Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-01-12


Judge Dinsmore looked at his watch.
tits twenty minutes after 10, Mr.. Dan
ieIs"
The clerk of the court started up in
his place. Yes, your honor"
"Just call up Mr.. Arbuckle's office
and find out what's OBTAINING him"
But before the clerk could obey the
order Arbuckle entered the court. He
was breathless. The judge addressed
him sharply:
"This court cOnvenes at 10 o'clock,
Mr.. Arbuckle"
Arbuckle recovered his breath with
difficulty and replied:
Il must ask your honor to excuse me.
| have been working all night on this
case. There has been an unexpected
development overnight. Last evening
Mrs. Strickland, the wife of the de-
PENDANT, came to my house. 1t seems
that she became dangerously i'll, and
it is only the realization Of the impOr-
lance of her testimony that has ena-
! bled her to be in condition to take the
witness stand. She has told me a sto-
ry, your honor, which puts an entirely
different aspect upon this case"
District Attorney Gray interposed an
objection:
81 object to counsel commenting
upon the testimony of a witness who
has not yet been called"
every we'll, your honor" said Ar
buckle. 81 shall call Mrs. Strickland
at once. Her testimony will require no
comment. Call Mrs. Strickland, pleased"
An attendant opened door and call
ed, "NIrs. Strickland!'
With the appearance of May Strick-
land came q new sensation in the trial,
already Overcharged with sensational
features. Her temperance was en-
tirely unexpected by judge and jury,
the newspapers and the public. All
were eager to observe her. and the great
majority to comment on her appear
ance. They found plenty of food for
| their remarks in her wan countenance.
for the months that had passed since
the terribly tragic scenes in the home
Of the Stricklands on that last fatal
night had told terribly on her. She
| was still cOmely, but her face was
| thin and drawn. Indeed, as soon trans
PRED physical as well as mental suf-
fering had set their marks on May
| Strickland.
Arbuckle directed her to the witness
stand She was duly sworn, and then
/ Arbuckle began his questioning:
| "Mrs. Strickland, are you the wife of
Robert Strickland. the defendant?"
Eyes, sir"
| when were you married"
July 10. 1903"
| did you know Gerald Trask?
YES, sir. l did"
when did you first meet Mr.. Trask?''
''In March. 1900"
"That was before you knew Mr..
! Strickland?"
Eyes, sir, more than two years be-
J FORE"
How old were you at that timer"
"Just seventeen"
With the inherent Inconsistencies of
all human beings the audience made
mental calculations of May Stricklands
! age. "Still young to pass through such
an ordeal the majority thought
"Where did you meet Mr.. Trask?'
Eat Lakewood"
| Now. Mrs. Strickland went on Ar
buckle. describe your relations with
Mr.. Trask at that time"
j HE was very attentive to me and
| took me about a good deal. About ten
days after | met him / returned to the
city, and he came back too. He kept
sending me things and taking me out.
| Then one day he asked me to marry
him
The tone was low. The words came
! with an effort. The wOman's head was
bowed, and the judge had to admonish
her to speak more clearly.
"When was that?" Arbuckle asked.
SIN April. 1900. | asked him to wait.
He said he would wait as long as
wanted him to. But every time he
saw me he spoke to me about it. tell
ing me how much he loved me and
how much l meant to him. He seemed
so earnest and sincere that | believed
everything he said. At last l yielded
and consented to marry him."
when was that?" said Arbuckle.
"On the 10Th of May. He said he
wanted to be married next day. But
he said that on account of his family
ne couldn't let it be known for awhile,
so we'd have to be married secretly.
! Next day he called for me in his auto
mobile and said we were going to a
lotel in Great Neck. L. l.. to meet a