Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-05
Crazy Confession of Guilt
by Lefevbre Not Credited

cation ner version u the CIiInc VI
which she is accused.
Her reference to her mother won much
ground for her among the Frenchmen
present in the courtroom. Even Henri
Rocherfort convinced OF her guilt. said
afterward he was deeply touched more
han once by her testimony.
The proceedings at time became a
wrangle of contending voices, the advo-
cate general raising his voice in support
Of Judge Wales, but invariably the wom-
an had the last word.
The instructive feeling of repulsion
aroused in American and English minds
by the method of procedure is independ-
ent of the question of the guilt or lnno-
.ence of the accused. Ii Is also felt by
hose in whom the prisoner arouSes adj
miration by her skill i'm fencing with the
prosecution. but who do not believe her
innocent.
Severity of Court Significant.
IL is perhaps worth noting. however.
that for many Frenchmen when a Judge
shows himself relentlessly. almost cal
lousy severe. as Judge Wales is doing
i'm the present case. II is a sign that he
wishes q favorable verdict for the prison
CT. for his severity always reacts on the
jury and the public greatly TO the benefit
of the accused
The words uttered by Judge Wales on
Wednesday. Like everybody else, ! trem-
bile at the notion OF possible judicial
error" have been much commented upon.
The name of the late President Faure
was introduced yesterday by the Judge.
Referring to two cards found on the
METROPOLITAN railway, one for an exhibit
ton of NJ. Steinheils pictures, and the
e. other a visiting card Of Nine. Maseline,
the judge said:
She painted a portrait of NJ. Faure,
and i'm her house you first met the pres
To this Nine. Steinheil replied:
No. ! met the president in the Alps.
The Interrogation covered every point
connected with the crime. Nine. Stein
heils own line of defense was to repeat
her version. When confronted with state
ments she had made not agreeing with
this version she invariably averred that
she had not been reported correctly by
the police. e s.-.,
The Judge categorfcally stated that the
prosecution might have contended that
she had had an aceomplice. but he added:
That is not its contention. II MAIN
mother and husband"
Mime. Steinheil replied:
Why not add in order to marry NJ
Borderel?'
The judge exclaimed:
Il beg you not to interrupt me-.
To this Nine. Steinheil retorted
- II shall interrupt every time you call
me an assassin
Often Taken for Her Own Daughter.
The judge remarked upon the unlike
lihood of burglars mistaking her for her
daughter. TO which Mime. Steinheil re-
piled
But it has often happened in society
that | was mistaken for my own daugh-
ter
The fippant tone of one of her replies
struck the audience.
The judge iIad been questioning her
about sending away the watchdog just
before the crime was committed. She, Is
usual, denied ever saying that ii was be-
cause the dog had bad odor. declaring
ii WAS because the dog had spoiled some
~ her pictures.
Then" said the Judge, we will leave
the subject of the dog.
Il. too. think that is quite enough about
an ll-smelling dog retorted the &C
cdsed
Nine severine, an experienced journal
list. writing her impressions or Wednes-
days hearing, says:
Judge Wales lid well TO keep women
from the trial. They would have ho~ed
the prisoner. They would not have been
impressed by her theatrical postures
artificial accents and prepared effects
The less so because sometimes under the
influence of anger the mask fell. the
voice got ont Of control and another
woman appeared. with lined forehead
pugnacous jaw, cruel eye and hoarse, ag-
gressive, vulgar accents. Then by force
Of will her looks again became languish-
Ing and her voice plaintive.
Crazy Confession by Man.
one or the sensations OF the day was
the appearance in court of man calling
himself Jean Lefevbre, vino accused him
self of completely in the crime. The in
Cident followed a short recess which
was taken at the request Of the prisoner
DIR. Delfau. physician of the law courts
accompanied her to the prisoners box
when she returned to court. Shortly
after this letter brought to VI. Aubin
Nine. Steinheils lawyer, was passed
around
Aubn passed it up to the presiding
Judge, who read il, as follows:
II confess that ! am the red-haired
Woman accomplice i'm the crime. | bought
JEAN LEFEvBRE"
\ we'll dressed youth about twenty-One
wears old then entered the courtroom. He
said in reply to questions OF the presiding
Judge that he had no fixed domiciie. He
declared that he had shared the crime
with one of his male friends
lie had dressed himself as a woma n.
They had burned the dresses afterwar d
In Montmorency forest. His accomplice
ne said. had died since.
Fefc$br here took out wig from his
pocket and exhibited il to the court. lie
also described the Steinheil house in the
impasse Ronsin. He said he had after
Ward sold the stolen jewelry.
The interruption created a sensation in
the courtroom and for the moment non-
plussed Judge Wales. who exclaimed:
That's nonsense" Ihe judge ques-
Toned I.efevbre. who seemed 10 be unable
explain why he and his accomplice had
killed Steinheil and Nine. Japy.
The general impression in the court
Dom was that Lefevbre is either crazy
u a notorety hunter. policeman took
aim away and the defendants examna-
ion was continued.
Repetitions Carry Weight.
The court was crowded as on the pre-
.,ious day when the mornings proceedings
began. The prisoner continued her story
II the tragedy. She again told her tale
II the long-robed burglars coming into
he house and binding and Sagging her
as well as her husband and mother.
She repeated this story in such a way
hat IL appeared To carry conviction Ia
he listeners. even the most skeptical.
She scored "A point by insisting that the
Nurse who had testified that she, the de-
'endant, was only taking when she pre-
ended to be- gravely i'll after the murder
Il