The Washington times., 1916-11-30
DEFENSE SCORES
IN EASTON CASE
important Testimony In Grace
Marshall Trial Barred
by Judge.
WOMEN PACK COURT ROOM
Found In Pitiable Condition, I'm
properly Nourished, and
Shivering, Says Doctor.
WOMEN PACK COURT ROOM

EAsToN, Nd. Nov. 30.--A dramatic
clash between attorneys furnished the
sensation at the session last night m
!, the trial of Mrs. Rose Virginia MAJ
shall, charged with paltreating Grace
Marshall, her stepdaughter, during
the ten years or more that the now
famous girl prisoner was detained In
a flthy room of her home at 81
Michaei's, near here. ...
Mason Shehan, attorney for tho
father and stepmother, who by their
alleged inhuman treatment OF the girl
have stirred nationwide interest In
the welfare OF the latter. objected to
testimony bearing on the treatment
OF the girl after she had been re-
moved from her parents custody.
states Attorney Charles J. Butler. tho
prosecutor, fought for the introduc-
tion OF this testimony on the ground
that Il was a means Of showing that
the girl had been the victim OF crimi-
nal neglect.
Dramatic Moment IN Trial.
When objection OF the defense was
sustained by the court. Butler. drac
maticaily exclaimed: "Your Honor, I
might as well give up my case, for the
whole prosecution was built up about
this. want to show by n chain OF
testimony. OF which this Is an indis-
psnsable link, that the MarshalIs
were guilty OF criminal negligence"
When court reconvened for tho
night session at 1880 the attorneys
began battling over the admissibility
OF tho evidence In question, but the
court refused to change its ruling
until the prosecution would show
some precedent on which to base its
claim that such evidence was ad'
missible.
For the afternoons session fully
100 women lined up In the corridors
and on the steps Leading to court.
room. They waited patiently for
opened, a football rush for the seat.
ensued, with women pushing and
crowding each other franticaliy. The
courtroom was filled In two minutes,
listeners packed In room like coal
Miss Emma Davies was cross-exam:
ined by Attorney Shehan. She told
how IL had been at his sugEestion
that q writ OF habeas corpus had been
taken out for Grace originally. Her
examination.
.A PiusbIe sisAt"
Other witnesses told OF Grace's ap'
pearance. She was "a pitiabie and
horrible. sight," declared Mrs. Julius
oroetxinser. who helped nurse her.
"she ate as. though she were famish'
cd. Her frontal bones protruded: she
was all skin and bones. When she
would stand on her feet q while. they
would get blue. IL she would sit
down. her face would get blue; she
didn't have the strength to walk from
DR.. Charles r. Davidson then took
the stand. He described the room
Grace was found In.
''I found a human being, emaciated
beyond conception. Her chin was pc
An odor such as you would get from
an accumulation OF filth was In tho
Il lifted her up. and asked. Grace.
ioksd up at me- smiled and nodded In
He testified that Grace's pulse was
10. the normal being Y.
sNst Properly Nonrished.'
ITO what do you attribute her weak
ness?" Butler asked DIR. Davidson.
"she was a subject that was not
properly nourished."
"Would her physical condition be sf-
fseted In any way by her mental con-
dition?" . =.
S"6race Marshall had no physical dis
ease. Disease and lack or care, atten-
ton and food are all that could cause
her emaciation. As she had no disease
The case will be continued Friday.
seventy more witnesses to be heard.