Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-21
Staying Of CALMETTE
CLIMAX IN GREAT DRAMA
Of PARTISAN HIGH LIFE

graphic copies remained in other
hands, and it was precisely extracts
} from one of these letters which CAL
+, mette published in The Figaro the
other day and which was the direct
cause of the tragedy. For some years
the friendship between Caillaux and
Nine. Claretie went on smoothly and
CatllauX's political Importance grew
daily.
Premier Marries After Divorce.
At this time Madame Claretie's
greatest friend was Madame X, who
even then was on intimate terms of
friendship with CASTOR Calmette.
Meanwhile Claretie, becoming aware
of his wife's growing coldness for
him, agreed to divorce, and imme-
diately the decree was made absolute
in 1911.
Caillaux was then Premier of
France. To the general establishment
he married the former Madame Clar-
cite in the thick Of European politica.
| complications
1t was Immediately after the mar
riage that friction between CaillauX
and Calmette began
The Minister compelled his wife TO
break all relations with Madame
x, on the ground of the intimacy
or the latter as married woman
with the editor This made her I'M
desirable as a friend for the Prime
Minister'S wife
CaImette Begins Campaign.
This social ban deeply hurt Cal
mette. who cherished profound af-
lection for Madame x, and was,
strangely enough. also a good friend
of her husband. The trio were almost
inseparable and always to be seen 20
gether at the theaters and restau-
rants
In his resentment, Calmette began
a campaign against Caillaux. Imme-
diately the first signs of a polem.c
appeared in The Figa o, Caillaux's
political enemies saw their opportu-
nifty and planned to use Calmette as
their instrument for the financieT's
political coup de grace.
-Iere we have Calmette. brilliant
writer, unquestionably a clever bust
ness man, but totally incorruptinl
whose services could be gained ON
by playing on his feelings. Rumor!
were adroitly spread that CaillauN
had fallen in love with Madame x.
to whom he was paying great atten-
ton. in the hope of cutting out Cal
mette his sufficed TO inflame the
editors indignation against the Min
termined to spare nothing TO bring
about Ca.llaux's downfall Behind
The Figaro's bitter campaign stood
eXPremier Barthou. ready to supply
Camette with documentary evidence
of CaillauX's political turpitude.
The most shattering proof in Bar
thou's possession was dramatically
laid before the Chamber Wednesday
in the form of a document wherein
Public Prosecutor Fabre accused CAL
laux of having caused Premier MONS
to order him to postpone the trial OF
Rochelle, the bank swindler, so that
the prosecution would fail under the
statute of limitations.
Barthou supplied photogra phc
copy Of this document to Calmette
w,.o always carried it i'm his pocket
Caiiiaux's Home Trouble.
While the campaign was proceed
ing. the atrmonial relations of the
Caillaux eouule, which had not been
of the best for some time, grew worse
than ever. She and her husband lived
apart, and size was subjected to So
cial ostracism No later than week
ago, while attending the reception u
NJ. Dussard, a member of the Acade-
my of Science. she was completely ig-
nored. When she left, the scandal
caused by Calmette's revelations WAS
the general subject of conversation
in the reception rooms.
1t was n her return from this So
cial cold plunge t1at a prey to Bit
ter despair, she thought TO find con
ISOLATION in reading her old love let
ters from CaillauX extending over a
period of ten years. To her stupe-
faction she found the secret drawer If
| her writing desk had been deftly rified
| and a bundle of these letters had dis
appeared
/ Visits Minister Viviani.
Madame CaillauX lost her head.
| She jumped to the conclusion that
the letters had fallen into the hands
of her husbands political opponents,
who would turn them over to CAL
mette 20 further his campaign. After
hurs of anguished irresoution, she
called on Minister Niviani to whom
| she opened her heart as an old
friend and begged him to intercede
| in her behalf with Calmette in order
to prevent MIN from publishing the
letters, and, if possible, to prevail on
him 10 cease his campaign.
Niviani saw Calmette but in vain.
Nine. Caillaux then summoned to her
residence Judge Monier of the High
Court and asked him what legal
steps she could take to prevent CAL
mette from continuing mis- attacks on
her husband. on the Judge replying
nothing could be done legally she
| decided to act herself
on the afternoon of the fatal day
she purchased a gun, and then. with
remarkable GOODNESS, spent a couple
Of hours al an employment agency,
! interviewing prospective cooks, one
! Of whom she engaged
Then she motored to the Figaro
, office, and when she was shown into
Calmettes Office did not shoot him a
sight, as is generally reported. but
peremptorily demanded the return OF
all her letters. The editor replied:
~ won't use them, but ! will keep
them"
The last words had scarcely passed
his lips when the first shot rang out,
followed by five others in quick sue
cession.
Six hours later Calmette breathed
his last
In the dead of night the tall figure
Of a woman heavily yelled stepped
oIt Of an automobile at the private
hospital where the body lay, forced
her way to the death bed and gave
way to a paroXysm Of grief. II was
Madame X
with the death Of Calmette her
/ Iong cherished project of marriage