Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-06

CHICAGO, July 3.-The bars in the Gin
giles case were let down today. Ella Gin
giles, the little Irish lace maker, who had
been on trial in Judge Brentano's court
charged with larceny, told amid sobs
probably the most sensational story that
a judge and Jury ever listened to In
Chicago.
Under the skillful questioning of her
council, P. H. O'Donnell, the lS-year-old
girl related the tale OF her alleged mis-
treatment in room in the Wellington
hotel on Wabash avenue on the eevning
of January 4, last.
1t was a story involving Miss Agnes
Barrette, proprietor of the lace shop in
the Wellington hotel building, Mrs. Cece-
liza kenyot, the mystery OF whose sud
den death in a road house on Stony Is
land avenue q week ago las not been
cleared up. and a man who. up TO this
time, is nameless. he story for the
most part, dealt with cannot be printed.
1t caused the judge to hide his. face
behind his handkerchief. 1t caused tears
to flow down the cheeks of moro than
one OF the jurors. II was told only with
the greatest of hesitation.
Women formed a large part Of the
crowd In the little court room. They
drank in every word OF the testimony of
the lacemazer. Men blushed as they lis
tened to it. Yet when court had adjourn
ed for the day with the girl witness still
undergoing q gruelling cross-examination
at the hands of Assistant States Attor-
ney Short, that official said:
II am convinced that the sensational
story that Ella Gingles told in court was
faxed up either by herself or by some
ingenious person acting for her. Miss
Barrette will take the witness stand and
will swear that the story is made out
of whole cloth. She will deny every spe-
cific allega' ion from start to finish. i ex-
pect to prove that the Gingles girl has a
reputation for untruthfulness and will
have witnesses to swear that they would
not believe her under oath"
The assistant states attorney took
Miss Gingles in hand after she had told
her story. He fired one question after
another at the trembling girl on the wit
ness stand. He succeeded in getting her
much confused and she involved herself
In a maze of contradictory statements.
Miss Gingles told again the story OF
her life since coming TO America from
Ireland. She told Of her places Of en1-
ployment and of how she finally had Sc
cured work with Miss Barrette. Then she
told the story of the lace, on the charge
of stealing which she is now on trial.
But the girl declared that it was she
who had been robbed and not Miss Bar
rette, and this led up to the sensational
story of the night in the hotel that she
told.
During the latter part Of the girls tes-
timony, Miss Barrette, as she heard OF
one accusation after another. laughed at
her as she sat facing her. She made no
sign, no move.
VICTIM OF CONSPIRACY?
After the adjournment of court until
Tuesday morning, Attorney O'Donneli
unexpectedly received confirmation OF
the statement that repeatedly has been
made by Ella Gingles that she was the
victim of a plot and that instead of hay
ing robbed Miss Barrette, the latter rob-
bed her.
A woman who said her first name was
Margaret, but who would not give her
last ma me, called up Mr.. O'Donnell and
said:
81 arr the woman who was hired by
Miss Irrette to take a handle contain
ing lucl to Miss Gingle's room either on
Januar., or 8. Miss Barrette paid me
S for doing the job and sent man with
me. In addition to the IS she offered a
trip to St.. Louis"
The story was told TO the attorney
amid sobs. The lawyer repeatedly ask
ed the woman at the telephone TO be-
come witness for Ella Gingles.
IT can't; can't" she repeated time
ana again. II am going to be married
and II it was known that l was IN any