New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-13
MRS. GAGE ADMITS ERROR
Threat" Against Banker Not
Justified, She Says.
BELL IN COURT. SMILING
Woman Tells Jury She Took
Mrs. Gracie's Remarks About
Daughter Too Seriously.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

WASHINGTON. April I2-With social lines
closely drawn and a breach in strictly local
society. the lunacy proceedings against
Mrs Mary E. Gage. the widow charged
with threatening the life OF Charles j.
Bell, a prominent banker and cluoman'
are likely 10 prove sensational II the au-
thorities succeed in compelling Mrs. Archl-
bald Oracle. OF New York and Washing
ton, TO testify against the woman VINO
claimed that a plot existed TO bar her from
fashionable society.
Mrs. Oracle is sought TO break down the
defence OF Mrs Gage that she based her
threats TO horsewhip Mr.. Bell on informa-
ton given her by Mrs. Oracle and that
she had no "delusions" on the SUBJECT
but rather was mistaken. She was sub
noenaed TO refute Mrs. Cages testimony
that she had said Mr.. Bell, who Is the
president of the American Security ana
Trust Company, was the head OF the con-
spiracv resulting in her social ostraclsm'
but failed 20 appear
ct can see now that / took Mrs. Oracle
remarks too seriously and that really there
was no foundation for them" TESTIFIED MIS-
Cage to-day. Mr. Bell never took the
noins 10 disabuse my mind that he was
NOT prosecuting me and my daughter but
had ne told me half as much as ne has
told Won. gentlemen Of the jury, l Woulo
not have snapped a finger. oelieVe "haI
ne saws and realize now that / was MIS-
taken. Yet [ never did say ! would XIII
him because under no circumstances
would I do that. The only threat maze
u,a. that would horsewhip him in puohc
~ ne did not stop injurinG US
Davohter Told Same Story,
last week the daughter, Miss Margaret
g. Gage. told practically the same story
70 the Jury. She also declared that Mrs'
Oracle had furnished the information
against Mr.. Bell and that her mother
IN feeling toward the banker dated lroli
thar time. which was last December 1t
was on the strength of this testimony 'na'
the effort was made to locate Mrs Gracle'
es II was reported that she did not MAKE
the statement attributed to her.
Mig Gage also told the jury to-day that
urs Oracle had made IAN unpleasant SUE
eostion' about her daughter being engaged
80 an attache of the japanese embassy
r,,r,or that was wholly unrounded, accord
,rg IN the witness. II see the love llght
tr vour ewes" was the playful taunt ol-
rected at the daughter, testified Mrs. Gage
The report of the engagement had been
1r,nted in a society paper in Washington
shn said and 1t had operated against her
daughter.
,rpa nreclse statement of Mrs. Oracle on
-.ttoh Mrs Gage says she based all her
anir,osity against Mr.. Bell was this:
l. ely Nd a ChAmA
CON 10 keep that girl in washington, as
she uill have an awful time getting along
soc,auv or any other way with Mr. Bell
onrosIng you as he does. You should take
NV hack to New York-anywhere-out
don't keep her here -,
Mrs Gage said it was "a terrible blow
., her and she pondered over 1t for more
.han month before mentioning the matter
one She stated that she then told
sO,ands ~ Mr. Bell Ito brighten him. per-
that she would horsewhip him II
he did not cease
"S .H,,g Mrs. Cages recital the banker
-, a few feet from her. occasionally
s..,,,no although in the main sitting quiet
~ ,,,,,b his eyes riveted on the witness.
-, pou was represented by counsel In
,oosadings over the vigorous protests
NV .,ornevs for Mrs. Gage, the claim be-
% do ods that the lawyer. A, s. Worthing-
ton. one Of the leading members OF INC locai
bar. should not take part IN the exainina,
ton OF the witnesses. The court permitted
Mr.. worthington to take an acuVe Part IN
the proceedings 49,. .s,s .r.
An adjournment was taken TINS AFTER
nom until Wednesday morning and In
IT, ~. =, efforts to obtain her release on
s sp lending the outcome OF the proceed
~, uU Mrs. Gage was sent back to the gov
re-, ,, bospital for the insane.