South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-29
NINE CAI[LAUX IS
FREE TODAY, JURY
OUT SHORT TIME
Lawyers Eloquent Plea Great
Factor in Winning ACquittaI
of Ex-Premier'S Wife Charg-
ed With Murder.

y
free today.
After celebrating less than an hour
on the evidence of the most sensa-
tional trial in the criminal annals OF
France. the jury brought in a YER
dict OF not guilty. Nine. CalllauX
killed CASTOR Calmette, editor of lie
Figaro. not In cold blood. according
To the jurors, but while temporarily
insane through fear that he would
publish letters which had passed be-
tween herself and her husband when
their love was illicit
IL is probable that the unwritten
law also played its part in bringing
about the acquittal of the beautiful
wife Of the former French premier.
The delicate point OF honor" was
dwelt upon at length by Maitre Labor
in his plea for the prisoner who
sat weeping softly as he talked. And
the plea had its effect. Before he
finished several Of the jurors were in
tears.
Verdict No Surprise.
The verdict was no surprise to the
thronged court room. Long before
the jurors retired IT was admitted,
even by the friends of the murdered
editor that the woman who shot him
down in his private office either
would be acquitted or given the min
imum sentence of two years.
deed. the state virtually abandoned
its efforts to secure a conviction. The
public prosecutor even went so far
as TO make a strong public plea IN
Mime. CaillauX's favor, and against
this. the steadily weakening demand
of Maitre Chenu, representing the
Calmette children that the prisoner
be sent to the guillotine, was impo-
tent.
Nevertheless. for all that the YER
dict mot guilty" was expected, its
announcement by the jurors was
greeted with an uproar which seem
ed to shake the very walls of the
Palafs Du Justice.
"Caillaux! Caillaux! Vive Ca'llaux!"
screamed the adherents of the one
time strong man OF France"
''Murderess let us spit on her,
Calmette's supporters cried back.
Another UprOar.
Out in the corridors and in the
streets, where thrOngS were damned
awaiting the verdict. there was still
another uproad CaillauX and his
wife were alternately cheered and
Kissed, Landed and reviled. Crowds of
Caillaux supporters cried his name
and cheered wildly. then shouted
cheers for M. Labor. other crowds
shouted cheers for Chenu and for the
slain editor and Kissed out strange
French curses at every mention or
the former premier's name.
Nine CaillauX was sitting crouch
ed in her chair, her face buried In
her hands, when the jury entered with
the verdict Throughout the entire
day she had been listening to alter
nate demands that her head pay the
forfeit for her crime and pleas for
her life. She had heard herself ex-
coriated as a woman without shame,
a murderess TO whom Illicit passion
was dearer than human life. Then
she had heard herself defended -
heard mercy begged in her behalf.
But through it all. her Hfe-the
things she held most sacredly secret
were laid bare.
SObs During Debates.
All during the summing up Mime.
CaiIIaux sobbed. At one time. dur
ing a particularly violent attack on
her character by Atty. Chenu she fell
n a dead faint and a recess had to
be taken while physicians revived
her. When the jury finally filed out
10 its deliberations. her entire body
was twftchiug her cheeks stained
with tears and her eyes sunken.
Nine. Caillaux looked up quickly as
the jurors re-entered the court room
with their verdict and clenched her
hands so tightly that her niger nalls
cut into the flesh.
Then, as the words mot gu ty''
we're pronounced. with a wild, all ost
insane laugh that seemed half sob,
she rose with arms extended toward
her husband. Her hair already dis
heyeled. came unfastened and fell
about her shoulders. Impatiently she
brushed IL back and began SobDlns
out her husbands name.
Joseph, Joseph she cried and
then fell fainting into the arms OF
Maitre Labor, who had rushed to
her side.
Caillaux tried 10 reach his wife's
side, but IL was impossible. The
crowd in the court room had become
temporary maniacs and danced about
cheering, kissing and screaming
curses.
Kiss and Make Up.
'IaE0ri." shouted one faction.
"Chenul" shouted another with even
more ferver, until IL seemed the par
tisanship for the two leading attOr-
neys in the case would result in a
showed that however bitterly they
may have fought in court. they bear
each other no enmity. While the
demonstration was at its height the
two rushed into each others arms,
embraced and then kissed each 9TH
or on the cheek while the crowd
cheered wildly.
cajnsux finally managed TO reach