Calmotte Murder

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 255, 26 March 1914, Page 5

Calmotte Murder

THE MURDERESS' STORY. A MOMENT OF MENTAL ABERRATION. By Cable—Press Association-Copyright Received 25, 10.35 p.m. Paris, March 25. Madame Caillaux, interrogated, said that at lunch on the day of the murder her husband was exasperated on hearing of the judicial opinion that there were no legal means of stopping the Figaro's attacks, and said, "I'll smash his mug." Her husband's words frightened her, and finally he was worked up into such a state that she decided to see Calmettc, fearing her husband would kill him, in which case she would be the cause, as the author of the letters the publication of which was feared. At 3.30 p.m. she went to a gunsmith and purchased a Browning revolver and tested it on the spot. She shot M. Calmette in a moment of mental aberration. She reiterated that she bought the revolver as a precaution against electioneering journeys. EXCITEMENT IN PARIS. Received 25, 5.40 p.m. Paris, March 24. Paris is filled with excited political rumors. There in acute tension in the Cabinet, four Ministers being credited with the intention of resigning. A PLEA OF JUSTIFICATION. Paris, March 21. At the inquiry into the shooting of M. Calmette, editor of the Figaro, by Madame Caillaux, Princess Mesagne Estrehere, a contributor to the Figaro, gave evidence that when M. Caillaux saw Madame Dupre the three letters were destroyed. Madame Dupre, however, kept photographs of them. When M. Calmette heard of this he oiTcred 20,000 francs for the photographs, which was declined. When the letters signed by "Jo" were published in the Figaro, Madame Caillaux was justified in supposing that the two others were in M. Calmette's possession. M. Isidore de Lara, the well-known composer, and Madame Chartran, thepainter's widow, confirmed the evidence of the Princess.