Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-21
Staying Of CA[METTE
CLIMAX IN GREAT DRAMA
Of PARTISAN HIGH L|FI

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
CaillauX'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 GOODNESS for
him, agreed to a 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.
It was Immediately after the mar
rage that friction between Caillaux
and Calmette began.
The Minister compelled his wife 10
break all relations with Madame
X, on the ground of the intimacy
of the latter as a married woman
with the editor. This made her I'M
desirable as friend for the Prime
Minister'S wife.
CaImette Begins Campaign.
This social ban deeply hurt Cal
mette. who cherished a profound af-
lection for Madame ", and was,
strangely enough. also good friend
of her husband. The trio were almost
inseparable and always to be seen TO-
gether at the theaters and restau
rants.
In his resentment, Calmette began
a campaign against Cailaux. Imme-
diately the first signs of a polem.c
| appeared in The F'iga 0, Caillaux's
political enemies saw their opportu
nifty and planned to use Calmette as
their instrument for the financieT
political coup de grace
-Iere we have Calmette. brilliant
writer, unquestionably a clever bust
ness man, but totally incorruptiol
| whose services could be gained oni
by playing on his feelings. Rumor,
were adroitly spread that CaillaaN
had fallen in love with Madame X.
to whom he was paying great atten
ton, in the hope of cutting out Call
mette his srfficed to inf1ame The
editors indignation against the Min
!
termined to spare nothing to bring
about Ca.llaux's downfall Behind
The Figaro's bitter campaign stood
eX-Premer Barthou, ready to supply
Calmette 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 q document wherein
Public Prosecutor Fabre accused Gail
laux of having caused Premier Monis
to order him to postpone the trial OF
Rochelle, the bank swindler, so thai
the prosecution would fail under the
statute of limitations,
Barthou supplied a Photographic
copy of this document to Calmette,
w.o always carried it in his pocket.
CaiIaux's Home Trouble.
While the campaign was proceed
ing. the matrimonial relations of the
Caillaux corrle, which had not been
of the best for some time, grew worse
than ever. She and her husband lived
apart, and sic was subjected to So
cial ostracism No later than a week
ago, while attending the reception IF
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 81 her return from this So
clal cold plunge that, 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 #
! her writing desk had been deftly rified
1 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 irresolution, 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 him from publishing the
letters, and, II possible, to prevail on
him to cease his campaign.
Nivian 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
| lnette from CONTINUING MS dlttChS 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 at an employment agency,
Interviewing prospective cooks, one
| Of whom she engaged.
Then she motored to the Figaro
office, and when she was shown into
Calmette's office did not shoot him at
sight, as is generally reported but
Deremptorily demanded the return Of
all her letters. The editor replied:
II won't use them, but I 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
long cherished project of marriage
| with the famous editor faded away,