The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-13
ALL CONFIDENT.
Nine. Steinheil, Her Friends
and the Public,
Feel Certain She Will Be Ac-
quilted by the Jury.
NO CASE AGAINST HER
Prosecution Has Been Weaken
ing From the Start.
Trial Delayed by Absence of the
Jury's Foreman.
NO CASE AGAINST HER

Jury's Foreman.
Paris, Nov. 13.-The public today
awaits with confidence the acquittal of
Margherita Steinheil Guilty or inno-
cent, the impression is general that the
state has not made out a case against
Ter.
Originally charging that she muir
Gered both her painter husband,
Adolphe Steinheil, and her stepmother,
Nine. Japy. the prosecution modified
its allegations as the trial progressed,
finally eliminating the charge of par
1icide and admitting that the accused
woman might have been an accom-
Ilice rather than the principal in the
death of her husband.
The confidence of the public is
shared by the accused, her counsel and
Immediate friends. This was evidenced
when Nine. Steinheil entered the court
room today. She had recovered
somewhat from the physical collapse
If yesterday and smiled family. Her
counsel NJ. Aubin, glanced first at his
client and then about the court room
triumphantly, as though his case was
already won.
In case of her acquittal her friends
have arranged to spirit the widow
away to some quiet place in the coun-
try, where she may recuperate from
the effects of her trying ordeal.
All Paris, it seemed, clamored today
at the doors of justice when the cur
tain rose on the final act of the legal
drama which has thrilled and absorbed
France to the exclusion of practically
everything else for ten days. Among
those who gained admission were
Henri Rochefort, the veteran free
,ance journalist, whose attempts to
give the tragedy a political color, have
gone far to excite popular interest IN
the case; several we'll known dramat-
49, ~ Il f11ny
celebrities.
Jury Foreman Was Absent.
This resumption of the trial this
afternoon with the argument of M.
Aubin for the defense was delayed
by the unexplained absence of the fore
man of the jury, NJ. POupart, mer-
chant of st. Ouen.
fellow juror explained that yes
terday the foreman had complained of
vertigo. Judge DeValles ordered
physician sent to see Poupart and in
the meantime suspended the sitting of
the court.
Marietta Wolf, the former cook in
The Steinheil household. and her son
Alexander. both of whom had testified
for the defense, contributed to the
general excitement today with grand
Eloquent bursts of indignation.
Before the sitting of the court
Nine. Wolf and her son were told of
the open intimation made in the court
l,lices in the murders.
Marietta turned pale at the words
C. her informant, but when she recov-
cred herself declared that she had no
fear. She asked angrily why she had
not been questioned on this point
when she was witness and added:
ut is a good thing that Alexandra
was not present in court when these
destinations were made, for had he
teen he would have raised pretty
row"
Rejane in the Audience
Alexandra, too, made a great show
@. being furious and declared that if
he had been present in court when
The prosecutor made his insinuations
he would have bounded into the
arena and shouted:
Here I am! Now what have you
got to say?''
When court convened Marietta
forced her way into the court room
and attempted to reach the judges
bench, but she was seized by the po-
ice and unceremoniOusly dragged out
of the place The report continued
current that both Marietta and Alex
ndre Wolf are in imminent danger of
arrest.
Among those who bought standing
loom in the court room today was
Rejane, the actress.
Two things must be remembered in
connection with French verdict, first
the majority vote prevails. the fore
there be a tie; second. the jurors are
not confined, but are permitted to re-
turn to their homes at night where
they are subjected to the possible in
fiuence of their wives. It is
notorious that whereas a majority of
the men here favor the acquittal of
Nine. Steinheil the women are prac-
tically unanimous in the belief that
she is guilty. Nine. Steinheil is be-
ing deluged with letters of every
character many of them containing
offers of marriage If she Is acquitted.
Enterprising theatrical managers are
trying to arrange for her immediate
appearance on the stage after release,
one having offered $4,000 for thirty
appearances.
Nine. Steinheil is reported as hav-
ing thrown these letters away in
rage.
Another Juror Substituted.
The afternoon was half gone when
that Foreman Poupart was suffering
from bronchitis. A supplementary juror
was substituted and the case resumed
The moment the proceedings opened
Marietta Wolf, accompanied by her at
torney, found entrance and pushing her
way to the bar, demanded in a loud
voice that whereas she had been mem
toned as an accomplish. she be now
heard
A sharp wrangle between M. Aubin
and Judge Advocate Trouard Rione
followed, the latter finally declining to
designate the woman. NJ. Aubin re-
Piled:
4 shall take note of these facts"
At this Judge De Wales declared the