The Washington times., 1912-04-05
JUDGE POSTPONES
HEARING IN GAGE
CASE FOR ONE WEEK
On Account of Large Num-
ber of Witnesses Contin-
uance Necessary.

Owing to the large number of wit
nesses for the defendant the hearing OF
Mrs. Mary +. Gage, the wealthy widow
of Dupont circle, as to her mental con-
dition, was continued until next Thurs
day, after a dozen witnesses for the
Government and two for Mrs. Gage had
been sworn yesterday.
Mrs. Gage, who was arrested early
in March as 4 result of threats to
horsewhip orr kill Charles J. Bell, a
prominent banker, was returned to the
Government Hospital for the Insane.
Efforts to have her released on bond
were unavailing a few days ago. so no
further attempt was made.
Society folk and many fashionably
gowned women crowded into the court
room to watch the proceedings, among
the close friends of Mrs. Gage being
Mrs. Ellen M. Stone and Mrs. A. l.
Barber.
Mr.. Bell was the last witness against
the woman, his testimony having to do
principally with q visit she paid him at
said Mrs. Gage broached to him the
subject of her being ostraciZed by soci-
ETY. and urged him to desist. He dis
claimed all knowledge of the woman,
saying that it was the first time he had
ever seen her. He told the jury that
he was not Society light" as sug-
gested by Attorney Evans. counsel for
the woman, but rather that he was
light in society" being too busy TO
take up social matters.
Banker Admits Fear.
I'm afraid Of any insane person."
declared Mr.. Bell in reply to query
as to whether he feared Mrs. Gage.
Drs. Edmund r. Barry and Fl. w.
Lawson, police surgeons, and DR.. B. r.
Logic of the Government Hospital for
the Insane, testified as alienists for the
Government, each relating stories told
by Mrs. Gage to the effect that she was
being prosecuted, and that Mr.. Bell had
not only caused her ostracizaton from
society, but also had been instrumental
in keeping her out of church circles.
They also said that she was much
worked up over thought that persons
were trying to get possession of her
Dupont circle home, which has more
than doubled in value in the past seven
years.
Testimony relative to alleged threats
Mrs. Gage made to horsewhip or kill
Mr.. Bell was given by F. B. Poe and
Adelia G. Hensley, principal of the Mt.
Vernon Seminary. DR.. Rhett A. Stuart,
a neighbor of Mrs. Gage, testified that
shs told him that she Intended to soy
IAN international event
Paranoia, a form Of insanity charac-
terized by delusions of persecution. Is
the mental disease from which Mrs.
Gage is suffering, according to the med
ical experts. Other testimony was in
troduced in an attempt to prove that
she had such delusions.
Ira T.. Bennett, an editor, was the
first witness for Mrs. Gage. He testi-
fed that she came to him more than a
year ago and told him her troubles but
that he noticed. nothing irrational or alb
normal about her. He stated that he
was impressed by her bright mentality.
Daughter On Stand.
Miss Margaret {. Gage, daughter Of the
accused woman, was The only other wit
ness for her mother before the con-
tinuance was ordered by Justice Ear
Aard. She stated that it had tecn hard
FOR her mother and herself to make
friends IN Washington society, and that
there was q certain GOODNESS on the
part of the church people toward them,
and that it had worried her mother
considerably, and that she had been at
a loss to account Cor it.
Miss Gage explained TO the jury that
her mother was the founder OF the
National Society of Colonial Ddugh-
ters of America, and that her work
had been highly praised by prominent
men. The witness had in her posses
President Taft, Colonel Roosevelt. and
Andrew Carnegie. One OF the objects
Of the society was to conduct literary
contests in schools and award prizes,
she asserted.
Justice Barnard intended to hold a
bnt Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, one of the
counsel for Mrs. Gage. suggested n
continuance owing to the large number
OF witnesses yet to be sworn.