SENSATIONAL AFFAIR IN PARIS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13421, 19 March 1914, Page 5

SENSATIONAL AFFAIR IN PARIS.

MINISTER'S WIFE AND JOURNALIST. • MADAME CAILLATJX'S REVENGE, EDITOR OF THfT^FIGARO" SHOT. POLITICAL CRISIS. Paris, March 17. Madame Caillaux, wife of the Minister of Finance, fired several shots at and «ritieally wounded M. Calmette, editor of the newspaper "Figaro," who subsequently succumbed to his injuries. , It is supposed that she was incensed at the paper's attacks on her husband's policy. M: Calmette's animus against M. Caillaux dated frdm the Moroccan incident of 1910, when M. Cailllaux was again, returned to office: The "Figaro" daily attacked him politically sfad personally, and accused him of bribery, notably over the Rochette case in 1910, in which steps were*taken "by deputies for the production of the Public Prosecutor's confidential report disclosing M. Caillaux's acti«n.

It is reported that the "Figaro" intended to reproduce a fascimile of the report, and it is supposed this impelled Madame Caillaux to visit M. Calmette. She bought a revolver during the afternoon. As M. C&lmette fell, she said: "I only did my duty."

M. Caillaux heard the news at the Senate, and hastened to the police station, where his wife told the story to the magistrate without emotion. She was then conveyed to the St. Lazarre prison. It is reported that M. Caillaux resisted the mob outside the station, who rushed him shouting, "Down with the assassin!" Crowds during the evening promenaded the baulevards shouting, "Down with Caillaux .1" His colleagues did their utmost to prevent M. Oaillaux from resigning. He persists in declaring that his political career has ended His wife asserts that'the "Figaro" intended to publish private correspondence between herself and her husband. The "Figaro" authorises "Le Matin" to deny this, explaining that it intended to use documents referring solely to political and judicial matters. ; France is seething with excitement. M. Doumergue, the Premier, conferred with President Poincare in reference to the resignation of the Cabinet.

The prisoner told the magistrate that Calmette courteously inquired the reason of her visit. She replied that she had not come to say good-day; as he knew; but, unable to restrain herself at the thought of the humiliations ho had inflicted upon her husband and herself, she suddenly drew a revolver from her muff and fired.