Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-27
STORY IN DETAIL
Told on Witness Stand in Court
Room by Stella
Grady.
GETS So FOR HER SERVICE
Passes Through Cross-Examinatfon
WeIi-New Developments Set
Town on Fire.

Stella Grady. the ward in the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Mckinney.
is on the witness stand in the circuit
court room in Aledo this afternoon tell
ing the details of the horrors she faced
while so employed. Persons familiar
with certain phases of the case We're
placed on the stand preceding her and
| the basis was formed for receiving the
testimony of the prosecuting witneSt.
Although a stranger in the court
room, the scenes of judge. jury and
exacting attorneys being unknown to
her before this week. Stella Grady told
her story of almost unbelievable cru
city 10 the II men this morning. The
able counsel for the defendants made
efforts in the way of cross-eXamination
to bring out whatever might be of use
to them in the defense. but the girl
passed through the ordeal in an unu-
sual manner under the circumstances.
Received Only So.
She said she was TO receive $3.50 per
week for her services in the Mckinney
home. But So just before she left was
d
statement on the witness stand. For
three days she was locked in the house
while the family was absent and for
many days she subsisted on bread.
Taking down her hair she showed the
jury the bald spot upon her head. from
which her hair had been pulled. She
reiterated the statements heretofore
made in public print with reference 10
bodily injuries from beatings and tor
lures.
Hurls Firebrands.
1t took o2ly a spark to set the little
town of Aledo on fire with Indignation.
and it was not simply a spark, but a
blazing firebrand that was hurled into
| the midst of public opinion by States
Attorney Graham in his statement to
the Jury in the Mckinney cruelty case
For months the people of Aledo had
become accustomed TO the gossip that
| had surrounded the case. but in the
minds of less than a half dozen per
sons was kept the secret that was
thrown into the midst of the people
and which il responsible for the furore
| it has created.
| VIII Sustain Charges.
| The states attorney announced with
| positiveneSs that he would sustain the
charges that have been so recently
made public, and which are of such a
revolving nature that the details can
not be put in public print. Insanity
on this charge will be the defense, the
same as on the others. but here again
comes Nhe point as TO the time Mrs.
Mckinney became insane, whether be
fore or after her arrest.
| IL Ia Bad Move.
| One of the questions now arising is
as to whether or not it was a bad
move FOR the state to bring this matter
| into the case as a portion of the evil
dence against the woman defendant;
| whether or not it is not more evidence
of the insanity of Mrs. Mckinney. 1t
will undoubtedly be so used by the de
PENDANTS counsel now. although it
never would have been brought in by
them
The hundreds who had crowded into
| the court room in Aledo for the pur-
pose of hearing the opening statement
Of the states attorney were astounded
| by the revelations of his allegations.
and in Il few minutes the fire of indig-
nation had spread throughout the en-
tire town, bringing up the heat of pub
| lie opinion to a high degree, where il
is remaining until the charges are
| either proven or shattered.