, 1916-03-09

wy sodp no . Nitfoo SoFaiul'
er's uplifted right arm. With a groan
Strickland drops to the floor. the re-
volver falling from his hand.
And then Joan Trask, widowed by
the shot. staggers to her feet and
| screams:
"My God he's killed Geraldl'
1t is Glover who takes command of
the situation. Standing guard over <he
fallen Strickland. he urges the moan
ing woman to telephone to a doctor.
So ran the story Of the widow of the
slain man. 1t was not told connected
ly, but had to be elected by the ques-
tioning. at times lnsistent, but at all
times c~onsiderate and gentle, of the
district attorney. 1t was his duty to
bring out the facts, to invoke justice
upon the man who had invaded his
friends home at night and had shot
him down. The fact of the shooting
by Strickland was established by the
testimony OF Mrs. Trask. Trask lay
in his grave. and strickland had done
the shooting. 1t was not denied. Had
he not been willing to plead guilty?
Had he not In pen court protested
against the continuance of the legal
proceedings. which might send him to
the electric chair, asking only that his
little girl-his Doris-be spared the or
deal of the witness chair?
Throughout the appearance Of Joan
Trask on the witness stand her testi-
mony had been followed with the clos
est attention by judge and jury. by
counsel for both sides and by the
throng in the courtroom. 1t made the
deepest of Impressions. Especially
when the money was mentioned, $780,
900 in cash. a large sum to the great
majority Of the audience. 1t was no
ticeable that Mrs. Trask's audience
leaned forward In their chairs.
Here, it seemed to their minds, as
the district attorney had asserted In
his opening address to the jury, might
be found sufficient motive for murder.
Strickland's financial difficulties. set
tied so short a time before the shoot
ing, II really settled at all; his eager
ness to pay in cash; his possession of
the combination to the safe; his dra-
matte appearance In the Trask home
only a short time after he had seen
Trask In his own home; the elusive
accomplice. who had disappeared-all
pointed. In the minds of the hearers of
Mrs. Trask's testimony. to winful. de
liberate murder. only to be expiated In
the chair of death.
Having told her story of the shooting
itself. Mrs. Trask was retained in the
witness chair to tell Of the subsequent
happenings in her home on the fatal
night and to undergo cross examina-
ton by the attorney for the defense.
A few minutes after the shooting the
police arrived. she said. but her hus-
band vas dead by that time. He died
Instantly. the doctor said.
Now, Mrs. Trask. did you observe
the safe before the police arrivedT'
asked District Attorney Gray.
Yes; the safe was opened"
Did you notice If any Of the con
tents were missingT'
"Yes, sir; the $4,000 were gone"
That's all. Mrs. Trask.' And MI.
Gray turned to David Arbuckle. chief
counsel for the defense, with. "You
may cross examine the witness"
Then the district attorney, his mill
tan air giving way to a relaxation that
told Of relief and satisfaction with his
witness, settled back In his chair to
watch the proceedings closely. He was
a faithful prosecuting officer, intent on
safeguarding the rights of his client,
1.-THE people Of the state of New York"
1t was now the u of the defense.
Mrs. Trask," said Arbuckle. rising,
did you recognize your assailant. the
man who opened the safer"
NO" replied the witness. He came
upon me SO quickly. And the room was
In total darkness"