Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-21
TEARING VEIL FROM
-RocHETTE MYSTERIES
Continued from Page one)

death by Nine Caillaux, wife of the
then minister Of finance. All along the
route of the procession detachments
of police We're stationed in readiness
to suppress demonstrations.
M. Monis' Story
Intense interest was attracted today
by the appearance before the investi-
eating committee of the Chamber of
Deputies of M Monis to explain his
part in the Rochelle scandal.
Jean Jaures. the Socialist leader
presided over the committee and re-
quested NJ. Monis to tell in his own
way what had happened in the affair.
M. Monis then told the following story:
Joseph Caillaux, then minister Of
finance, called upon me early in March,
1911, and mentioned the approaching
trial of Henri Rochelle He said one
of the lawyers desired the postpone
ment of the proceedings. NJ. Caillaux
added that owing to the financial sit
uation the pleadings likely to be made
at the trial would cause losses to the
savings banks and would affect public
loans. No political interest was al
luded to.
Now as to Victor Fabre, the pub
lie prosecutor: He had called upon me
four or five times during my premier
ship to report to me on various mat
tiers. On this occasion l inquired
whether on account of the financial
situation the trial could be deferred.
NJ. Fabre replied that to send the
Rochelle affair back to the investigat-
ing Judge would not affect the trial it
self but would be evilly interpreted by
public opinion. remarked that that
was a question for the presiding judge
of the court to dispose of.
No pressure whatever was placed
upon NJ Fabre. He left me in an
amiable mood and stood outside my
room, talking with my son for 20 min
utes, during which he expressed the
esteem and admiration he had for me-"
After Louis Barthou had read the
declaration of Fabre in the chamber
on Thursday, I asked Bienvenu Mar
tin, the minister of justice, to search
the ministry for any document of that
sort. No one has been able to find it
at the ministry"
The Fabre Document
M hOlllS that dlLSi iIo
ministry fell, he was ill for a long
time. On recovering he read illusions
in the newspapers to some document
written by Victor Fabre but was in
credulous about it.
This so-called official declaration by
Victor Fabre, is not really official. 1t
is Il document prepared by him to COW
er himself. l never received it nor
knew anything about it, / demand to
see the original. l see by the way it
is constructed that it was prepared
after the things had happened"
NJ. Monis referred ironically to the
violent moral struggle which it had
been said Fabre experienced within
himself.
On being questioned by NJ. Jaures
more particularly as to his conversa-
ton with NJ Caillaux, NJ. Monis re-
piled that M. Caillaux had considered
it unwise for Rochette's trial to come
on Immediately because Rochette's
lawyer intended to go into transac-
tons which would have been injurious
to public finance at the time.
why did you not present the mat
ter to the minister of justice in the
cabinet council2" asked NJ. Jaures.
N. Monis replied LAS he had moth
ing TO do with the question of admin
istrative order, l did not consult him.
Tho examination of NJ. Monis lasted
three hours. He was questioned by va
riosis members of the committee with
out his replies varying in any essen
tial part.
caiIlauz on Stand
10 ;,,;S 90
finance. was then called and placed un-
der oath to tell the truth.
Under what conditions did you in
tervene to cause a postponement of
the Rochelle affairs?" asked NJ. Juares.
NJ. Caillaux replied
Two days after the Monis cabinet
was formed Edmond Dumeonil, man.
aging director of the newspaper Rap
pei, called and asked if it was true
that the government was opposed to
the postponement Of the Rochelle af-
fair and if it had been requested by
Rochette's lawyer ] answered that it
Tas a matter for Rochette's lawyer
to take up with the premier or the
minister of justice. A few days later
Rochette's lawyer came to see ME and
said his health was so bad that he
wished, if possible, to defer undertake
ing the severe exertions necessary
for Rochette's defence until he had
become stronger. He requested me to
transmit his desire to NJ. Monis."
Il asked NJ. Monis on behalf of
Maurice Bernard, the lawyer of Roch
cite, if the government was opposed
to delay of the Rochelle trial. NJ.
Monis said he would take occasion
to talk with NJ. Fabre about 1t.
mentioned that NJ. Bernard would be
able during the case by his handling
of share issues connected with the
Rochelle promotions to cause GER
tain emotion on the Bourse. NJ. Monis
and I never spoke about the subject
again. Several months afterward
Louis Barhou said to me that men,
hers were gossipping in the Hobbies
of the Chamber and saying that Nj.
Mcnis had exerted pressure on the
public prosecutor to procure a delay
of the Rochelle trial. I emphasized