The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-12
STE|NHE|L CASE
IS NEARING END
Prosecution Concludes and De-
Tense Takes Up Witnesses
PUBLIC WITH DEFENDANT
Woman Is Shown To Be Desperate
Criminal by State But Popular
Opinion Tends to Believe
Her Innocent.
PUBLIC WITH DEFENDANT

Paris, November 11-That Nine Stein
he'll, aided by some unknown accomplice.
murdered her husband so as to obtain
her freedom to wed the wealthy and in
fatuated Maurice Borderel but that the
killing of her step-mother was unpremedi-
tated and merely incident to the tragedy,
is the theory of the state as outlined
by Trouard Riolle. the judge advocate, in
opening the argument of the prosecution
this afternoon. Driven to desperation by
her financial and domestic situation, the
judge advocate commended, Nine. Stein
he'll saw in Borderel a savior, with whom,
once rid of her husband. she could live
in luxury as wife, If possible, or mis-
tress. Seeking to simulate in a graphic
manner that her husband had been as
sassinated by the burglars, who had
bound and gagged herself and her step
mother, he argued, the defendant had
bound Nine. Japy at her home. but in the
feverish haste the binding of the step
mother had been overdone and the MUIR
deress found her dead when the Staying
of Steinheil had been accomplished.
The judge advocate admitted that the
crime of patricide did not appear to be
sufficiently established, but he was con-
WINGED the prisoner had called her hus-
band and assisted in his murder. The
prosecutor Joined in the earlier declara-
ton OF M. Devalles. the presiding judge.
that he would raise before the jury the
general question of the completely of the
accused This was interpreted as an ac-
acknowledgement that the evidence was
not sufficient to maintain the charge that
Nine. Steinheil was the principal and
that therefore he would ask for her con-
viction as an accomplish.
An Angel of Love.
Throughout the crushing arraignment
today the woman sat with bowed head
dejectedly buried in her arms on the
rail. The testimony for the defense was
restricted to statements by few friends
of the defendant, who considered her in
capable of the crime A lawyer, NJ. Pals
ant by name. who was an old friend of
Nine. Steinheil, described her as veritable
angel of love toward her husband and
declared that her entire life had been a
heroic struggle aaginst adverse circum-
stances.
The judge advocate will conclude his
argument tomorrow afternoon. NJ. Au-
bon, counsel for the defendant, will follow
and verdict probably will be rendered
on Saturday.
The state at o'clock this afternoon
rested its case and the defense at once
began the examination of its witnesses
The popular opinion is that the prosecu-
the prisoner, and that she will be acquit-
ted by the jury.
Her Threat Renewed.
Just as the prosecution was closing it's
case the prisoner renewed the implied
threat she had several times made to
breach scandal that would involve per
sons of high standing, but again, as on
the previous occasions, Judge Devalles' in
vtation to proceed with her revelations"
fas met with silence. Today in a flash of
passion she cried out:
MY past contains interesting chap
ters."
Judge Devalles, unmoved by the inter-
ruption, promptly and sternly replied:
'You are at perfect liberty to say any
thing that you please"
Madame Steinheil, however, went no
further and the case of the government
was declared closed
The first witness introduced by the de-
tense was chauffeur. who testified that
Madame Steinheil gave him 81 for try
ing to locate the "blue automobile which
was reported TO have been seen in front
of the Steinheil home in the Impasse Ron
o - /
crime This testimony was intended to
show that Madame Steinheil was anxious
to discover the identity of the assassins.
Warning to Jury.
Trourard Riolle, for the state, solemnly
warned the jury not to be swayed by the
alleged public opinion outside the court
which for Is months had been absorbed
in the case nor to be COMPOUNDED by the
conflicting statements submitted to them.
He insisted that their first duty was to
weigh the Indications given by Judge De-
wales who had sifted impartially an
enormous mass of evidence constituting
B500 documents and examined in the pres
encs of the jurors 80 witnesses, ten OF
whom were experts.
Roille spoke temporarily, though he
dealt severely with the accused, laying
as the justification of his case against
her the exhibitions she has made at thu
trial by her reticence, contradictions ant
lies While admitting the physical charms
and mental attachments of the prisoner
the Judge advocate insisted that her whole
life had been perverted and sensuous, tbs
miserable career Of duplicity beginning
while she avs still a. girl. with a Low.
affair with grocer
He painted a pathetic picture of ths
9teinheil home, claiming that tho hus
band had held his silence amid the shame
for the sake of their daughter. He de-
clared that Madame Steinheils love at
fair with Maurice Borderel, the merchant
was discovered by the husband and tina
this discovery precipitated the murders
He described Marietta Wolf, the cook
who testified for the defense, in terms
that were repugnant, concluding:
with such a lieutenant, a woman
might undertake any deeds"
SURGING MOB LYNCHES