The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-06
NINE. STEINHRIL'S
CRDEAL IS FINISHED
Woman Breaks Down as the
CrOsS-questiOning Ends.
DAY NOT FAVORABLE TO HER
Testimony About Jewels Especially
Against woman Accused of sluy-
shows More skill in Replying Than
Judge Does in Questioning.

Paris, Nov 5.-Mme. Steinheu, on trial
FOR the murder Of her husband and step
mother. was on the stand all day. She
plainly showed the effects Of the ordeal
she has passed through during the last
two days. but rose TO her feet when the
inquiry began and responded promptly
The judicial vivisection OF the prisoner
ended at 4:SO o'clock When Il was an
nounced that questioning her had been
concluded the woman who had so un-
hipchlugly faced her inquisitor for three
days appeared 90 break down completely,
covering her face with a handkerchief
and sobbing piteously. The day had not
been favorable 10 her, but 1t might have
been worse if tho Judge had possessed
equal skill IN questioning as the prisoner
had IN replying.
The testimony regarding her Jewels es-
pecially went against her. She explained
that she took the real jewels to Vert
logis house two weeks before tho crime
was committed. She wore only sham
Jewels the night Of the murder. she
said she wished the jeweler, Soulloy, 10
transform her real jewels. not, as the
prosecution urged, to enable her 70 say
! they were stolen. but TO prevent her
daughter from knowing she possessed
/ Jewels given TO her by friends.
Makes Damaging Admission.
Nevertheless. she was compelled 70
! agree that one Of the rings she had
given for transforming contained a sap
phIre that was given 70 her by her hus-
band. This admission reduced even Nine.
Steinhel to a moments silence. She
| then explained that. having said the ring
had been stolen, she was compelled to
have it transformed.
She wept indignantly when asked why
she had had transformed the mounting
Of the ring containing pearl. which
she placed in Couillard's pocketbook. This
question gave the judge an opportunity
to add sneeringly: Il suppose we are
now reaching a fainting point as a the
atrical effect"
Nine. steinhen made clever use Of the
weak points Of French judicial investiga-
! tions.
I am always being judged by impress
sions," she complained, Magistrate
Andre said to me one day. Your dossier
does not count with me. What counts
is my impression, and my impression is
that you are guilty"
Cites an Authority.
Again supporting her argument that
Justice often availed itself Of tactics sim
! liar to hers IN placing the pearl in Couil-
lard's pocketbook. she began citing as an
authority a friend Of hers. a certain ex-
amining magistrate, when Judge Wales
| interrupted her, protesting against the
insult to Justice and at the same time
preventing an al1ward reference to Mag
istrate Leydet, who was one Of Nine.
Steinheil's intimate friends.
Jean Lefebvre, the man who caused an
interruption OF the trial Of Nine. Steinheil
yesterday by saying that he was one OF
the murderers Of her husband and step
mother, when examined later before a
magistrate admitted that he had not the
! slightest connection with the crime and
had merely acted on an impulse to save
Nine. Steinhei, OF whose innocence he
! was convinced. He told the magistrate
that he was an actor named Rene Col
lard. When he was searched. photo
graphs OF Nine Steinheu and Of the
| house where the crime was committed
were found In his possession. He was
detained pending" verlhcation Of his
f1aoffttr