewish
theater had rented two black robes on
May 2, two days before the crime was
committed. TSe robes were returned
on May 81, the day after the crime.
Madame Steinheil has contended that
the murderers, two Of whom were men,
wore such robes.
In answer 10 a line OF questioning
tending 10 establish some motive for the
killing other than Madame SteinheiTs
alleged hatred OF her mother and hus-
band the prisoner said that 400 francs
were stolen from the house by the muir
dererS