MME. STEINHEIL FREE,

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 3, 5 January 1910, Page 2

MME. STEINHEIL FREE.

DRAMATIC SCENES AT CLOSE

OF THE TRIAL

"On my soul and conscience, Before God and man, the answer of :the jtiTy is 'No' to all the puestions." \

In these words the foreman of the jiiry announced the result of their deliberations in the Steinheil trial at five minutes past on© o'clock on Sunday morning (November 14th) after one of most exciting and strenuous days ever experienced in a court of justice Describing the final scene, The- Standard's correspondent says': Never have the precincts of any court been the scene of the conflicting emotions and frenzied, outbursts of triumph*that greeted the acquittal of Mme. Steinheil, No king or queen, victorious general, or public idol has ever stirred the enthusiasm of Paris to its core like the unhappy woman whose months of martyrdom then ended in a verdict of "Not guilty" on every count of the charge against her. From noon to one a.m. —thirteen hours—the interests of millions of Frenchmen centred round the room where twelve citizens were weighing the issues of life and death regarding one frail fellow-creature. The theatres were filled: there was a first night at the Vaudeville, and "Lohengrin" at the Opera, but the thoughts of most were far from the mimic stages, and few dreamed of going to rest until the result of the groat trial was known. Several of the leading newspapers had kept motor-cars by the dozen drawn tip at every gate leading to the court, and when the verdict was known they raced through the streets, journalists^ and chaffeurs alike wildly waving their hands and shouting the news of the acquittal* As the news spread, like fire under a wind, along the boulevards and up to Montmartre, the cafes, full of those who were waiting, burst into music and cheers, whilst men and women danced and kissed. and cried in semi-delirium. "Mafeking Day" in London is the only comparison that can be imagined for the hour of "Steinheil Night" in Pans. WAITING FOR THE JURY. The tension of the waiting for the iury ' became unendurable as the minutes dragged on. At five minutes past one the door opened and the twelve marched in. From the other side appealed Me. Aubin and his two juniors. Somebody declared that Me. Steinhardt had made a sign of clapping his hands. The

jury were actually smiling, and so was the president, and even the grim Public Prosecutor. - It appeared incredible, after the despondency of the last two hours. M. de Valles proclaimed that he would not tolerate any demonstrations, and then the foreman of, the jury stood up, flourishing a paper in his hand, a stout, thick-set man with a resolute face, on which a thousand eyes were fixed. Without a second's hesitation he read out in a loud, clear voice the verdict of acquittal. - FRENZIED EXCITEMENT. What followed defies description. Like a thunderclap, the violent, pentup emotion of the whole court found vent in one frantic, roaring cheer. "Bravos" rang from floor to ceiling till the windows shook. Barristers threw up their caps, some climbed on the waving handkerchiefs, others thumped the desk, and the wave of exultant applause rolled and echoed along the corridors till it. reached the street and burst outside. Then the prisoner's door opened, and followed by an anxious doctor, and between two burly guards in uniform, supporting it as carefully and gently as nurses with a child, appeared the now .familiar little black figure veiled in crape. Her lawyers had not dared to tell her yet, and she had long given up all liope. Her counsel had indeed scarcely ventured to encourage her/ and when they knew the acquittal they feared the good news might pror-; fatal. So; they only begged her Lo believe in the jury. When the guards came to fetch her they were diemselves as pale as a sheet,.and lifted rather than led her for the last time into the dock. For a moment she stood clutching the wooden rail, and her wide-open, tragic eyes only saw a sea of upturned faces—an outstretched friendly hand and a confused mass of flying; black robes. Her ears only heard a din of inarticulate delight, carrying to her the message "acq-uitted" #hat drowned the president's voice, declaring that she ivas free; ~ ■ -. ,: . ■■•. ; - \

MME, STEINHEIL FAiNTS

The shock was evidently too sudden, and swaying once-her fingers loosened, she fell .back, iji.a, fajnt, to.be carried out—her deathly-white face wet with tears, and her brown hair clinging damply to her forehead. She was * taken away by Me. Aubin's two secretaries' in a motorcar towards two o'clock to the Hotel Terminus; A bogus motor-car with a veiled woman was first despatched from the court, and was followed by all the ' newspaper motor-cars round Paris, thus enabling the. acquitted, prisoner to evade pursuit and interviews. Early next morning she left; Paris f0r...,a destination which was kept' a profound secret, when she saAv her daughter,: who was stayingwith a relative of the late M. Steinheil.

So ended a drama never equalled on any stages', and I am compelled to; add a painful exhibition of the tortures to which an innocent victim may be put by the vices of a procedure which will probably now be reformed. .