Caillaux
JOSEPH, a French embraced the law as a profession, but statesman, born in Mans in 1863. He CAIN CAINE soon became engrossed engrossed in politics, for resulted in his becoming connected with which he had remarkable aptitude. He journalism, and eventually he joined the served several terms for Sarthe in the Chamber of Deputies and rapidly rose to eminence in debate. Between 1899 and 1911 he was three times Minister of Finance in various cabinets. In 1911 he became Premier and Minister of the Interior. On Dec. 8, 1913, he became Minister of Finance for the fourth time.
Various incidents in the handling of the affairs of his office caused him to be accused of political corruption, and a fierce campaign was waged against him by influential journals of the opposition, that of "Figaro" being notable for its bitterness. The editor of the latter was shot and killed in his office, March 16, 1914, by Madame Caillaux (see Calmette) on the ground that he was about to publish private correspondence reflecting on her character. As the result of the tragedy, Caillaux was forced to resign his office as Finance Minister.
The World War followed soon after, and here again Caillaux's name was connected with some ugly stories of graft and peculation in army supplies. In December of 1917 he with others was arrested and held for trial on the charge of carrying on treasonable correspondence with the enemy. It was shown that he had been more or less intimate with BOLO PASHA (q. v.) and the group of conspirators connected with the "Bonnet Rouge," and there were suspicious circumstances connected with visits of his to Argentina and to Italy. The trial was postponed ed from time to time, partly because the war engrossed so much of the nation's activity, and no doubt also because of the formidable following among the Socialist element that Caillaux still had, despite the charges brought against him. It was not until after the war that he was brought to trial in 1920.
He was convicted after a notable defense, condemned to a term of imprisonment, against which the time he had already spent in jail was credited and to the forfeiture of civil rights for a period of five years. He was also forbidden to live in the department of the Seine for ten years.