Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-11-01
MADAME sTEINHEIL's TRIAL.

MAZDA M Il SlElNI1ElA . AhAnG
all Paris, always eager TO revel In
sensations, is alert for the trial oi
Madame Marguerite Sleinheil, charged
with the murder of her husband and
her mother. 1t Is to begin In the As
size Court this Heek
Madame S.eiDheil was Marguerite
Jspsy, daughter OF eminently respec-
table parents and granddaughter OF one
of the prominent manufacturers OF
France, whose establishments 10 Bay
onDe stlll bear his name.
As girl Marguerite Japay lived in
the little town OF Beaucourt. She was
not very strong and was sent to the
south for her health when still child.
That visions of her future psrturbed her
Is evident from the confession that when
she met Adolpbe Steinheil while he
was painting frescoes in Bsyonne
church and fell in love with her che
married him because she wished to go
to Paris and miUgle In the gay world
there
SteinhNil was the son OF paiDter
and nephew of the ilIuslrious Meis.
sonnier, 80 be had the entTee to the
inner circles of one of the most delight.
fol groups of Paris society. Immedi.
ately Madam S;einheil began her Woman's
campaign for power.
Madame Sieiubeil started her own
salon. Everybody came when Madame
S!elnheil invited. Money was spent
! lsvishly, though her husband Was poor.
BE mortgaged bis home 10 the ImpssSe
ROsIn. He was hard pressed. Then
came brighter If not better days.
Msdame Steinheil struck at the most
glittering target She was introduced to
Felix Faure, president of France, by
NJ. Lsmercier, judge.
The president was subjugsted by her
indeinable charm, and bis visits to the
Steinheil home we're frequent.
Then, two years later, Felix Faure
died suddenly ID the Elysee, his Official
home. The president had been visited
in the afternoon by Cardinal Richard,
archbishop of Paris, and by tee prince
OF Monaco. They observed that be was
greatly sgtsted and almost abrupt 10
his manner. In the next room was
Madame S.einheil screaming for help.
M. LIE Gail, the presidents secretary,
hurried into the apartment
He found the president of France
dead. Ga table was o small bottle
containing q drug, powerful stimulsnt,
hut not poisonous in small doses. Ths
bottle was removed aud Madame s elm
he'll was smuggled out of the palace.
Time was not given her even to readjust
her toilet. That night she attended q
dinner and was the gsyest person there.
Then came the murder 10 the Impsss
ROsin. Steinheil was found strsDgled !
in ME bed and 10 the next room lay the
mother Of his wife, Nine. Japy, similsrly |
killed. In third room Nine. 6teiuheil |
was found bound and gagged. The only |
other person In the building was Remy
q valet, who discovered the |
double morder snd released Nine. Stein.
he'll from her bonds. .--
She declared al once that she had been
bound and gagged by three masked men
aDd woman who, she thought, might
have been her husbands models, whom
be took from the highways and bywsys
Of Paris. She said she had been robbed
Of all her jswelry. The police were able
to make no hesdwsy In the case, aud
eventually Nine. Sleinhell declared that
she would herself track the mnrderers.
After she had run down several inoi-
fensive persons, who easily produced
alIbis, che accused Oouillard, the valet,
Of the crime, and her charge seemed to
be borne out to degree when be was
searched and in his pocketbook was
found pearl which had been taken fIom
q ring described In the list given by
Nine. Steinhell to the police. Oouillsrd
denied that be bad any
knowledge as to how the pearl came to
be in bis possession or that be was 10
any way implicated 10 the dual murder.
At this stage eweler came forward
and declared that Nine. Sieinheil bad
brought the ring to him, asked him to
melt 1t down, and give the pearl back to
ler, which be had done. Tbereupon she
broke down and msde a confession.
81 put the pearl 10 Couillards
pocket" she said, "ln order to shield
mother whose name 1 must not dis
,lose. I love him and he bss Stunned
ne. have foully wropged Remy
JOuillsrd." Then, after pause, she
1urst out: "The man who committed
he crime was Alexandre Wolff"
Wolf, who was the son Of her cook,
vas arrested, but be easily established
10 alibi aud was released. Then the
woman herself was taken into custody.