Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-12-01

peoDle there are who could have en-
dured what she had endured without
emerging from the test-if they came
out of it at all-without either health
or mind vitality impaired. Years of
suspense and of sacrificing for anoth-
er things most dear to true woman's
heart had but lily prepared her to face
the merciless prosecutor of a notorious
murder trial, even though the silent
victim whose blood demanded ven
geance had been the man she had loved
as husband.
What was it about that telephone
call on the night of the Staying of Ger
aid Trask which, when on the stand
the first day of the trial, caused her to
faint at its mention?
What was there about that talk over
the wire that broke down her reserve,
self contained demeanOr and determin-
ed poise when questioned about it by
the prosecutor, when even poignant re-
minders of her husbands death had
failed to materially move her?
What was the mystery?
Undoubtedly the prosecutor knew
through her statements before the trial
began and by her testimony at the
coroner's inquest and in the grand
juryrOom.
The public, aroused to a still higher
pitch of excitement over the case,
awaited impatiently the resumption of
Mrs. Trask's testimony. The trial,
postponed for a day owing to her spec
tacular breakdown on the witness
stand. was continued at 1890 a. M,
dav later. with Joan Trask again APP
nearing in the role of central figure.
Her eyes were clear; her voice was
steady. She had conquered the weak
ness that had Overpowered her. She
had resolved to go through to the end
with the part she had been called on
by the authorities to fill
And then the public began to learn
as much of the inner details of the
tragedy as the district attorneys ONCE
itself knew. The woman barred her
heart to a gaping. thOughtless multi
tude that fed it's morbid mind on her
sorrow with the greed of hydra
headed vampire. A heyday for the
cvnics and the scandal mOngers was
the case of the people versus ROBERT
Strickland, and they were not to be
robbed of any choice morsel of their
prey. No, indeed!
Now let us consider just what man
ner of a story it was that Joan IrasK
told in those soul trying hours during
! which she occupied the witness chair
in Justice DinsmOre's tribunal.
She had heard the telephone bell IN
her husbands library ring as she en-
tered the house on her return from
dinner given by friend in honor Of
the wife OF one of the members or
foreign embassy who had been visiting
i'm the city. knowing her husband to
be out for the evening, she entered the
library and answered the call.
The instrument was affixed to an
ornate mahogany desk of modern de-
sign standing at the left Of the room,
a short space in front OF an alcoVe ana
q few feet distant from a sale IN
which Trask kept valuable papers,
some family heirlOoms and from time
70 time bundles of stocks and bonds
and sums of money. He frequently
used large amounts of cash in MS
transactions at home. she testified.
A woman's voice answered when
Mrs. Trask asked what was wanted,
voice that Mrs. Trask was certain that
she had heard before. AT any rate, she
had 4 faint suspicion as to who was
the owner of the voice-nothing deh-
mite. s1'f''s~---rv-
rs this 49, River?" canle the query.
"Yes," replied the financier's Wow
who stated to the court that size had
trembled visibly at the sound Of the
voice.
A further request to be allowed to
talk to Mr.. Trask was met by the re-
Spouse that he was not in.
when will he be homes?
81 don't know"
"Who are your asked the commU-
meant.
"T'm his wife," was Mrs. Trask's an
swer
There was pause.
ooh. very we'll. Goodby," came next,
and the strange woman rang off.
Mrs. Trask turned away from the
telephone. deeply distressed, almost
distraught. As she did so her hus-
bands secretary, Stanley Glover, came
into the library rather hurriedly.
81 thought 1 heard the telephone
ring he explained.
His manner impressed Mrs. TraSk as
being marked by extreme anxiety and
especially so when she informed him
that she had answered the call.
Replying 10 his urgent questioning,
Are TroSLr fold him fbot II TUoS ga