Evening star., 1911-06-11

table but most successful members of the local criminal
bar. He had volunteered to conduct Mason's case
doubtless for the advertising he would get from it; but
nonpussed at his clients radiant bearing amid the
general gloom of his surroundings.
"Mr Mason said he, when l called to discuss mat
tiers with him, "is in bad box-an almighty bad box
Sir 1t is going to take all the united strength of his
friends pull him out; for he isn't doing the first thing
to help himself Then, with vigorous oath, "Cant
of you stop his writing those fool stories about his
own case for the newspaper? 1t scandalizes the
munty and shall have to fight only the prosecu
tion but public sentiment besides. He's crazy, Sir
crazy! want to put in the plea of insanity; but he
won't listen to it, and that's sign. My pro-
fessional experience has taught that insanity is al
ways the first plea thinks Of and the only
a crazy jects in toto"
saw Mason several times before his trial. but he re-
maned unchanged in purpose i want my case to
stand its merits he kept repeating. @Im more
insane than YOU are and don't intend to let anyone
misrepresent That's flat!" And he plainly meant
what he said.
WHEN "The State against Mason was called in
~ court, instead of the red faced and bejeweled
Coakey there appeared for the defense young fair
checked, modest hammered 1edglng of lawyer named
Ingalls,, who apologeticaly moved for weeks post
ponement, as he had @been called into the only
since the withdrawal of the eminent counsel originally
retained and had found twentyfour hours insufficient
to faliarze himself with it. The motion granted
obviously to the annoyance OF the prisoner who had
grown somewhat thinner during his confinement and
was beginning to manifest nervous impatence OF the
laws delays.
@Its hard making newspaper copy out of nothing. he
explained as he shook hands with before taking his
seat within the bar @and this business has got into
a dull rut The public wants something with spice
in it."
difficult client. He insisted deciding what should
be done at every uncure. Even in the choice of jury
when his counsel inclined to object to Mason
would declare him perfectly acceptable and Ingalls, not
having aggessveness enough to fight the question out
would yield. Once launched, however, the trial moved
along at fairly brisk pace The District Attorney
O16 hand and knp he trick nj
point raised by the defense he ready with be of
if with substantial answer; and every
time we saw the jurors smile in the presence of such
tragic possibilities the hearts of Masons friends went
down like lead.
For the FIVE days that the battle lasted the
was crowded to its limit The story brought by the
prosecution and clevery peced together from the testi
mony of its witnesses in effect what the reader al
ready knows and might almost have been read from the
columns of @The Inteligencer," faithful had been
Masons reports of every feature AS each successive
fact forth the stand his eyes hunted it down
in his notebook his pencil checked it off and nod of
approval showed that he had advanced one further
stage the narrative he going prepare that
ing for the next days paper Only once did he appear
disconnected, and though his agitation lasted only
moment plain that he had not expected what
coming. The District Attorney with few words of in
PRODUCTION proposed to put i'll evidence two books
brought from the public library.
INGALLS, with quick glance at his client, his
feet instantly with objection. He showed by his
manner that he had idea of the contents of the ex
hibs; but he felt it his duty object general prin
cples as this time Mason not pulling him back.
Every neck in the room strained forward as the
Judge slowly adjusted his spectacles and his eye
the books.
HWhat do you expect to prove by these?" he asked.
al should not have offered them, your Honor"
swered the District Attorney "but for the emphasis laid
by the defense upon its claim that have failed yet
show ineligible motive for this homicide. The
prisoner of education and professional writer
of recognized ability; the deceased literate and
social nondescript. These admitted facts rule
number OF hypothesis which might have had some force
if the parties had been rivals associates in any