New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-03-08


One Of the jurors blew his nose loud
~, and two Or three exchanged sig
nideant glances, and Langdon, the
sweat beginning to bead 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
to the judge and said, with an ora
torical 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
Zee boys scufled 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
murmur like the distant roar Of wild
beasts. the unadmitted public clamor-
Ing for the news borne by the boys en-
route for the newspaper Offices.
But when the door closed again a
tense silence held the room in thrall.
Even Mary's sobs had ceased, and, lift
ing her tear stained face, she smiled
rainbow wise at Langdon, as if she
would have said: Nov 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 a
tremendous current and said quietly:
"Your honor and gentlemen Of the
Jury. you have heard the case against
for Mary Page
''She has declared herself that she
has no recollection Of those final mo-
ments in that hotel room to which she
had been lured by miserable beast
She remembers only a fash-like
dream-of his leering 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 moment of insanity
supertnduced by the horror of intoxica-
don 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 bab-
bic, In which the word INSANE" bob
bed like a cork on a 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 merry
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, horror that has entan-
gled her in this mesh Of tragedy.
shall call as my first witness Mary
Page"
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 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 strong prenatal inhu
ence you were born with an unnatural
horror Of intoxication?"
TT Is true" sighed Mary, but in an
instant the district attorney was on
bis feet.
II object!' he cried. "That question
concerns something that took place be-
fore Miss Pages birth. She can-she
must, in fact-know it only by hear
say"
4 "uoI 0uoIoAA yOu1 OUJcNllOu, Sdlu
the judge. "Mr. Langdon, your ques-
ton was unfortunately worded. Can
you alter 1t?'
II think can," said Langdon. LET
us put it this way: What is your ear
hest recollection Of your father?"
II object to that alsov' stormed the
district attorney. 1T is not relevant.
What have a childs vague recollections
to do with the action of a woman Of
Miss Pages age|
The judge hesitated, and Langdon.
still smiling, said quickly:
II 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 meT
gasped Mary in bewilderment, and
Langdon nodded. And now, as the
throng waited, he turned to the little
prav haired mOfhor and his voioo NOME