The Washington herald., 1914-07-21
UNWRITTEN Law
HERLIFEPLEA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

were published in lie Figaro. knew what
4 would be the outcome. I cared not 50
much for myself as for my husband,
whom I love and whose reputation
could see banded about the length and
| breadth of the republic. / knew that
| Calmette held other intimate letters.
Then must wait and see the publica-
| ton Of these. tooT"
Nine. Caillaux covered her face with
her hands. and burst into tears. Slowly
she recovered some composure, plucking
| with her hands at the collar Of her
plain black cloth dress. Then she went
/ on:
Soon that day of the publication of
the letters I went to the Figaro office to
intimidate Calmette-not to kill him-but
to prevent the printing of those other
| letters. / was distraught. carried a
pistol with me. I did not intend to use
1t, but It was in my mum.
Could Not Think Clearly.
when arrived at the Office 1 could
not think clearly. Ny brain seemed q
maze and I was dizzy. 1 asked for NJ.
Calmette. / did not want to be known.
But I heard Calmette say to his attend
ant, Show Nine. Caillaux in Then !
hIC" -cNtEg ODt OlllCt "Oulu hHO"
OF my visit, and my mind became still
more distracted. When / was ushered
into Calmette's ONCE said: Here am
1t was the only thing could think OF in
my overwrought state.
But one light was burning on Cal
mette's desk. In the semi-obscurity be-
fore me 1 saw my enemy-he who had
done so much to injure me and my hus-
band.
You doubtless know the object of my
visit said.
~ do not. please take a seat said
Il had spoken without knowing what
said. 1 could not take my eyes from
the man.
The next instance the pistol in my
mum was in my hand. 1 had no thought
to kill, or even to wound him. But
shot and, involuntarily. my finger con-
tinued to press the trigger until every
bullet had been fired and Calmette lay
before me-
Nine. CailIaux ended her dramatic story
abruptly. swayed a moment upon her
feet, apd then sat down. At the end of
her recital she presented a striking con-
trast in manner and mien to the Mime.
Caillaux who only a few months ago was
one OF the most stately, and most feted
society queens in France. Now. in her
plain black dress she presented a pitiful.
shrinking figure as she collapsed into the
chair with pitiful. pleading gaze bent
alternately upon Judges and jurors. A
moment later she gave way to a paroxism
of grief.
Husband Near Breakdown.
NJ. Caillaux, the husband, whose men
tai condition borders upon prostratiOn,
-, Thropghnr,f hFS xrff
recital, plucking at his coat and hair in
nervous dread of the ordeal he himself
must undergo when he takes the stand
tomorrow to corroborate his wife's story.
The Palace Of Justice bristled like a
fortress with armed troops as the beau
tIful and statuesque prisoner was led
from her cell in the conciergeie to the
courtroom.
During the night she occupied a cell ad-
joining that which held Marie Antoin-
ette in the days Of the French revolu-
tion.
When Mime. Caillaux faced Judge Louis
Albanel and his four associates on the
bench she showed no trepidation. The
prison pallor had been removed through
the arts of the beauty specialist The
prisoner wore a gown Of modish cut.
and her mass of blonde hair was bound
into an elaborate coiffure. She smiled
at friends whom she recognized. and with
aristocratic grace swept to her seat and
consulted in a whisper with her chief of
counsel, Maitre Labori.
An enormous crowd filled the street in
front OF the Palace of Justice. By noon
the hour which was set for the trial, the
streets were jammed with a mob, which
fought and jostled for points Of vantage.
Deposition by President.
A deposition made by President Poin-
care will be introduced in the trial this
being the first time in the history Of the
French republic that a President has
testified at a murder trial.
An interesting fact came to light dur
ing the first session Of the trial. Presi-
dent Poincare is SO interested in the case
that he ordered wireless reports Of it to
be sent him on his yacht.
Nine CaillauX pleaded the uhwritten
law in behalf of herself, declaring she
had been actuated in shooting Calmette
because she feared he was about to pub
lish some of her private correspondence
with a view to compromising her honor.
AS the prisoner came to her story of
the actual killing. her body shook with
convulsive sobs. Tears dropped upon
the paper before her and she could hardly
speak. ''As far as / can remember the
revolver went of itself" she said. in her
description of the shooting.
Before she could speak further. several
friends of the Calmette family burst into
derisive laughter. which seemed brutallg
out of place in the circumstances.
"a Voice Told Her."
What were the circumstances of yoGr
taking a weapon when you went to see
Ca,mette?" she was questioned.
"a voice seemed to tell me to take a
weapon"
Then the prisoner turned to Judge
AIbaneI and said with a catch in her
voice:
You cannot realize how terrible re-
volvers are. They fire without the trigscr