The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-17
The Strange Case OF
Mary Page
First Episode
MARYS DEFENSE
Continued from Thursdays Banner

those behind. And now the district
attorney going to the grewsome array
of exhibits in the case, picked up the
revolver and. showing it to the jury,
put it into the detectives hands.
rs this the revolver" he demanded
dramatically, "and is the prisoner the
woman whom you found locked in the
room with the dead body of James
FllockT'
Yes" answered the detective. And
ut the word the pencils of the reporters
Oegsn TO spin like mad across the far
ing yellow of their copy paper, and
gasp OF dismay wrung from some wo-
mans throat faded into stilled sob.
one of the jurors blew his nose loud
~, and two or three exchanged sig
niilcant glances, and Langdon, the
sweat beginning to bend his forehead.
knew that they had already made up
their minds that Mary was guilty.
The detective, released, stepped
down from the witness box, and now
The district attorney turned smilingly
10 the judge and said, with an ora
torieal flourish
Your honor. the state rests.'
The last stone in that brutal gallows
of evidence had been cemented into
place.
-Four excited and self important Of
hce boys scutiled out Of the room bear
ing sheets on which was scrawled:
state rests its case after evidence
of Detective Farley And through
the open door as they went came Il
murmur like the distant roar OF villa
beasts, the unadmitted public clamor-
ing for the news borne by tie boys en-
route for the newspaper offices.
But when the door closed again Il
tense silence held the room in thrall
Even Marys sobs had ceased, and, lit
ing her tear stained face, she smiled
rainbow wise at Langdon, as If she
would have said Now is our chance.
Now we will tear down this awful
temple of doom that has been built
for me-
I.angdon drew deep breath, flung
back his shoulders as If breasting a
tremendous current and said quietly:
your honor and gentlemen of tbs
jury, you have heard the case against
Mary Page. Now listen to the case
for Mary Page.
"She has declared herself that she
has no recollection Of those final mo
nents ~ that hotel room TO which she
had bcen lurcd by miserable beast
She sembers only II aash-like u
lirsr.-f his leerinG face, and then
blackness swept over her. Gentlemen.
il is not the first time that Miss Page
has been affected i'll that same fashion
And II Mary Page killed james Pol
lock she did il in n moment of insanity
superinduced by the horror OF intoxica-
ton that has pursued her since the day
she was born
AS with one accord the jury sat up
and leaned forward In their seats, and
onlookers broke out into sudden bah
bic, In which the word insane bob
bed like cork on sea Of rumor, and
not even the judges gavel could secure
silence for several moments. In that
| time the color crept back into Mary 5
checks. and somehow she felt deep in
| her heart that the tide of feeling at
least was turned again in her direc-
| ton.
The district attorney was frowning
and whispering to his assistant, who
Il = 4 t,,., ina, nc N
ously fingered the pile of papers In
front of him, but now Langdon was
speaking again:
1T is my intention, your honor ana
gentlemen of the jury, to show you
step by step through this girls life the
part which that horror OF intoXication
| has played. a horror that has entan-
| gled her in this mesh OF tragedy /
| shall call as my first witness Mary
| Page"
1t came as an overwhelming sur
prise, this calling of Mary to her own
| defense. and, although she strove t.
be calm, she was obviously startled
( and afraid, and wave after wave OF
| excitement swept through the room
! At the reporters table one sob sister
| whispered to the other
Poor thing. She can't stand much
more It's wicked to call on her."
miss Page" said Langdon, and his
| voice was very gentle, isn't it true
that because of a strong prenatal influ
ence you were born with an unnatura
| horror of intoxication:"
| 1T is true" sighed Mary, but In AZ
instant the district attorney was OF
his feet.
81 object he cried. THAT question
concerns something that took place be
fore Miss Pages birth. She can-sll'
must, in fact-know it only by hear
say"
81 must sustain your objection" sale
the judge. "AIr. Langdon. your ques
tion was unfortunately wordcd. Can
you alter it!'
Il think l can said Langdon. lie
us put it this way: What is your ear
lest recollection of your father
Il object to that also,' stoimed th'