SEQUEL TO SCANDALS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20259, 7 November 1935, Page 11

SEQUEL TO SCANDALS

TRIAL OF WIDOW OF STAVISKY REMARKABLE SCENES IN COURT United Press Association—By Electrte Tplegrapp -Oopvrlgbt PARIS, November 5, “The shadow of Stavisky’s corpse will dominate the trial,” said Judge Barnaud, summarising Stavisky’s frauds at the opening of the trial of Arlette, his widow and 19 men accused of complicity therein. The trial is the climax of 20 months’ investigation, of ope of the biggest of modern frauds. The reading of the indictment occupied two hours, despite the omission of 1956 questions, which are being submitted to the jury. Two hundred and seventy witnesses were summoned, including ex. Premiers, M. Daladier and M. Chautemps and M. Aldo Ciappe, ex-Police Chief.

Fifty counsel are engaged. Arlette Stavisky, fashionably dressed in mourning, her black hair dressed in the latest style, originally faced the Court calmly, but crouched on a wooden bench weeping and shaken by sobs, being comforted by counsel’s arm about her shoulders, as Judge Barnaud mercilessly traced Stavisky’s career from the time of starting the night club, with an elderly woman, whose jewels he stole. He declared that Stavisky was a glamorous swindler, a crooked megalmoniac, who created from the love of ostentation and luxury, possessing a personality sufficient to involve prominent people, his machinations resulting in the dock being filled with once respected editors and politicians. Judge Barnaud then began questioning the accused and intimated that.it would occupy a week. The Charge. Clad in deep black, Madame Stavisky, slightly disdainful, faced the Judge in the Seine Assizes, charged With receiving part of the proceeds of her dead husband’s alleged £7,000,000 swindles. Twenty of Madame Stavisky’s associates are all charged with participating in the frauds: Wild Scenes Ensue. Wild scenes occurred In the courtroom, which was crowded, by 50 defending counsel, 270 witnesses, and republican guards, when the Judge, M. Barnaud, asked if the defending counsel were comfortable. There was a noisy demand for chairs, and in the confusion M. Barnaud suspended the session and retired, while chairs were thrown across the room, and lawyers danced excitedly. Witnesses, prisoners, newspapermen and spectators leapt from their seats and joined in the laughing and shouting. Madame Stavisky, already confident of acquittal, is making plans to go on the stage. It is expected that the duration Of the trial will exceed a month.