The Washington times., 1909-07-15
SHADES OF THE PAST

pushing up to him. thrust a note into
He gave a hurried glance at the con-
tents, then turned TO Graham.
IT'S from your unknown friend,
he explained. and he says ne must see
me without fail outside in the corridor
at once Shall / Eo2'
BY all means" urged Robert j We
got lots of faith in that chap" so,
having secured a somewhat ungraciouS
permission from the bench, MOrdaunt
grabbed his hat and hurried out.
When he came back his face was a
study but whether from good or bad
news II was impossible to tell. Nor did
he have an opportunity TO consult with
Robert in regard to It, for the court
who was fidgeting impatiently to be
gone, addressed him In a sharp. impera-
/ tive summons the moment he entered
the room
Mordaunt hesitated. glanced uneer-
tainly toward his client. cleared his
throat with a preliminary cough or tV p.
and began
If your honor please" h said. 1T
| had been our intention TO introduce no
evidence at this time; out simply to
appear here as matter Of form, hear
what the State had 10 submit, and dc-
/ ceDt whatever ruling your nonor might
see 1T TO impose.
AT the last moment. however" he
raised MS voice slightly, Il have de
! cided to assert my clients rights, and
present for your honor's scrutiny what
! regard as a full and complete vim
dicatiOn for the prisoner at the bar
The court frOWned and moved impa
tiently upon the bench. Judges do not
like 10 hear arguments prepared OF
moments notice, and, besides, this par
ticular one had an engagement for din
ner that evening, and wan-ed 10 get
away
Are you sure you are wiser" he ques-
toned Significantly, and as MOrdaunt
bowed with undated resolution: Wen,
adjourn until tomorrow"
NO" demurred Mo -daunt. for / have
but little TO say, ard 1 promise your
honor that little shall be very brief.
Nothing was left for the court except
to acquiesce. Therefore, he took of his
glasses, leaned back IN his chair with a
bored look. and curly signaled the law
yer to proceed.
1.-THE State and the news papers," said
Mordaunt, with fine sarcasm, nave pre-
scented a case against my client worked
out to the minutest detail, admirable
| In every way-as a piece OF fiction. i
cannot hope to equal them in che mod
est story / have to tell; but il has the
one advantage Of being the truth.
In order not to consume your hon
or's VARIABLE time I shall admit all
that has been offered here concerning
the previous associations of employer
and emplOye between my client and
/ the dead girl, Hilda Montgomery I
snail also admit that my client met
4
| circle at o'clock on the afternoon pre-
| ceding the tragedy and walked with he~
| to Mrs Watkins boarding house on
/ West Seventeen street; and 1 further
grant that he was near the fatal clump
of shrubbery in Central Park between
/ 9 and Z that evening and on the ferry
/ boat Pas samaquoddy at q little after g.
| "OutsiCe Of these points the story
| propose % tell differs from the version
already given In practically every es-
sential particular
1T is but fair to admit, however. p"
/ he prefaced his narration. that neither
| the defendant, myself. nor any Of the
| agents we have employed deserves any
| credit for obtaining and marshaling the
| facts which, VIXEN arrayed, so complete
J ~ and convinCingly refute the claims Of
| the prosecution. That belongs to one
/ who has had no interest In the case
/ other than to see justice triumphant
ana who has hitherto shielded his iden-
/ THY even from us. being known to my
/ client and myself only Is our unknown
| friend"
The Conclusion of This story VIII
Be Found In Tomorrow
Edition of The Times.