The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-10
French Woman Tells Judge
She Will Expose Secrets
If Driven.
BENCH PROMPTLY
ABANDONS QUESTION
Disgrace of Officials High in Life
Is Feared by Spectators, Who
Breathlessly Listen.

PARIS, Nov. 10-'I am becoming an
cry. Don't cxasperate me any longer.
am defending myself cautiously because.
unfortunately, I am obliged to, but IL
YOU drive me to it. I shall cease to be
discreet. Do you understand"
These words. in an dndertone pregnant
with significance, gave a glimpse of the
trump card with which Nine. Marguerite
Steinheil, on trial for the murder OF her
husband and mother. hopes TO win the
game for her life. Her tone was hard
and menacing as she flashed this reply
to Presiding Judge de Wales, who, in
the confusion attending the opening OF
today's session, put a sharp question,
which threatened TO damage her de-
Tense.
Judge. jury. lawyers, and spectators
saw grave possibflities-scaudai and dis
grace for officials high in the life Of the
French repubIic-if Nine. Steinheil re-
vealed the history of her attempts to
rule France through her lovers. The
names OF peers. presidents. and princes
would be sure 10 figure in q recital OF
the intrigues which characterized her
salon
Judge Understands
De Wales evidently understood. He
woman. and then abandoned the obJec-
tionable line of questioning.
Madame SteinheiPs threat 10 be ''in-
discreet" was undoubtedly the result
Of a determination reached after calm
consideration of the testimony given
yesterday afternoon which damaged her
case more than anything since the trial
began. NewspaperTnen testified that she
had asked to be killed. or to be allow
ed to kiIl herself the morning after the
crime was discovered
One Of them, NJ. Barby. said that she
and Mariette. tie Steinheil cook, had
mutually agreed to conceal all
Today's quiet menace has led specta-
tors in the court 10 ask II there may
not 5e an unspoken understanding
among the central figures in the case
What set'rets OF official life Madame
Steinheil possesses may never be known,
and she IS the manner OF person who
would know and use the adYantage
given her BY knowing such secrets.
May Fear Disgrace
The fear Of disgrace OF the relations
involving French ofhcialdon may ac-
count for the attitude Of the court
which. while * pursues the brutal meth
ods Of the inquisitiOn toward the pris-
oner. mysteriously fails 70 follow up
promising lines OF questioning which
that method develops. The present de
sire OF the court seems TO be to make as
much Of a surface appearance Of pros
ecuting Madame Steinheil as possible.
without getting all the fundamental
Iacts in the case
Mariette Wolf the Steinheu cook
conhdante Of Madame StelnheiTs love az
fairs, testified today that she did not
know whether Artist Adolphe steinheii
knew OF his Wife's lovers She said
however, that he had seen men at Ma
4ame steinheu country place, Vert
Logs, among them Chouanard the
lTonmdSters B0TdeTel 10 marry whom
the state contends Madame Steinhen
court
May Postpone Trial.
The impression grew here TODAY that
the authorities may have the trial most
poned 10 allow them time 10 gather
supplementary Information, along the
lines Of yesterdays testimony impljcst-
ing Mariette and Madame SteInheu
The prosecutor general would say moth.
ing on this point today, however.
MaTiette denied emphaticallv thai sba
had ever attempted suicide and nothing
could shake her in this statement. de-
spite NJ. Barby's story yesterday that
she twice tried to end her own life
shortly after the crime. She declared
that at the time Barbys says she and
her mistress agreed to conceal all she
embraced Madame SteinheH because the|
latter was unhappy. and that neither
Of them spoke at that time.
De Wales Quek toned Marietta close
y regarding Madame SteinheiTs ac-
cusatiOns Of the witness son. but the
woman evaded the point Madame
Steinheil. however. interrupted to de-
clare that the accusation of Alexander
Wolf did not originate with her. but
that he was connected with the crime
by the officials.