Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-21
BY c. F. BERTELLl.
'pecial Gable to The Atlanta Georgian.


Special Gable to The Atlanta Georgian
PARIS, March 21.-I am able
give an exclusive, full and accurat
account of the amazing chain {
events which eliminated in the as
sassination of CASTOR Calmette b
Nine. Caillaux.
1t Is a story wherein the play of tn
elemental instincts of love, ambitio
and self-interest go to form a dram
compared to which Bernstein's mos
intricate plays appear simple. Re;
life has, in this case, surpassed TIL
widest imagination of the most dar
ing playwright.
so intricate Is the plot that for tn
readers of The Georgian to compre
bend 1t, 1t is necessary first to sketc
the dramatis personae, all of whoI
OCCUPY the highest positions in tn
political and social life of Europ
The principal actors follow:
Characters in Drama.
JOSEPH CAILLAUX, Finance
Minister. former Premier, aged
81, ford bald. small, with rest
less eyes, square jaw and a
depotic nature; has had a sky
rocket career. He arose quickly
to a high place in the Govern
ment of his country, thanks to his
exceptional financial ability, the
chief characteristic of Don Juan
disposition which gained him the
nickname of "the modern Henry
VIII"
LOUIS BARTHOU, able states
man, former Premier. under
whose administration the three
years military law was passed as
a reply to Germany's increase of
ornaments. He was a bitter po-
litical opponent of CaillauX.
CASTOR CALMETTE, intimate
friend of Prince Victor Napoleon,
pretender to the French throne,
owed his prominent position as
the editor of a leading Paris
newspaper to his marriage to
Nile. Presta, daughter of the
president of the Figaro company,
whom he secretly divorced re-
Gently. Calmette, a brilliant po-
leinic who waged the bitterest
campaign against CaillauX, known
in French public life since the
DreVfus affair, was a sentiment
talist at heart, "a white man"
the Beautiful heroine, of wealthy
and cultured parents. is the for
mer wife of Leo Claretie, Figa-
ros literary critic. from whom
she was divorced to marry Call
laux in 1914.
A HANDSOME WOMAN, the
third woman who has stood be-
tween Cail1aux and Calmette, was
FIKv oil fri re 70
present Madame CaillauX. She is
the wife of a distinguished play
wright, tall brunette, with the
soft beauty Of a Southerner the
elegance of a Parisienne, and the
vivacity of an American girl. For
obvious reasons her name must
not be mentioned.
Begins in Divorce.
In 1889 a divorce took place be
tween an obscure couple. Mime X,
blessed with what is known as ''fata
beauty" always inspired and like
mems admiration. Her successes as
beautiful and smart woman are by
word in Paris. She was 80 years ole
Madame Calmette, nee Presta, is
morphine f1end and was a long tim
an inmate of a private hospital. Mad
anne Dupre, CaillauX's first wife, di
vorced Dupre in order to marry tn
Minister. Jules Dupre was the son o
famous painter and thrice held
clerkship at $500 a year at the Min
istry of Fine Arts. The same yea
Caillaux became Finance Ministe
and shortly afterward married Mad
anne Dupre, whose former husban
Immediately prospered, and is nov
filling an important position under tn
Ministry of Finance at $4,253 salary
In this epoch CaillauX developed
fondness for writing letters, his be
setting sin. His volatile nature be
trayed him into making cynical re
marks about prominent politicians
including those of his own party ant
to whom he owed his position
Fell in Love With Another.
When he met the present Nine
Caillaux, then the wife Of Leo Clar
cite, he fell in love with her at frs
sight. For a while he corresponds
with her and soon decided to obtail
a divorce. The proceedings were be
gun, but as Calllaux didn't propose t.
pay his wife any alimony she use'
the convincing argument afforded b,
a bundle Of letters written to her an,
other women containing evidenc
damaging to his political career.
During these negotiations these let
ters were confided by Madame Gail
laux Number One to a literary &C
ouaintance with a view to their a.
rangement for publication and thus, /
is understood passed through tn
hands of several persons durinj
which process they were photo
grapbed.
For, when CaillauX finally yielded
10 his wife's demands for $4,000
year alimony he regained possession
Of the original letters But photo