The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-11-05
STE|NHE|L TRIAL.
Accused Woman ParrieS At
tdCkS From the Judge.
MOVES AUDIENCE TO APPLAUSE
She Taunts the Prosecution With
Not Daring to Confront Her
With Her Lover-A Splen-
did Actress.
MOVES AUDIENCE TO APPLAUSE

1arlS, NOV. 4. - Nine. marguerite
Steinheil, innocent or guilty will not
need to reproach herself for the man.
ner in which she endured her long or
deal In court here at her trial on the
charge Of having murdered her hus-
band and her stepmother.
She parried with lightninglike rapid
ity every thrust Of the presiding Judge,
who In the French assize court acts
as the prosecuting attorney. Once she
drove him from his line Of question
ing by the scornful way in which she
said, "You seem to take me for COM
mon street walker"
She moved the audience to q mur-
mur of admiration and applause when
she replied to the judges comments
on her contradictions before the mag
istrate who conducted the preliminary
inquiry, saying:
when poor woman has been for
seven hours day for days facing a
magistrate who keeps harassing her
with questions and never ceasing to
repeat: 4 know you are guilty. You
killed your husband and MOTHER when
your mind has been tortured and your
spirit broken, are contradictions I'M
naturalY
When Nine. Steinheil appeared in
court, dressed in black and wearing a
small toque, with long black veil
behind, feeling Of disappointment
went through the male audience.
Was this the beautiful Mag" the
original Of all the seductive portraits
that had appeared in the newspapers?
Surely a years imprisonment and her
anxious position had had their effect.
Her eyes alone retained their won
drous beauty.
After she had conducted her case for
charm reasserted itself, and it was
understood how this lowly born wo-
man had achieved her position in Par
is. She was in turn beseeching, i'm
ploring and menacing. Her silvery
voice was now full Of pathos and
again vibrated with Indignation. She
needed no advocate.
She made all her points with the ut
most possible effect. She taunted the
|
her with her lover, Borderel, whose
evidence is the governments strong
est argument. Her indignant, 81 have
never sold myself" made Judge Wales
confess that she was no money leech.
NJ. BrieuX in his play "The Red
Robe has not argued more powerful
ly for change in the French form
of Investigating crime than did Nine.
Steinheil. IF you seek light" she
exclaimed why not have investiga-
tions public? This is my first oppor-
tunity to publicly face the charges
against me. l will speak"
1t must be said that the dominant
thought of the audience was What a
splendid actress!" The feeling would
not be dismissed that she was not, as
she declared, sustained by the thought
of her innocence. 1t was felt that she
was playing role not written by an
other hand and learned, but one imag-
ined by herself and acted with superb
ability.
Judge de Vale brought out that
Nine. Steinheil's father died suddenly,
and he said to her:
"YOu are accused already of the
death of your mother. do not wish
to accuse you of having caused the
death of your father"
Then the militant spirit Of Nine.
Steinheil was aroused. She fought
back like a Gagged tigress Step by step
she battled against the accusations
that her husband was aware of her
shame in engaging the Villa Vert Lo.
gis as house of rendezvous.
at is false" she cried. He never
knew"
They brought out charges that she is
said to have made against her hus-
band, unprintable accusations against
his morals.
at is false" she cried again. 81
never said it,"
She was confronted with statements
she made at her preliminary hearing.
"You lied," declared the judge.
"I did not lie; they made me lie,'
she screamed. my examination was
martyrdom."
Then began such a batting OF pris'
oner as was never seen outside a Lat.
In country.
J Nine. Steinheil, furious, weeping
sobbing Mt one moment, fiery with an
ger the next, remorseful as she admit.
, ted a fault that in the Decalogue is
classed as a sin, turned upon her
} judges, saying they drove her into lies
snhtarfnGas aAd false accusations She