The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1914-07-20
IN STYLISH ATTIRE
CA|LLEAUX WOMAN
ENTERS LIFE TRIAL
Murderess of Calmette
Breaks Down When Jury
Is Obtained to Try Murder
Charge.

. PARIS, July 20.-Fresh from the
hands Of beauty doctor Madame
Henrietta Cailleaux, wife of Joseph
Cailleaux, former French minister of
finance, was placed on trial today,
charged with shooting to death Cas-
ton Calmette, editor of LIE Figaro, as
he sat at his desk on the evening of
March 16, last.
The palace of justice bristled like a
fortress with armed troops, as the
beautiful and statuesque prisoner was
led from her cell in the basement of
the court house through secret doors
and passages to the court room. Dur
ing the night she occupied a cell ad-
joining that which held Marie Antoin-
cite in the days of the French revolu-
tion. The intrigue of love and poll
tics which lay behind the assassina-
tiOn and the wealth and social posi-
tion of the prisoner tended to elevate
it to a position to attract great atten-
ton.
Wears Modish Gown.
The prisoner wore gown of mod
ish cut and her mass of blonde hair
was bound into an elaborate coiffure.
The enormous crowd which filled the
street in front of the palace of JUS
tice. and adjoining streets, were JAM
med with a mob which fought and
jostled to get as near to the court of
justic as possible.
Although no women were expected
to be admitted to the court room,
many of them gained entrance by pos
ing as newspaper reporters. Several
thousand police and soldiers patrolled
the neighboring streets.
Seventy-five witnesses will be call
ed. OF these, fifty-four will testify
for the prosecution, ten will testify
for the defense and the remaining
eleven will be called in behalf of the
Calmette family to refute any charges
that might be made against the pri-
vate lift of the dead journalist.
Obtains Women Lawyers.
With premeditation, death sentence
can be passed upon the prisoner. Any
other verdict would entail term OF
penal servitude. When the world
famous trial got under way, wagers
were made that Madame Cailleaux
would be acquitted. A deposition in
behalf of Nine. Cailleaux, made by
President Poincare, will be introduced
This is the first time in the history OF
the republic that president has testi
fled at murder trial. Two women
lawyers are associated in the defense
of Madame Cailleaux. 1t required lit
tie time to select twelve jurymen
Nine. Caf1leaux broke down after the
jury had been secured. The prisoner
leaned forward, her head resting upon
her arm and broke into a fit of pas
sionate sobbing.
After the court had completed the
reading of the indictment. Mrs. Gail
leaux was given permission to address
the jurors. She had prepared long
rambling statement, written in hel
own hand, explaining how she hat
been led to shoot Calmette. Nine. Gail
leaux pleaded the unwritten law in be
half of herself, declaring that she hat
been actuated in shooting Calmette
because she feared that he was abou
to publish some of her private CORES
pondence with view to compromising
| her honor.
! Il feared Calmette was going t.
publish love letters written to me b!
my beloved husband" declared thu
prisoner. Il was moved to defend m!
name and the honor of my husband
We had not been guilty of any mora
crime, l had feared that misconstruc
ton might have been put into the let
ters."