Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-12-02

LueT. 1HeTe were WHlSpoEou WOTuS VI
sympathy and quiet EXPLANATIONS as
the dramatic scene was acted. and
some of the more susceptible among
the spectators started to their feet
Judge DiEsmore kept his judicial pose.
He raped thrice with bis gavel and
said:
'Mr. tric:1;and-silencer'
Il 10 IN the child's testimony be
stric {; said District Attorney
Graz Re hour was late, and the
trial O. ;.-2 'ase of the people of the
state -. .>rT FORK against Robert
Strickland for the murder of Gerald
Trask WAS adjourned for the day.
That night the people of New York
read and discussed nothing but the
case. And the feature that held them
most was the testimony of little. Doris
Strickland. telling her story to save
her dearly beloved daddy" The uni
versal comment was:
Poor child. Her mother ought to
be here with herr
ceedings in the trial saw the courtroom
scene all set at 10 o'clock in the morning,
save that one of the principal charac-
ters was missing. The trial could not
proceed without David Arbuckle, the
defendants chief counsel. and Judge
Dinsmore asked of the district attor-
ney:
''Mr. Gray, have you seen Mr. Ar
buckle this mUrning?'
NO, your honor. have not
Judge Dinsmore looked at his watch.
It's twenty minutes after 10. Mr.. San
iels.'
The clerk of the court started up in
his place. Yes, your honor"
"Just call up Mr. Arbuckles Office
and find out what's OBTAINING him"
But before the clerk could obey the
order Arbuckle entered the court. He
was breathless. The judge addressed
him sharply:
''This court convenes at 10 o'clock,
Mr.. Arbuckle.''
Arbuckle recovered his breath with
ulIlculCy ana roplleu:
Il must ask your honor to excuse me.
| have been working all night on this
case. There has been an unexpected
development overnight. Last evening
Mrs. Strickland, the wife of the de-
PENDANT came to my house. 1t seems
that she became dangerously i'll, and
it is only the realization Of the impor-
lance Of her testimony that has ena
bled her to be in condition to take the
witness stand. She has told me sto-
ry, your honor which puts an entirely
different aspect upon this case"
District Attorney Gray interposed an
objection:
Il object to counsel commenting
upon the testimony of witness who
has not yet been called
Every well, your honor" said Ar
buckle. II shall call Mrs. Strickland
at once. Her testimony will require no
comment. Call Mrs. Strickland, pleaser'
An attendant opened a door and call
ed, Mrs Stricklandv'
With the appearance of May Strick-
land came q new sensation in the trial
already overcharged with sensational
features. Her temperance was en-
tirely unexpected by judge and jury.
the newspapers and the public. All
were eager to observe her, and the great
majority to comment on her appear
ance. They found plenty of food for
their remarks in her wan countenance
for the months that had passed since
the terribly tragic scenes in the home
of the Stricklands on that last fatal
night had told terribly on her She
was still comely, but her face was
thin and drawn. Indeed, as soon trans.
pired, physical as we'll as mental suf-
fering had set their marks on May
Strickland.
Arbuckle directed her to the witness
stand. She was duly sworn, and then
Arbuckle began his questioning:
Mrs. Strickland, are you the wife of
Robert Strickland, the defendant?"
Eyes, sir
When were you married?''
July Is, 1907
did you know Gerald Trask?'
Yes, sir, l did,
when did you first meet Mr.. Trask?"
I'm March. 1900"
THAT was before you knew Mr..
Strickland:'
Yes. sir, more than two years be-
fore
'How old were you at that timer"
Just seventeen
With the inherent Inconsistencies of
all human beings the audience made
mental calculations Of May Strickland's
age. Still young to pass through such
an ordeal the majority thought.
''Where did you meet Mr.. Trask?"
'At Lakewood"
Now. Mrs. Strickland went on Ar
buckle, describe your relations with
Mr.. Trask at that time
"He was very attentive to me and
took me about a good deal. About ten
days after | met him | returned to the
city, and he came back too. He kept
sending me things and taking me out.