Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-23
Staying Of CALMETTE
CLIMAX IN GREAT DRAMA
Of PARTISAN HIGH LII

I SAdpiiiG SopiSS ASlioiiSu III OtiICi
hands, and it was precisely extracts
from one of these letters which Cal
mette published in The Figaro the
other day and which was the direct
| cause of the tragedy. For some years
the friendship between CaillauX and
Nine. Claretie went on smoothly and
| CaillauX's political Importance grew
daily.
Premier Marries After Divorce.
At this time Madame Claretie's
greatest friend was Madame X, who
even then was on intimate terms of
| friendship with CASTOR .Calmette.
Meanwhile Claretie, becoming aware
of his wifes growing GOODNESS FOR
| him, agreed to divorce. and imme-
diately the decree was made absolute
in 1911.
Caillaux was then Premier of
France. To the general establishment
he married the former Madame Clar-
cite in the thick of European politica.
| complications.
1t was Immediately after the mar
| riage that friction between CaillauX
and Calmette began.
The Minister compelled his wife TO
! break all relations with Madame
x, on the ground of the intima cy
of the latter as a married woman
with the editor. This made her I'M
desirable as friend for the Prime
Minister'S wife.
Calmette Begins Campaign.
This social ban deeply hurt Cal
mette, who cherished a profound af-
lection for Madame Y, and was
strangely enough. also a good friend
of her husband. The trio were almost
inseparable and always to be seen TO-
gether at the theaters and restau-
rants
in his resentment, Calmette began
a campaign against CaillauX. 1mme-
diately the first signs of a polem.c
appeared in The Figa-o: CaillauXs
political enemies saw their opportu-
nifty and planned to use Calmette as
their instrument for the financieTs
political coup de grace
1Iere we have Calmette, brilliant
writer, unquestionably a clever bust
ness man. but totally incorruptible,
whose services could be gained only
by playing on his feelings. Rumors
We're adroitly spread that CaillauX
! had fallen in love with Madame X,
to whom he was paying great atteu-
ton, in the hope of cutting out CAL
mette. his snfficed to infiame the
editors Indignation against the Min
lister, ant in his resolute way he de
termined to spare nothing to bring
about Ca.llauX'S downfall Behind
The Figaro's bitter campaign stood
eX- Premier Barthou. ready to supply
Calmette with documentary evidence
of Caillaux's political turpitudc.
The most shattering proof in Bar
thou's possession was dramatically
laid before the Chamber Wednesday
in the form of a document wherein
Public Prosecutor Fabre accused Gail
lauX of having caused Premier Monis
to order him to postpone the trial OF
Rochette, The bank sWindler, so that
the prosecution would fail under the
statute o. limitations.
Barthou supplied Photographic
copy of this document to Calmette,
w,.o always carried it in his pocket.
CaiIiaux's Home Trouble.
While the campaign was proceed
ing. the matrimonial relations of the
CaillauX counle, which had not been
of the best for some time, grew worse
than ever She and her husband lived
apart, and size was subjected to So
cial ostra cism No later than a week
ago, while attending the reception ~
NJ Dussard, a member of the Acade-
my of Science, she, was completely iS-
nored When she left, the scandal
caused by Calmette's revelations was
the general subject of conversation
in the reception rooms.
1t was II her return from this So
cial cold plunge tat a prey to bit
ter despair, she thought to find con-
ISOLATION in reading her old love let
tiers from CaillauX extending over a
period of ten years. To her stupe-
faction she found the secret drawer Of
her writing desk had been deity rifled
and bundle of these letters had dis
appeared.
Visits Minister Vivian.
Madame Caillaux lost her head
She jumped to the conclusion that
the letters had fallen into the hands
of her husbands political opponents,
who would turn them over to CAL
mette 70 further his campaign. After
hurs of anguished irresolution, she
called on Minister Niviani. to whom
she opened her heart as an old
friend, and begged him to intercede
in her behalf with Calmette in order
to prevent him from publishing the
letters, and, if possible to prevail on
him to cease his campaign.
Viviani saw Calmette, but in vain.
Nine. CaillauX then summoned to her
residence Judge Monier, Of the High
Court and asked him what legal
steps she could take to prevent CAL
mette from continuing mis- attacks on
her husband. On the judge replying
nothing could be done legally she
decided to act herself.
on the afternoon of the fatal day
she purchased a gun, and then. with
remarkable GOODNESS, spent a couple
of hours at an employment agency,
interviewing prospective cooks, one
Of whom she engaged.
Then she motored TO the Figaro
Office, and when she was shown into
Calmette's office did not shoot him at
sight, as is generally reported, but
peremptorily demanded the return Of
all her letters. The editor replied:
Il won't use them, but l will keep
them
The last words had scarcely passed
his lips when the first shot rang out,
followed by five others in quick sue
cession.
Six hours later Calmette breathed
his last
In the dead Of night the tall figure
of a woman heavily yelled stepped
oIt Of an automobile at the private
hospital where the body lay, forced
her way to the death bed and gave
way to paroNysm Of grief 1t was
Madame Y.