The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-23

, durance and greater than mere pa | tience, and if she were guilty then she was the most amazing actress Tn the world-this was the thought that flashed through the minds of those who watched her, as she went quietly for- ward and took her place in the court room, the exposure of all eyes, hostile, critical, curious and sympathetic. Yet to all of them she was a riddle, won derful riddle, a marvel of self-controL vision of forlorn loveliness. More than one man or woman watch l ing, felt a sudden understanding Of why she had succeeded upon the stage since she could act like this! It must have been born in her, this hyp- notic, histrionic ability, this wonderful quality of magnetism, augmented by youth and beauty
 | And yet for all her charm there was still that antagonistic note in the l atmosphere, a hostile sense of her guilt that Langdon at least felt poign- antly, Though he determined to meet the day with squared shoulders and a smile, it was a relief when the actual business of the trial began and Farley, the house detective of the Hotel Republic was called as the first witness To him the prosecutor said:
 Tell us as briefly as possible what | happened on the night that David Pol lock was murdered in the Hotel Re- public" He strengthened up and spoke briskly.
 'I had come back from supper kind of late,' he said, and made the round of the upstairs halls to see that the floor clerks were on duty and had nothing suspicious to report, then went back to the lobby. There was a theatrical banquet in the private dining room on the second floor, and as they are sometimes pretty noisy and troublesome, I took chair where I could watch the door. I saw the crowd come in"
 Was the prisoner, Mary Page, among them?"
 NO, sir. She came in a little later with Mir. Langdon here, and stoutlsh man. Mr. Langdon didn't go into the banquet, but came back downstairs and finally took a chair quite near to mine. About fifteen or maybe twenty miutes later I saw the young lady, Miss Page, come out of the dining room with her cloak on her arm and a fancy evening bag swinging from it., and hurry down the hallway. At sight of her MT. Langdon jumped up and started for the stairs, intending, ap- parently, to meet her. I was lighting cigar just then and when l turned around I saw the stoutish man come to the door of the banquet room and look anXiously along the corridor. l thought something might be wrong or the young lady i'll, so I went upstairs myself I was just at the top of them when I heard a revolver shot and a scream"
 Was the scream first-or the shot?"
 q don't know They came about simultaneously, I should say, and then one of our bell-hops comes running down the hall shrieking, It's in the gray suite It's in the gray suite! and I ran down to that door. When I got there" He paused and gulped, and little shiver ran through Mary For an instant her eyes closed.
 When I got there," the detective continued, MT. Langdon was kneeling on the floor lifting up Miss Page, who was in a faint, and saying over and over, Mary, Mary did you do this?' And just beyond them was the body of David Pollock, shot through the heart with the revolver beside him."
 "Was that revolver nearer to Miss Page or to MT. Pollock" the query snapped like a whip lash, and Farley's answer brought a whispering stir of excitement in the court.
 Tt was just beyond the finger tips of Miss Pages hand, which lay Imply beside her"
 Did Miss Page say anything in re- sponse to Mir Langdors question?'
 "She was unconscious" Farley said, land I answered him. I said. Not did she do it, but WHY did she do it, MT. Langdon.'
 Did you see Miss Page enter the suite where Mir. Pollock was?"
 "No sir l couldn't see the door of the suite from where I was. but there are only two other doors along the corridor and they both open into private rooms or card parties and such things Those doors were open, and as I could see her as she passed them she must have entered that suite or con- tinued down the corridor to the elevator and stairs"
 What was the condition of the room. Was there any evidence of a struggle?"
 "Yes. sir; that is to say. bottle Of whiskey that was on the table was upset and had dribbled onto the carpet, and there was broken glass on the floor. Miss Pages coat was crumpled in a heap back of the door | with her evening bag-open-on top or it, but that was all.
 And having found MT. Langdon with Miss Page and the body Of David Pollock, what did you do?"
 Well" the detective shook his head little ruefully, "by the time l had made sure that MT. Pollock was dead, the stoutish man was shouting for a doctor, and the room was filled with lot of hysterical people from the ban quet and the supper dance downstairs, and MT. Langdon got up and shouted; "'For Gods sake. Farley. get these people out and send for the police! Fl knew he was right, and l ordered l them out We had some trouble with one man. the leading man in the Page Company, and Mr. Langdon asked him to telephone for doctor. as well as for