Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-12
MRS. GAGE ON STAND
Testifies in Own Behalf in De-
Tense of Her Sanity.
ADMITS THREAT TO BELL
Convinced Now, However, He Did
Not Thwart Social Plans.
DAUGHTER QUESTIONED, TOO
Pastor and Society Women Also De-
clare They Think Her Sane.
Hearing Continued.

Bell, who. she claimed, was thwarting her
social aspirations and preventing invita-
tons to certain homes being extended to
her and her daughter, Margaret c. Gage.
At the conclusion Of her testimony i'm
chief Justice Barnard continued the hear
ing until Wednesday morning next Al
that time Attorney A. S. Worthlnston as
..friend of the court and Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Schuldt will conduct
rigid cross-examinations OF Mrs. Gage
The woman was returned to the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane, where she
has been since her arrest March IL ias,'
Mrs. Gage told the jury she is native
of Vermont, was graduated at Nassar
College, taught history for ten years. was
married, but had been granted divorce
on a charge of desertion made by her
against her husband.
True Genealogy Not Snobbish.
She told of her difficulty in connection
with the purchase of her property at
Dupont circle. This trouble, she said.
was with a real estate firm, Of which
William Ker is member. Mr. ker. she
understood, is a relative of Mr.. Bell.
She went to st. Thomas Church be-
cause IL WAS nearest to her home. where
she learned Mr.. Bell was an influential
member.
Mrs. Gage said she had taken up gene
IAlOgv before leaN1nS New n, anu WI
tinued her Investigations after coming to
Washington. She said she became inter
ested in patriotic societies. Joined me
Daughters of the American Revolution
and was elected to the Society OF May
flower Descendants, but did not affiliate
She said she founded the National So
ciety of Colonial Daughters
"Since there has been so much face
tious talk about ancestry" said the Wit
ness. Il want you gentlemen of the jury
hi of ROYAL
Descent There is no snobbery in real
genealogy."
In the book,~drs. Gage pointed out. APP
peared the name of Theodore Roosevelt.
who claimed. she stated descent from tne
Scottish kings. It is fact, Mrs. Gage
said, that if one Is descended from one
king he is likely to be descended from
all of them since royal families inter-
marry.
Marketed Toilet Articles.
Mrs. Gage told Of her commercial
efforts in putting on the market toilet
articles, and Of her organization OF the
Colonial Daughters. The expense of the
inception of this society, witness said.
she bore personally. Later she had been
successful in obtaining a large MEMBER
ship in the society
Witness told of visiting Judge Bundy
Of the Municipal Court, and telling him
of her fears that because of her trouble
with Mr.. Ker her social aspirations
were being affected adversely by Mr..
Bell.
Judge. Bundy suggested that she see Mr..
Bell and inquire if he had anything
against her. Mrs. Gage went to Mr. Bell
office and narrated to him her d1mculty.
Mr. Bell informed the witness that he
knew nothing about her troubles
At a wedding she attended last June,
Mrs Gage said she met Mrs. Archibald
Oracle, who asked her if 1t were true
that Miss Gage was to marry japanese.
At reception in the fall Mrs. Oracle
approached the witness and her daugh-
ter and remarked to Miss Gage: Il
see the love light in your eyes In
December, witness said, she was Gaming
on Mrs. Oracle when the latter said:
1T is a shame to keep your daugh-
ter here as you cannot succeed So
cialIy or otherwise with Mr.. Bell and
Mr.. Ker against you.
Threat Was Conditional.
Mrs. Gage said she repeated to Mr.. Ker
over the telephone what Mrs. Oracle told
her, and said if Mr.. Bell was blocking
her way and continued to do SO she
would horsewhip the banker The threat
was conditional only on the persistence
of Mr. Bell in his enmity, the witness
said Capt Boardman also was informed
by her of Mrs. Gracies statements. Mrs.
Gage said. and of her threats to horse
whip Mr. Bell il he persisted in his al
legged opposition
not want to do anything like that and
witness said she acquiesced, but stated
that Mr.. Bell must stop his interference.
The witness told of her arrest March ii
and her examination before DR. White
and two other physicians. Mrs. Gage said
she recognized DIR. White and in response
to his inquiry how she knew him, sad
she recognized him from his picture in
the newspaper
Witness denied she ever owned re-
volver, or bought a horsewhip. After
hearing Mr.. Bells testimony on the stand,
Mrs. Gage says, she has made up her
mind that Mr.. Bell had nothing to do
with the failure of her plans. She de-
clared she has no i'll feeling today against
Mr.. Bell, and has no desire to horsewhip |
him. |
Witnesses Believe Her Sane.
Rev. W. I. McKenney, pastor Of Wes- |
ley NJ E. Church; Mrs. Alice w. Wright. |
wife Of Justice Wright of the District
Supreme Court; Mrs. LeDroict Barber and
Mrs Robert N. Harper were among the
witnesses who testified late yesterday
afternoon in behalf Of Mrs. Gage. All
gave their opinion that she is sane,
DR.. Mckinney considered it an evidence
of a we'll balanced mind that Mrs. Gage
had sent for clergyman in her trouble.
The minister said he had talked with Mrs. |
Gage for an hour at the hospital and be-
lieved her to be of sound m nd.
Mrs. Wright. stated she had met Mrs. |
Gage at several social functions and
thought her well balanced mentally. Il
never considered her insane" witness |
said, decidedly not" Mrs. Barber and /
Mrs Harper also expressed similar opin- |
ions, the latter saying: Il positively be- |
lieve she is of sound mind"
Medical evidence also was presented to /
show Mrs. Gage sound in mind. DIR. T. V. /
Hammond said he had examined Mrs. 1
Cage and considered her sane. DIR. c. NJ. |
Emmons declared Mrs. Gage is not suffer-
ing from paranoia, as claimed by alien