The Daily Missoulian., 1914-07-24
DAY OF THRILLERS
IN CAILLAUX CASE
Former Wife Of Statesman Proves Wonderfully Impress
sve Witness and Again Swings the Volatile Sen
timent Of the French Audience.

Paris, July 23.-Mme. Bertha Guey-
dan, Joseph Caillaux's first wife, a
slender woman with black eyes and
wasted cheeks, went into the court
room today, faced her former husband,
the former premier of France, and put
upon the rack the woman who had
won him from her-Mme. Henriette
Caillaux, now on trial for the murder
of Castor Calmette.
Nine. Gueydan was to tell of her
part in the publication in the Figaro
of the now celebrated Thy Joe" let
ter, but she declared she knew moth
ing about it, and affirmed that she
had told Calmette nothing.
The emotional climax of the trial
was reached when other private let
ters were handed over by Nine. Guey-
dan to Fernan Labori, counsel for Nine.
Caillaux. Those who packed the
court room witnessed one of the most
dramatic incidents in the annals of
French courts
Here is the packet of letters | took
at Manners" said Nine. Gueydan, Civ
ing them to an attendant, who passed
them to M. Iabori.
l Will cUISlu5I WIFI lNIIlIC oHSflt.
what shall be DONE" said M. Labori
But whatever we decide the jury may
rest assured that they will be APP
prised of their contents, as is their
right and duty to expect"
Among them,' added Nine. Guey
dan, ARE two letters referred to as
private letters
Nine. Gueydan then left the box.
Her remarkable personality had com
pIetely dominated the whole procedure.
For three hours she spoke, and her
voice gained strength, carrying to the
remotest corner of the room. She
more than held her own against the
great advocates, Labori and Chenu,
and the judge gave up trying to direct
her deposition.
In that time she laid bare many of
the secrets of her life with M. Call
laux. She told of his liason and of
his throwing himself at her knees to
ask her pardon. She described her
methods OF defense of what she termed
the "Machiavellian maneuvers of an
unfaithful husband" She testified
that he even threatened her life. Then
she left him, hoping he would folleW
her, but he did not, and she added,
with a flash of her eyes and tight
ening of her lips, You know why"
She gained the sympathy of those
in the court room with telling phrases
and shafts that seemed to sink deep.
There were murmurs of applause de-
spite the admonitory rappings of the
Judges and threats to clear the court.
When she returned to her place many
crowded around her with outstretched
hand and cried bravo"
M. Caillaux, returning to the bar,
said:
M. Labori was right in thanking
Nine Gueydan for the letters. The
calumny does not come from us but
from persons who used methods
against us never used against others.
Rut that is a diversion. return to
that poor woman there pointing with
dramatic gesture to the dock where
Mime. CaillauN sat shaking with emo
ton. with all my strength | will de-
fend her. ought to be beside her;
nothing shall separate u.s.
AS her husband was speaking, the
prisoners conVulsiye sobbing could be
heard at the farthest end of the room.
She sat crouching, her face buried in
her handkerchief M. CaillauS went on
to depict the years which had pre-
cede6 his marriage to her.
Il made but one mistake" he said,
turning to Nine. Gueydan, that was
in marrying YOU
"Monsieur Caillaux, you are dis
gracing yourself responded Nine.
Gueydan, calmly.
NO madame, l am not disgracing
myself Our characters We're so OPP
posed that a common life was impos-
sible. My dignity forbade ME to live
any longer with YOU"
This sharp passage provoked an up
roar.