Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-11-24

ed. found it necessary to 80 TO his
friend. Gerald Trask. for financial as
siStance.
Mr. Trask responded with his ha
bitual generosity and promptly loaned
Strickland $4,000 taking the latter's
note as security. But Strickland's bust
ness didn't improve, and he decided TO
migrate to the west. The note was
payable on June %. two days before
the murder.
when the 22d arrived Strickland
was in Cleveland, o., making arrange
ments for himself and family. He re-
turned. however, on the 9th. the night
of the murder, sent for Mr. Trask and
took up the note. | call your attention
TO the fact, gentlemen. that Strickland
paid the debt in cash. He was a bust
ness man. He did not pay it in check
or draft. but cash! Ten thousand dol
lars in cash.
Mr. Trask had offered to let the
loan stand until Strickland was on his
feet again. but Strickland wouldn't
hear of it. You will understand his
eagernesS to cancel the debt in mo-
ment. gentlemen. 1t was because he
had evolved little plan whereby he
could wipe out the obligation without
it costing him cent. The scheme was
simple enough. gentlemen. He knew
that Mr.. TraSk would have to keep the
ten thousand in his house overnight
and that he would almost certainly
lock it up in the safe in the library
And what is more. gentlemen, he knew
the combination to Mr.. Trask's safe
Bear in mind that only two people
knew the combination TO that safe
Mr.. Trask and Strickland"
The prosecutors voice had risen to
pitch marked by tones of bitter de-
nunciation.
Gray was plainly strong for oratorical
effect.
"But Strickland hadn't the nerve to do
the job alone. so he called in an assist
ant. Accordingly he and his accomplice
entered Mr.. Trask's house a few hours
after Strickland had paid over the mon
ey. The accomplice went to work on the
safe and Strickland stood guard. The
burglar succeeded without much diff
Guilty i'm opening the safe and extract
inc the $4,000 while Strickland SUI
perintended the job. Before they could
escape however. they were interrupted.
first by Mrs Trask and then by her
husband The accomplice made a
hasty exit taking the plumber with
him. That was the last that was heard
of the accomplice. gentlemen. Who
he is or where he went we have been
unable TO learn" Now Gray was liter
ally shrieking.
'"But Mr.. Strickland was caught red
handed. and believing. evidently. that
dead men tell no tales. he shot and
killed Mr. TraSk in cold blood
There you have the story. gentle
men Mrs Trask. the widow of the
murdered man, will fell it TO you in
detail Her testimony will be cor
roborated by Mr. Glover. Mr. Trask's
secretary, thanks to whose bray cry the
assassin was disarmed and captured.
and who gave US material assistance
in linking up the chain OF evidence
against him.
Not one of the acts is disputed.
Strickland, realizing the futility of in
terposing q defense. has refused
Arbuckle rose hastily.
81 object to that" he cried to the
court.
Counsel will not interrupt" ordered
Dinsmore
Strickland, / say" went on Gray,
has refused to make any effort to de-
fend himself. When he was ar
raigned'-
Arbucl1le broke in again.
81 object to that"
Counsel will not interrupt" repeat
ed the judge
Gray continued:
when he was arraigned. he pleaded
guilty to the indictment of murder in
the first degree; perhaps, gentlemen,
you ask, if this is so, why are we here?
Why is the county put to the expense
of the trial? An expense which we tax
payers must meet in the end. Why
must you business men be taken from
your occupations-be compelled co lose
your valuable time?
''Why is not the penalty allotted to
murderers inflicted upon the defend
ant? And in answer to that l say to
you because, gentlemen, the state is
jealous of the lives of her citizens. To
her the existence OF an individual is
sacred no matter if he be depraved,
degenerate. possessed of criminal in
stincts. dangerous to society. She will
not allow even a self confessed MUIR
derer to be put to death until twelve Of
his fellow citizens sitting in solemn
judgment calmly, dispassionately hear
ing and weighing the facts. have de-
creed that that man shall suffer the
consequences of his crime. That is
why we are here today, gentlemen.
THAT is why his honor has assigned
such distinguished counsel to defend
Strickland. and that is why before we
ask you to visit upon this defendant
the punishment he merits we shall by
the unimpeachable testimony of eye
witnesses convince you of his guilt be-