The Washington times., 1916-02-13

nVW Efecteu the prosecutor inbtpaus ..iu
u was a hostility that somehow was the
more acute because the faces were 40
oddly famillar-so familiar. In fact, that
he had almost epoken 10 one OF the mon
who sat in the front row when he had
pathed him In tho corridor the day De-
The reporters seemed like old friends.
TOO. and he noticed With grim little
smile that ono OF the sob sisters had
on new and very becoming hat. and
ne wondered lfonlcally whether II was
day before one OF the star writer's on a
big daily had changed his seat IN order
to ST beside heri He knew the latter
reason was the more probable. and tho
farce farce OF NE. the strange dramatic
times before: that here with the black
shudow OF q shameful death hanging
over the giri In the priBoner'A dock, and
with the bloody clothes of murdered
women stu found. time To- play tho
woIld-old Eame--to think OF hats and
ties and gettinK out TO luncheon! And
also Of reducing life-and-denth issues
to mere good, copy" for those who
glont over the next day with avid ca.
Rcrnoss.
There was an extra hrlskness about
the newspaper group today. however,
and tho PROSECUTOR noticed two or three
new faces, RELAY men" TO take the
place OF others who would turn their
stories In by telephone hour after hour
for tho special editions, For today the
defense OF Mary Page would begin. To-
day Langon must strip or the mask OF n
smiling confidence and show what lay
behind II.
The mask. or at any ratc. tho smile.
was still there when he came into
court. not with Mary, this time, but
with her mother. His hand was tuck
ed protectingly under the arm Of the
little gray-haired woman, and his lips
were close to her car as N he were
murmuring final encourag ement--or
a final Instruction!
Mary. too. was smiling. and she had
thrust white rose into her belt. n rose
as palely sweet MS she herself. and her
Ups. curled back like soft red petals,
peatiDg:
To-day VIC viii begin my defense.
Today Philip will start 20 set me freer'
And not even I'm her own heart would
path that must be Travelled before that
elusive freedom had struck the invis-
BILE gives from off her wrists and
heart.
She was stIlI winclng n little from
the lash OF the final speech of tho
prosecutor. II seemed TO her as II moth
Ing TO comc-exccpt the final moments
before the vcrdict-could possibly be as
bad as that half hour OF the day be-
fore. so II was with equanimity, though
yearhing wlstfulness showed IN her
eyes. that she heard the first witness
OF the day called.
Mrs. Annie Pason
The frail little woman seemed to have
visibly shiun when she took her place
In the witness stand. and the great
violet shadows under her eyes and the
colorless lips told of the strain that the
fri linz RI
curled like stendrils about the edge OF
the stand. as II she feared her ability
to remain erect; but her eyes were
steady and her voice clear-love for her
child was greater. than fear OF the
law or the pain OF dragging out long
hidden shames and sorrows.
Mrs. Page, how long ago was Il that
you met the man who later became
your busband?f Il a..
"Thirty-one years ago at Christmas"
And you became engaged almost i'm
mediately?"
YES"
But II was some years before you
were married, was II not?' -.
Yes" 90.
"Whyg'
Because of-of Mr.. Pages habits.
My parents insisted upon my breaking
the engagement"
But IL was later renewed"
Eyes. He promised me that he would
stop drinking. and believed. God
knows. a woman always believes that
| from q man."
Please make only direct answers to
| the questions" interrupted the Judge
sternly. and Mrs. Page flushed a little
under the rebuke. whisper OF SYM
pathy crept about the room.
"will you tell us. please" Langdon' s
/ voice was warning In its sharpness. "as
| concisely as you can what happened
after your marriage?"
What happenedT' she said wearily,
! sis what happens to thousands OF wom-
/ en-. we hadn't been married very Ions
before my husband began to drink
again. The--the night that the certainty
! that Mary was coming TO us from God
| came TO me-he was out till dawn and
| had 10 be brought home too drunk 10
even know where he was. And all the
| while that was making ready for her
/ he made my inability to go out with
| him an excuse for debauch. And oh
your honor" she added. turning "a
the Judge with a catch IN her voice
| might after night used 20 walk the
| floor, praying like a wicked woman that
by baby might die before u came into
| the world-because j was AFRAID II
would bear the taint-would be borr
! with that awful devastating thirst"
when he was drunk" Again Lang
don's voice held that warning note. bu
| now the prosecutor broke In sharply
May Il please the court. protes
against this evidence, as irrelevant! Al
being a palpable effort TO arouse sym
pathy toward the prisoner and her
mother and therefore a menace TO tn
progress OF justice"
ION the contrary. your honor" Lang
don took an eager step forward, ant
there was n sharp thrill almost OF tn
umph In his voice as he spoke, 1T 4
my intention 20 prove by this testimon!
that Mary Page, through prenatal In
Huence, was born with so great hor
ror of drink az to induce I'm her mo
ments NJ Temporary insanity. even whel
she wss Ettlc child. And " Mar,
Page fred the shot that killed Davb
Pollock she did so white suffering fran
an attack of 'repressed psychosis Z
which she has been subject all her life.
The words spread like a flame through
the finder of curiosity and leaped fror
Hip 10 lip not only through the cour
itself. but spread by some telcpathi
means TO those lowering In the corrido
| without The defense was known n
last IL waA temporary insanity unde
a new and delightfully."- erudite title
1t caught the prosecutor unawareS
lie appreciated its cleverness. eve
though he doubted It's honesty II ~
fered an excuse for everyth'ng-th
shooting. the flight. Mary's repeated
and hysterical assertions that she re-
ntembored nothing except Pollock's en-
deavor to make her drink-but II wa