The daily banner., 1914-07-22
CAILLAUx LAYS
BLAME ON SELF
Failed to Realize Ravages Of
Attacks on wife.
Il ACCUSE MYSELF" He CRIES
Defendant Sobs as Husband Tells OF
Great Love and Bares Secrets OF
Letters.

Defendant Sobs as Husband Tells OF
Great Love and Bares Secrets OF
Letters.
Paris, July 22.-Joseph Caillaux held
Che court for two hours testitying In
defense of his wife, who sat in the
prisoners enclosure, charged with the
killing of Castor Calmet:e, editor OF
the Figaro, on March 16 last.
The appearance of M. Caillaux was
hardly less dramatic than that OF
Nine. iCaillaux The former premier
still one of the most powerful men IN
France, dominated the proceedings
imposing upon them his personality
and uncommon gifts of leadership.
81 accuse myself" he cried in the
climax. Il committed a fault. | should
myself have acted, but absorbed by
public affairs, failed to realize the
tayages Calmette's calumnles had
made on the soul of my wife,
M. Caillaux spoke as if in the cham
Der. his voice of high tenor, softened
In quality, sometimes rising to falsetts
moments of excitement. He gesticu
cd fraely nnil g singularlly Ions
addressed the judges
and occasionally 1t moved
Ddirection of his wife.
The trial has entered upon its po
iitical phase, and those who sat In
the court room had occasion to bring
80 mind that Caillaux is the strong
man OF the radical groups now ruling
France.
He would. he said tell the jury the
history of his private life from MS
first marriage down to the sad events
which caused his presence on the
stand. He explained the incident OF the
two letters. which he supposed had
been destroyed before his divorce
from his first wife.
He only knew of their existence
when a friend warned him that they
were about to be published.
When he married Nine. Raynouard
he knew for the first time what true
happiness was. When he spoke of her,
Nine. Caillauy blushed crimson and
bowed her head in her hands and sob
bed silently.
In January, 1914, NJ. Caillaux had a
conversation with Jean Barthou, the
former minister of justice, who said:
"Your wife first wife) is very bitter
against you. You made a great mis-
take in writing those letters"
After the publication of the "Thy
Joe" letter, NJ. CaillauX's first wife
telephoned him to clear herself Of any
suspicion he might have had that she
was responsible for its divulgence.
"At that time" said NJ. Callaux, 81
firmly believed that other letters
would be published. My wife shared
my belief, which was confirmed by
information from a number of per
sons
Returning nto the THY Joe" letter,
he described the effect of its publica'
tion on his wife. Finally he became
so impregnated with her fears that
other letters would be published that
he consulted with President Poincare,
who had ben one of the witnesses OF
their marriage. The president did his
pest 10 redSSuTe Hill anu du'lSeu hihh
to consult a lawyer.
"Mv lawyer told me-" continued M.
Caillaux, that nothing could be done.
then said to my wife: BE reassured.
I will go and smash Calmette's snout
myself After that | felt relieved in
mind, but my wife, on the other hand,
was depressed.
"At the police station, on my way
home from the senate, | learned OF
the tragedy. My wife's constant prayer
was: L hope he is not seriously hurt;
l meant only to give him lesson