THE CALMETTE AFFAIR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 74, 18 July 1914, Page 4

THE CALMETTE AFFAIR.

The assassination of M. Calmette on March 16fch last, by Madame Caillaux, wife of an cx-Minister of France, will be quite fresh in the minds of many

people, but it comes almost as a shock to learn that already a volume has been published of some three hundred pages, written by a well-known literary man, whose home is in Paris, dealing with the crime. The author declares that he holds no brief for Madame Caillaux,. who was arrested and lodged in the St. Lazare Prison immediately after the shooting on a charge of murder. Mr Raphael merely wishes to explain that the ferocious attacks, of certain Paris journals on Madame Caillaux are absolutely without justification. The book is described as "an illuminating commentary on French legal and journalistic procedure." Apparently the whole of the evidence is brought forward and discussed, in the press long before the trial, and the entire population of Paris ranges itself on the side either of the prosecution or the defence. Mi Raphael appears quite frankly for the defence. He explains the intolerable injuries and insults to which Madame Caillaux had been subjected, and gives prominence to her declaration that she never intended to kill M. Calmette—merely to wound him. The late M. Calmette's infamy in publishing the letters of M. Caillaux to certain ladies,with the object of bringing about his political downfall, is also set forth. together with facsimiles of the documents. It seems that M. Caillaux was formerly the particular friend of a married lady whose husband subsequently divored her. To that lady he had written letters, half amatory and half political, the publication oi which by the editor of the Figaro not only outraged the feelings of his wife, hut aroused a storm of angry comment from his political adherents, who saw plainly that M. Caillaux had duped them by pretending to support a certain measure which he was secretly opposing, as he told his lady correspondent. When that lady, becoming furious with him for marrying the present Madame Caillaux, handed his incriminating letters to his political enemy, the editor of Le Figaro, M. Caillaux decided to assault the editor in person. But his wife, who had Her own. reasons for being enraged with the editor, made up her mind to anticipate her husband. This is the explanation offered and in the best French style M. Raphael passionately defends the lady. His advocacy may be of considerable aid to her—in France: if she we/e English it wouk. be qiiite another matter.