The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-29
Killed the Editor of the Figaro
Last March.
NE ATTACKED her HUSBAND
Through the Columns of His
Paper at Various Times.
She Went to His Office and
Shot Him.

f8r1D, July ZS.-hd6O8Kne f1euIIetIo
Caillaux. wife Of x-Premier Joseph
Caillaux. was acquitted last night after
a trial lasting nine days. on the charge
of numbering. on March IS. last. Gas
ton Calmette, editor Of the Figaro.
Nine. Calllaux staggered and then
threw her arms about the neck Of her
counsel. Fernand Labor. Her hair
was undone. falling over her shoulders.
and her hat dropped to the floor. The
spectators stood upon desks and
chairs.
"Caillaux. assassin" merged into one.
The din was deafening, several
groups of barristers came to blows,
and the republican guards. In an en-
deavor to separate them, Joined IN the
chenu, the latter counsel for the Cal
mette family, embracing each other,
Gained the tumult for a moment, but
II was redOubled when they left with
Mime. Caillaux.
Many arrests were made. Maurice
and Jean Rostand, sons of the drama
fist. were among those taken into Gus
tody
Crowd Cries 'sAfurderess."
Shaken with emotion. Nine. Call
laux left l,y the witnesses door, the
crowd. She covered her face with her
hands as If to shield herself from the
furious cries of "Murderess!" BY way
Of a number Of narrow corridors and
back staircases. she reached q small
side door in the palace OF justice:
where a motor car was waiting ana
drove away uncbserved.
Demonstrations against the Caillaux
verdict occurred in several places. In
the bculevards excited crowds discuss
ing the merits Of the case, grew to
large proportions, and, when the 3ury's
verdict became known. there were
shouts of derision and cries OF Down
with Cailiaux.
disorderly that mounted republican
guards were hastily summoned. A
large number of police and rioters
were injured, and many arrests were
made.
The Figaro office was the scene of
widest demonstrations.
The victim of Nine. Caillaux's pistol
had in his possession certain letters
written to her by her husband before
his divorce from his first wife. These
letters the editor of the Figaro was
threatening to publish. ....s
He had made frequent attacks on
Caillaux through the columns OF the
Figaro, and it was shown at the trial
that the former premier himself had
threatened personal violence. To pre-
vent this, Nine. Caiuaux bought a re-
volver. practiced shooting at mark
drove to the editorial rooms, asked to
sec Calmette, was admitted. and shot
him.
A Cold Bioodcd Deed.
The cold blooded assassination Of
Calmette by Nine. aillaux last
March created a tremendous sensation
in France and throughout Europe.
The deliberate character Of the deed
and the prominence Of the principals
made the incident more sensational
than anything that had occurred in
Europe in - years.
While public feeling in France was
ut first agaiI.s. the slayer, her apollo
gists soon came to the front. and
even went so far as to say that her
act was justifie In the preliminary
examination she expressed regret that
she had killed the editor. and de-
clared she erely intended warning
him.
II was afraid he would carry his
attacks so far" she said, "that my
husband would take it upon himself
to kill him. did not want such q
thing to happe-
Newspaper Articles Bitter.
The published articles in Ls FL
CARO- had been carried on for some
months and each article became more
poignant. The trouble started when
Ca1mette began a systematic cam
paign against the finance minister In
an effort to prevent the passage OF
an income tax law. Caillaux was the
real force in the cabinet, and az he
had pledged himsei- to the levying OF
an income tax Calmette and the in
terests he represented did their best
to discredit him and bring about the
fall Of the cabinet. e was accused
in Le Figaro Of various acts OF gross
political corruption, but when these
attacks failed. Calmette made his
CHARGES more personal.
Last January Calmette published q
four-colun.n art'.e under the heading,
9TH Secret Combination Of M. Call
laux and His Personal Political Treas
ury." IN this a. .icle the Figaro edi-
tor attempted to show that the finance
minister had tried to extort money
from the heirs Of Prieu, the French
man whose Brazilian concessions were
sold by the French government and
proceeds retained by the treasury.
In subsequent articles. Caillaux was
called = CRATER. nd the charge made
that he used every means to secure
personal c~grandixement.
Cleaner Politics Wanted.
Since tho murder a formidable re-
ligious movement has teen launched
for higher mor.l standard In poll
tics. The religious press calls atten-
ton to the fact that Mime. Caillaux is
. divorces. that tho man she nur-
dered <hat been divorced, that Call
laux had been divorced twice and that
the defsndtng lawyer. n. Labori. ID
mar VIE OF the famous musician, De
PAchman. who divorce was obtained
By IAbOE1s4 lag6 effoftA 4-
1Gnne. Ckillaux son the stand teeti.
fled that she WAo c9EEatn Ca1m4tte IN.
tended to publl6h &9o leefers written
by ceilAnx to hsrs Sefcrs rhef mar
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