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

= FTER the court had settled
dA down again to its grim duty,
$780, following the wild Outburst
aSsSS of Strickland. the judge or
dered the district attorney to proceed.
He called for Mrs. Trask after the
death of Mr.. Trask had been formally
proved. Every head in the courtroom
bent forward eagerly and curiously to
get Il view Of the handsome widow OF
the slain man.
Mrs. Trask, will you kindly take the
witness chair?" directed Gray.
"Raise your right hand, please. or
7ered the clerk do you Solemnly
swear that the testimony you are about
20 give will be the truth. the whole
truth and nothing but the truth. so
help you God?'
Il do" was the answer in deliberate
tones.
whats your name?"
''JOan Trask."
4AIrs. Trask. are you the widow of
Gerald Trask?" now continued the
prosecutor.
Eyes. sir
"How long were you married to Mr..
Trask?"
almost fifteen years"
On all sides were made whispered
comments as to the thoroughly cool
and self collected bearing of this. the
chief witness against the now famous
prisoner. They will never shake her
testimony on cross examination, it
was generally agreed.
The same idea was entertained by
Gray. and he proceeded confidently. al
most militant in manner. with his
questions which were to settle the fate
of Robert Strickland.
DO you remember the night of June
"a, 1915, Mrs. TraskY
Without hesitation. but with drOop-
Eng eyes. she answered:
Indeed | do
where were you on that EVENING""
'T had been dining out with friends
in the city"
What time did you arrive home?"
about half past 8. Mr.. Gray"
The prosecutor paused mOmentarily.
as though to emphasize the effect of
mis- next query. He gazed with signifi-
canoe in his expression along both rows
Of men in the jury box and then went
on:
Now. Mrs. Trask. | want you TO de
scribe TO the court and jury everything
that occurred after you arrived home
on that night"
The woman now seemed for the first
time TO realize just how gravely serious
was the part she was 10 play in this
zeal life mPlodrama. a flood of heart
breaking memories surged' through her
brain. tugged at her very heartStringS.
shook her with emotion.
That night-that night of June "a
chat fatal night. She turned appeal
{ngly to the judge. but received no pity.
She must answer the question and do
as she had sworn 10 do-"tell the whole
Eruth.
She dried her nervously moist hands
with her handkerchief She tried to
speak. but words would not come forth
from the lips thar moved The woman
Of steel nerve who had excited admira-
tiCn c-i comment ut the opening of
che trial now seemed verging on trans
formation e. 4 physical wreck with
palsieI tongue
Il viii repeat the question" began
fhe prosecutor hoping TO relieve the
strain Of tie deep silence prevailing
throughout the woman's ordeal.
But no BY a tremendous effort she
pulled herself together, looked straight
into the attorneys eyes and started.
though in broken tones ut the begin
ming, 70 tell what she knew of and
had seen in the moments Of the con
summation of the crime that had
shocked a continent.
''YOu need not repeat that-that
question" she quickly said. IL will
answer it fully. On the night in ques-
ZION / entered the library of my home.
and-and-the telephone bell was-was
ringing"
Again she paused. Her cheeks. her
hands and her forehead twitched
nervously as sometimes they do in an
eDileptic attack. She CROPPED rs though
Dlindly for Il bottle of smelling salts
which she carried in gold mesh bag.
The once strong thread of mental re-
serve and physical power had worn
TOO thin to stand the strain. 1t snap
ped
The woman fell back i'm the witness
chair in swoOn as she gasped feebly,
Water. water" and the court attend
ants jumped to her aid.
After all. there was no just cause to