The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-07
INTERPRETER TOLD
ABOUT THIRD DEGREE"
Said Hattie Leblanc Was Worried and
Looked Dirty When Taken to
Jail Shortly After Her
Arrest.

| Cambridge, Mass, Dec. Miss Zeela
Gallant, the interpreter who attended
Hattie LeElanc's third degree at the po-
| lice station the night she was arrested,
was the prosecutions first witness at
1 the Leblanc trial to-day. She testified
that she was born on Cape Breton and
worked as nurse in the family of May
/ Walker for two years. She described
/ Hattie as worried and looking dirty"
| at the police station. She identified the
/ transcript questions and answers.
! Permission for Miss Gallant to 90 on
the stand was a victory won by District
Attorney Higgins late yesterday after
noon Atty. johnson examined her con-
cerning some of the questions and an
swers in the typewriter transcript of
/ Hatties declarations at the station
house, and compelled her to give them
/ in French while the French stenograph-
/ er and Mr.. Flamand took notes.
/ 1t was necessary to have the French
questions and answers made part of the
court records as well as those in Eng
Ilsh, and this proved task for the
court stenographer. He blushed and
asked Miss Gallant to give him the syl-
tables slowly
Its fully 10 years since I've brushed
up in French" confessed Judge Bond,
"and | don't know whether the witness
is putting the questions correctly or not.
/ might, with the aid of a dictionary,
but | cannot tell as it is"
Argument Over Her Testimony.
.eMay it please your honor" said At
torney johnson, Il contend that Miss
Gallant has shown by her testimony on
the questions aud answers about which
/ have examined her that she is not quail
flied or entitled to testify concerning
this declaration.
"She is permitted under the law to
refresh her recollection from this type
written copy, but she should not be al
lowed to merely read over this and say
it was what she translated for Hattie
and what the prisoner said in return.
We must have her best recollection on
the matter and not a mere Identification
Of this paper
Il contend that, unless she can posi-
lively prove the whole of the prisoners
station house declaration. the whole OF
it should be excluded, and she has al
ready admitted under my examination
that she doesn't remember all the ques-
tions and answers which put to her |
don't care about the English It's what
she said to Hattie in French and what
Hattie replied in the same tongue that
we want, and / insist that it be posi-
tive. If she is doubtful about any part,
the whole fails"
District Attorney Higgins thought out
a course which proved successful
"How old did Hattie say she was
when you asked her Miss Gallent?" be
inquired. II want you to give your an
swer in French ana English, then re-
peat Hattie's answer in both languages"
Didn't she say she was Is, or some
thing like that?' stammered Miss Gal
lant
Don't You see, your honor inter.
rupted Attorney Johnson, she isn't
sure"
II want you, Miss Gallant, to give
your question and the answer to the
best of your recollection in both lam
guages," said District Attorney Higgins
Miss Gallant did. After going through
a number of questions, which Chief Nc
lNeilId deheu tht PitoohSAi HiS Nouit
ruled that Miss Gallant was entitled
to state whether or not she interpreted
the questions and answers given in the
type written copy Of the examination.
Attorney johnson took exception to the
ruling
Melvin Johnson, chief counsel for Hat.
tie Leblanc, was suddenly taken sick in
the court room this forenoon and was
taken out. His assistants, Attorneys
Brewer and Morton, took charge of the
case.