The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-05
Confession of Lefebvre Plays
No Part in Days Pro-
ceedings.
REFERENCE IS MADE
TODEAD PRESIDENT
Papers Are Criticising Court for
Not Delving Deep Into
Alleged Scandal.

princes and presidents. worn to hag-
gard ghost of its former magnifcence.
her slender figure trembling with the
weariness Of the hours of inquisition
which she has endured IN the past two
days-and the past two years-resuned
her fight to prove her innoncence of the
murder Of her husband and mother, in
the grim old Palais de Justice today.
In a cell near by Jean Lefebvre. tat
tered denizen OF the crooked Montmarte
lanes. wonders over the fascination of
the beauty who once swayed French
politics. and that yesterday dragged him
to the bar Of the assize court to shout:
Il am the murderer. She is innocent"
Again today guarded reference was
made by Judge de Wales to the acquaint-
ance of Madame steinheu and Felix
Faure, the dead President of France.
The court has been extremely eau
tious about this subject. and today many
Of the newspapers criticise the tribunal
for not delving to the bottom of the af-
fair. They openly charge that President
F'aure died in the arms of Madame
steinheiI and that his body was re-
moved to the palace to hush up the
scandal
The Faure affair was touched today
when the court asked Madame steinheil
If she had not first met Faure at the
home of Madame RIazeline. at Havre.
Madame sehnhen today shows the
strain Of the three days inquisition
which she has undergone. but she fights
back as dramatically as ever. She wept
softly when De Wales. in the course of
his brow -beatings. said that her infu-
ence was always for evI. and charged
that her fatal fascination had caused
Lefebvrs TO perjure himself for an op-
portunity TO see her.
Plans For Coup.
After bullying, denouncing. and sneer-
ing at the quivering woman with ques-
tions Of the most brt.cal nature. To-
nearly two hours. de Wales prepared
for a coupe. Madame SteInheiI was
trembling violently and appeared almost
exhausted by the strain of the inquisi-
ton De Wales turned to the jury.
Gentlemen he said, you will please
watch the prisoner carefully and close
~. I am about TO ask a most omportant
question. It viii undoubtedly affect her
greatly. She viii probably faint"
Madame Steinhen crouched in her
place weeping. waiting for the blew TO
fan. A murmur swept the court room
as the purpose Of the Judge to deIiber-
ately unnerve the woman became ep-
parent.
Counsel To Rescue.
But Maitre Aubln. Madame steinheTs
counsel. was on his feet in moment.
You are going too far" he shouted
excitedly. For three days you. Mon
+ sieur President. the prosecutor general
and other members Of the court have
buIied. denounced. and verbally Iashed
the unfortunate woman without alter
ing her defense in any particular. Now
it is time TO call a halt"
A buzz Of approval sounded through
the court room and de Wales forebore
to put the momentous question.
Affects Many.
The fascination. pity. or perhaps love
that led Lefebvre to his deliberate false
confession yesterday. today affects many
OF those who see the black clad woman,
facing three shouting accusers at once,
beating her delicate hands against the
wooden ran before her and with alter
nate deGanre and humility protesting
her innoe.l
President OF the Court de Wales is
seemingly unnecessarily cruel. The
trial, under the Code Napoleon, which
presumed a prisoner guilty unit his
innocence IS proven, has become an in
QUESTION, a third degree in public.
De Wales begins a line OF question:
ing pounding on detail after detail.
The woman denies. explains and pro-
tests The Judge raises his voice. shouts
question and accusation. She stiu PRO
tests. The prosecutor general comes 90
his aid and the two bearded men rise
rnenacingly, firing question after dues-
tion at the woman. who seems so slight
in the center OF the dark court She
raises her voice In a long outcry. pro-
testing her innocence. The inquisitors
shout at the top of their voices. drown
ing out her pleadings.
Then Rebuked.
Then she is rebuked for "an outburst
of temper"
Madame SteinheIl is brilliantly dra-
matte She let's no chance pass TO weep.
or beat the wooden railing with her
cIenehed fists
The judges question her numerically
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