New-York tribune., 1912-04-18
CALLS COLON|ALS FAKES
Government May Investigate
Mrs. Cages Society.
DEFENDANT SHOWS RAGE
Belva Lockwood Enlivens Hear
ing of Washington Woman and
Is Told to Stop Flirting,
fFrom The Trihune Rureau.l

From The Tribune Bureaul
| Washington, April 17.-An attack on the
/ patriotic society founded and conducted by
Mrs. Mary +. Gage. the widow accused OF
threatening the life OF Charles j. Bell. is
contemplated by the government attorneys
in the lunacy proceedings against her in
the District Supreme Court.
Il wish 10 be frank TO the court and say
that the National Society OF Colonial
Daughters is a fake and that the whole
thing is Mrs. Gage" declared 4. S. Worth
ington, counsel for Mr.. Bell, during his
cross examination Of Mrs. Gage to-day,
when her attorneys objected TO his inquiry
into the details of the organization.
isn't that terrible?" gasped Mrs. Gage,
turning pale I'm seeming rage. II can ac-
count for every cent ever furnished the So
ciety and have deposited every dollar in a
bank to the credit OF the organization. II
is an outrageous statement"
II Is understood that much will be made
by the government out OF the financial con-
duct Of this organization. There are a
dozen more witnesses to testify, and II is
possible that some OF these will touch on
the society. Mrs. Gage declared that she
and her daughter drew only $500 each Tor
their services last year, and that only $500
year was paid for the rent OF three
rooms in her residence.
Considerable mirth developed during the
proceedings to-day. one instance being
when Colonel Dick" Plunkett Of Wyom-
ing. asserted with much gusto on the
witness stand: God help this country If
women like Mrs. Gage are Insane Colonel
Plunkett told the fury that he had been
marshal in tho toughest town In the
United States, with $50 saloons in IT," and
had come into contact with all manner Of
men and women. and was positive Mrs.
Gage was sane.
II wish you would quit flirting with one
another" remarked Richard p. Evans 10
Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood. the celebrated
woman suffragst. and Mr.. Worthington'
when the latter two engaged In spat
over a question Mrs. lockwood frequently
Injected humor in the case and indulged
in repartee during tho hearing.
Mrs. Gage reiterated her admission that
she WAS mistaken when she thought that
Mr. Bell was responsible for her being kept
! out OF Washington society, and that he
was instrumental IN barring her from the
fashionable churches. She also disclaimed
any intention OF killing or horsewhipping
him. saying that she had abandoned the
idea after hearing him testify that he har-
bored no III toward her or her daughter.
The attorneys for the government sub
| iected her TO a grilling cross-examinauon.
but she displayed remarkable shrewdness
in many instances. and her story remained
| unshaken. Her cross-examiners tested
about her claim that she was descended
] naA ~
thrusts by saying that she was not re-
sponsible for her ancestry. and that Charles
| II. Browning. a genealogist, not herself,
had figured out her family tree.
The Assistant United States Attorney
! Harvey Given, testified that Mrs. Gage had
/ conplajned 10 the office Of the District At
torney several years ago, and had made
passionate plea TO have Bradstreet :
| Mercantile Agency and two local mer-
chants and a florist indicted, on the claim
that they were in a conspiracy TO ruin her
credit. He stated that she told him she
had given a tea for her daughter, Miss
Margaret c. Gage. and that IT had been
martial failure because the florist had re-
/ fused to send the flowers without prepay
| ment and that the ice cream had been de-
lsyed. lie said he believed she was IRA
/ tional and dismissed the case.
Employes at the city postofice testified
that Mrs. Gage had complained to them
calling the postal employees thieves anc
croolcs They told how she had given direc
tions TO have her mail forwarded from one
CITY 70 another. Several scenes occurred
at the different branch offices, they said
! M word has yet been received from Mrs
Archibald Oracle. who is wanted as wit
ness 70 refute statements by Mrs Gage ano
her daughter that Mrs. Oracle told then
/ Mr. Roll was responsible for their socia
ora roligtous failure. She is believed to b,
In Now York. The attorneys for the gov
ernment said to-day that they would make
no effort 10 embarrass Mrs. Oracle, In vie"
OF her recent anxiety regarding her nus
band. who was a passenger on the Iltahic
Nevertheless, they hope that she VIII VOL
UNFAIRLY appear as a witness.
II is expected that the proceedings viii
close tomorrow and that Mrs Gage VII
know her fate before evening. She has beef
confined In the government hospital ior th'
insane since her arrest. March IL. Dr
Charles 4. White superintendent OF the IN
stitution, declared on the stand to-day that
in his opinion. Mrs. Gage was suherihs
from paranoia.
WOMEN STUDENTS suRPAss MEN
Evanston, ILL.,. April 1I-statistes given
out at the Northwestern University TO-DAY