Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-15


Seventeen witnesses testified that
they had seen Daniel Holly draw the
cleaning blade across the throat of
the Orkay woman.
Two of these. it appeared. had lifted
the stricken actress from the floor of
the cafe and vainly attempted to
staunch the flow of blood Another
had striven to hold the murderer un-
til the arrival of the police, and, fail
ing in this, had followed the fleeing
man to the door calling for help.
1t looked bad for Holly.
Marie Orkay, the soubrette of the
Ways and Folly" company was
known to have been intimate with the
accused-a man who bore none the
best of regulations, and whose es-
capades were the talk of the town
The district attorney was trying to
prove that the lover killed the woman
in moment of jealous pique. 1t
was evident that he would do so with
out any great strenuosity on his part.
Holly's trial was now on. His big
bull neck, brutal face and stubborn
jaw were not calculated to favorably
impress jury. Also, as if the eye
evidence of the witnesses to the
tragedy-some of whom were boon
companions of Holly-was not enough,
there yet remained the sinister fact
of Holly's having been found by the
police in his bachelor apartments
shortly after the somber affair in a
state of almost total collapse, where
his incoherent attempts to explain
his presence elsewhere at the fatal
moment were finally sullenly dis
pensed with altogether.
Daniel Holly had money.
His attorneys were selected from
amongst the best.
Old John Hampton, considered the
keenest criminal lawyer practicing in
the state, was given full charge of
the case, and he promptly surrounded
himself with the choicest legal talent
in the city. However, the old warrior
was none too optimistic. Popular
sentiment was against him and the
over-worked plea of emotional insan-
ity seemed hardly calculated to strike
the bull s-eye of jurisprudential APP
prevail. The best he could hope for
was the failure of the jury to arrive
at decision.
Seated in his office he ruminated.
IF we could reach one of those IL
| asinine sleepy-heads, he grumbled to
one of the coterie of scintillants re-
tanned by the defense, I'VE could make
obstinacy worth $4,000 to him.
What we want is to get this jury
discharged. Then, by the time the
next trial comes up, we will have this
yelping pack of mongrels-the public
away from our heels"
Brown, the attorney spoken to
turned tired eyes to his chief. I'm
afraid it's a forlorn hope" he ad
vanced. IF our fool client would
only take some interest in his own af
fairs, and quit glazing into the jury
box as if he were anxious to do bat
tie, we might have a fighting chance
to put him away in some easy-goine
sanitarium. AS it stands" Brown
left his sentence unfinished and
shrugged his shoulders pessimisti
cally.
Hampton's stenographer, keen
eyed, nervous girl, had been taking ar
unusual interest in the conversation
Her rusty pompadour bobbed fran
tically as she turned from man to mar
in an attempt to follow them. The
old attorney, surprised at this unusua
curiosity, gazed at the girl from be
meath bushy brows.
Perhaps you can aid us, Miss Pres
ton" he suggested ironically.
A little flush swept the sallov
cheeks of the stenographer. Il thinl
can, Mr.. Hampton" she answered
In fact, If / understand you correctly
| know j can l will get you the dis
agreement you wish if-here a Gun
ming look crept into the black eyes o
the girl-you are willing to pay al
good a price as you say you are"
The lawyers gazed at the girl IL
speeches. establishment. Brown wa
a thin, boyish-looking man, with a lool
of surprise constantly on his face. /
was he who recovered first.
What do you mean?" he aske,
roughly. DO you know what you ar,
talking about?"
Again the slow flush redeemed tn,
sallow cheeks. II do know that
have said nothing to you, Mr.. Brown.
The girl spoke spitefully, but as on
who felt that she had the situation
well In control.
John Hampton was following he
with contemplative eye. He SCENE,
to be making a mental inventory, and
at last, heaved a doubtful sigh, as /
the summing up were not altogethe
satisfactory. His methods. however
were honey where Browns we're gal
May | ask why you believe tina
. you can bring about disagreement
Miss Preston?' The old lawye
, smiled blandly at his stenographer.
. You may ask" came from the CIR
sharply. but 1t is a purely persona
matter and shall not feel called upo
; to answer. I'll agree to do the worl
however, it's worth $4,000 TO you.
Again the dominant note OF cupidity
IF you will excuse us a moment