, 1916-04-20
SYNOPSIS

1eLalu lfask in the latter's library at
nieht. District Attorney Gray declares
S~trlcRland Killed Trask, with the aid of
an accomplish, who escaped, for the SAKE
OF 10000 in cash. which Strickland had
Just repaid to Trask. The defendant and
irask were the onls two who knew the
10 the safe. Important Hg-
ures In the case are Arbuckle, counsel for
the defense. and Glover, who was Trask' s
secretary.
strickland would not make defense.
put law compels him to do SO. Mrs.
Strickland disappeared after the shooting.
Mrs. Trask, on stand. tells of telephone
call made on her husband. on the night of
ms death, by a woman who would not
give her name.
Trask returned from Long Branch that
night and told Of giving by mistake the
combination of the safe to Strickland
MRS. Trask asked him in vain for name
OF woman who called him up. Glover and
Trask discussed Strickland and praised
him.
MI. and Mrs. Trask quarreled about his
attentions to other women, and she drag
ged out Of the past that affair at Great
Neck" thirteen years before, in which a
Miss Deane was involved.
Trask promised to reform, and his wife
forgave him. although 1t was only fear
OF a divorce suit that prompted him. Later
when the two had gone to their respec-
tive rooms the telephone bell rang again.
Trask answering to some one he called
May who is unknown to his wife.
Strickland entered the library. sho Trask
and was struck down by Glover. The
money was stolen. Glover is called to
testify.
Glover tells OF striking down Strickland
and taking from his pocket a card bear
ing the combination of the safe. Strick-
a n tried to tear the card, he said, and
succeeded in tearing 1t almost In half.
Little Doris Strickland is called to the
stand against her fathers agonized pro-
test.
Doris Strickland tells of her fathers
happy homecoming from Cleveland on the
fatal night. Before his return, she testi-
fies, her mother ~telephoned to the Jersey
railroad about a lost purse. Mother was
downtown shopping the day before. she
tells daddy. Doris Investigated daddy's
travelling bag and found a shining. me
tailic object.
what kind of a noise was it,"
Il don't know-a funny noise-hke a
little firecracker."
And what did your mother do when
she heard the noise?"
The vivid recollection brought back
all of Doris terror and WEAKNESS. She
made a brave attempt to answer. say
ing:
"She screamed and said, My God,
he's killed him. Then the child fal
tered and cried out: please let me go.
| don't want to talk any more"
Just one more question and you'll
be all through, What did your mother
do after she said. My God. he's killed
himT'"
''She took me in her arms and kissed
me and said, 'Goodby.' And / cried
because it hurt when she kissed me
And she went away"
And have you seen your mother
Since that night?"
The child sobbed: NO, no. | want
tC see her She looked up, and her
eyes rested upon her father, sitting in
the prisoners chair and staring at her
in strained attention. Doris rose from
the witness chair and started from the
platform toward her father, crying:
Daddy dear. why did you make
IN cry and run away from meY'
Before Doris could set foot on the
floor Of the courtroom Arbuckle caught
her In his arms and said to the court.
That's the child's story, your honor."
Strickland had started to his feet
when his little daughter had turned to
him. His right arm was suspended In
the sling. With his free left hand out
stretched he appealed to the judge, ex-
claiming:
For Gods sake, you're torturing my
little baby
The court was astir with sympathy
for Doris Strickland If not for her ia
Their. There were whispered words of
sympathy and quiet EXPLANATIONS as
the dramatic scene vas acted. and
some of the more susceptible among
the spectators started to their feet
Judge Dinsmore kept his judicial pose.
He raped thrice with his gavel and
said:
'Mr. observation-disclosures!
II move that the child's testimony be
stricken out said District Attorney
Gray. But the hour was late. and the
trial of the ease of the people of the
state of New York against Robert
Strickland for the murder OF Gerald
Trask was adjourned for the day
That night the people of New YORK
read and discussed nothing but the
Ease. And the feature h a held them
most was the testimony of little DORIS
Strickland. telling her story to save
her dearly beloved daddy" The uni
versal comment was:
Poor child! Her mother ought 10