South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-20
Wife of Former French Minis
ter, on Trial for Murder of
CASTOR CaImette Loses Her
Jaunty and Confident Bearing
JUSTIFICATION WILL
BE PLEA IN DEFENSE
Newspaper Attacks Will Be
Basis of WOman'S Plea to
Save Herself From Death
CroWdS Fight to Hear Trial.

PARIS. July 2OF-resh from the
hands Of a beauty doctor Nine. Hen
riette Caillaux, wife of Joseph Call
Iaux, former French minister of
finance. was placed on trial today in
the palace of justice charged with
shooting 10 death CASTOR Calmette,
editor of LeFigaro. as he sat at his
desk on the evening OF March 16 last
The palace Of justice bristled like
fortress with armed troops as the
beautiful and statuesque prisoner was
led from her cell in the Conciergerie
in the basement OF the court house
through secret doors and passages to
the court room.
During the night she occupied cell
adjoining that which held Marie An
toinette in the days Of the French
revolution.
Since the famous trial Of Nine.
Steinhen in November, 1909. public
attention has not been aroused to
such a high point as by the present
trial. The intrigue of love and poll
tics which lay beyond the assassina-
ton and the wealth and social position
OF the prisoner tended to elevate it to
a position to attract attention far be-
ycnd the borders OF France.
Shows No Nervousness.
When Nine. CaillauX faced Judge
Albanel and his four associates on the
bench. she showed no trepidatiOn.
The prisoner wore a gown Of modish
cut and her mass of blonde hair was
bound into an elaborate cOiffeur. She
smiled at friends whom she recogniz-
ed and with aristOcratic grace swept
To her seat and consulted in a whisper
with her chief of counsel, Maitre La
bori.
1t was announced that IS witnesses
would be called. OF these "a will
testify for the prosecution; ten will
testify for the defense and the re-
manning II will be called in behalf of
the Calmette family to refute any
charges that might be made against
the private life of the dead journalist
Ask Jurors Two Questions.
Under the French criminal code the
Jurors are questioned in order to de-
termine their judgment OF the case.
The court announced that but two
questions would be put to the jurors.
they are:
'Do you find ". Caillaux guilty of
wilful murder2"
WAS there premeditatiOn shown by
the defendant"
If the Jurors reply affirmatively to
both questions death sentence can be
passed upon the prisoner. If both
questions are answered in the mega
tive. the defendant may be liberated
Any other verdict would entail O. term
OF penal servitude.
hn fria
under way wagers were made that
Nine Ceillaux would be acquitted.
a deposition I'm behalf Of Nine. Call
laux made by Pres. POincare will be
introduced. this being the first time in
the history of the French republic
that a president has testified at a
murder trial.
VIII Plead justification.
Among the contentious OF the de-
fense will De these:
That Calmette's life could have
been saved had a surgeon been called
in Immediately after he was shot and
that the prisoner was entitled 10 plead
justification because Of the bitter at
tacks which Calmette had been max
ing In his newspapers against Joseph
Caillaux-
Two women lawyers are associated
with the defense of Nine. CaillauX-
They are Mile. NerOne and Mile.
GrunberE The former enjoys the
reputation OF having a bigger Glen
tele than any other woman barrister
IN Europe.
II IS expected that many letters,
which Caillaux wrote TO his wife be
fore they were married. will be intro
duced. According 10 political enemies
OF the former finance minister these
epistles will show that CaillauN re-
peated important political secrets 10
the woman who subsequently became
his wife and that he held strange
views upon the moral obligations OF
married men and women.
Both CaillauN and his wife are dl-
vorcees.
Prisoner Breaks Down.
standing room in the court room
was at a premium when Nine. Call
lauN entered.
As the clerk OF the court read the
indictment the prisoner stood. Her
nervousness was then shown by the
twitching OF her hands.
In the crowded stuffy court room,
facing an ordeal which might bring
life 10 an end. Nine. CaillauX quickly
lost her jaunty bearing. Her face
grew pale and this whiteness was ac-
centuated by her black gown.
IL required but little time 20 select
I jurymen.
Nine. Caillaux broke down after the
fury had been secured. The indict
ment had been handed up 20 Judge
Albanel for his perusai when suddenly
the prisoner leaned forward, her head