Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-25

! OIc VI thc JuIOIS DlcW us nose lOuu-
! ~, and two or three exchanged sig
L.dcant CLAN O.. AID -angdOn. the
sweat beginning &, lead bis forehead,
knew that they hdd already made up
their minds tat Nary was guilty.
The detective. released. stepped
, down FROM tAe witness DoX. aud now
the district t;.a:uey turned smilingly
to the judge and said. with an ora.
torical flourish:
J your hOL1r TIE state rests!'
The last stoue in that brutal gallOws
/ Of evidence had been ceinented into
place.
Four excited and self important Of
fee boys scufllcj out of the room bear
ing sheets Un wl.ch was scrawled:
state rests ITS case after evidence
of Letert!vc Furley." Aud through
the open door as they went came Il
murmur like the distant roar of wild
beasts. the unadmitted public clamOr.
ing for the news borne u tLc boys EN-
route for the newspaper Offices.
But when TIE door closed again u
tense silence held the room ia thralL
Even Mary's sObs had ceased, and. lift.
ing her tear stained face, she smiled
rainbow wise ut 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!'
Langdon drew a deep breath, flung
back his shoulders as If breasting
tremendous current and said quietly:
"Your honor and gentlemen Of the
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
merts in that hotel room to which she
had been lurcd by Il miserable beast
She remembers only Il iash-like
drcam-of his luering face, and then
blackness swept over her. Gentlemen.
it is not the first time that Miss Page
has been affected in that same fashion.
And if Mary Page killed James Pol
lock she did it in a 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
onloCkers broke out into n 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's
cheeks. 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
nodded from time to time as he nerv-
Ously fingered the pile of papers in
front of him. but now Langdon was
speaking again:
1T is my intention, your honor and
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 to
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 cant 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 Il strong prenatal infu-
ence you We're born with an unnatural
horror of intOXication?"
1T is true" sighed Mary, but in an
instant the district attorney was on
his feet.
Il obiect"' he cried. THAT question
concerns something that took place be-
fore Miss Pages birth She can--sha
must. in fact-know it only by hear
say"
Il must sustain your objection" said
the judge. MIR. Langdon. your ques-
tion was unfortunately worded Can
you alter it,
Il think | can" said Langdon. Let !
us put it this way; What is your ear
Hest recollection OF your father?"
II object TO chat also!' stormed the /
district attorney. 1T is not relevant. |
What have child's vague recollections |
TO do with the action of a woman of |
Miss Pages ageY
The judge hesitated, and Langdon. |
still smiling. said quickly:
Il withdraw my question. The wit
ness is excused"
"Do you wish TO cross examiner"
asked the judge, and the district attor-
ney. with scowl. shook his head.
"Are-are YOU through with me?"
gasped Mary in bewllderment, and
Langdon nodded. And now. as the
throng waited, he turned 20 the little
gray haired mother. and his voice rang
out twas it with triumph0:
Mrs Page