The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-08

80 out With him an excuse for de-
bsueh. And oh. your Honor" she
added turning 10 the Judge with a
catch in her voice. might after night
l used 10 walk the floor. praying like a
wicked woman that my baby might
die before it came into the world-be.
canse was afraid it would bear the
taini-wOuld be born with that awful
devastating thirst"
Did your husband ever strike you
when be was drunk" Again Lang
don's voice held that warning note. but
now the prosecutor broke in sharply:
May it please the court. protest
against this evidence. as irrelevant!
As being a palpable effort to arouSe
sympathy towards the prisoner and
her mother and therefore menace to
the progress Of Justice
"0n the contrary. your Honor"
I.angdon took an eager step forward,
and there was 4 sharp thrill almost of
triumph in his voice as he spoke. 1T
IS my intention 10 prove by this test.
mony that Mary Page. through pre-.
natal influence, was born with so great
horror of drink, as TO induce. in her,
moments of temporary insanity even
when she was a little child. And II
Mary Page fired the shot that killed
James Pollock she did so while suffer.
Ing from an attack Of depressed psy.
Ghosts 10 which she has been snbiect
all her life.
The words spread like a fame
through the finder OF curiosity and
leapt from lip to lip not only through
the court itself but spread by some
telepathic means to those lowering In
the corridor without The defence was
known at last 1t was temporary in.
sanity under new ana delightfully."-
eruditc title,
1t caught the prosecutor unawares
He appreciated IFS cleyerness, even
though he doubted its honesty. 1t of
fercd an excuse for everything the
shooting. the fight, Mary's repeated
and hysterical assertions that she re
membered nothing except Pollocks en-
deayor to make her drlnk-but it was
50 unexpected that he had no quick
parry for Langdon's appeal, and be
was not surprised when the Judge badt
the latter continue his questioning.
Mrs. Page, will repeat my former
question to you. did your husband
ever strike you when he was druak?"
Yes The word was no more thar
Il whisper.
Did he ever strike you just befor,
your child was born"
Yes The answer came moro quick
ly now, iiercely, the mother domman
above the wife.
win you tell us of the circumstance
please
1T was one night when | had beci
sitting M sewing. My husband cam,
home very drunk. He-he frighlcnc.
me and | ran from him, That inturlat
ed hin-h lie ran after me ana seize,
me by the shoulder, Than hc-h,
struck me. But he held me SO tigh
that my shoulder for daya bore the I'm
print Of his fingers In great hrui>c o.
the flesh.
Have you ever seen another brulst
| like that?"
Yes"
Where" The question snapped on
brutally, and Mary. leaning forward
stretched out one shaking hand towdr
her mother-in appeal or eneourag,
mont, it was hard to say which
Upon the shoulder OF my baby
When Mary was born the imprint q
five fingers, like purple bruises, shove
on her shoulder
Did they remain there
NO They faded as she grew older
Did they ever recur:'
"YeS. The Grst time was when Mar
was FIVE years old Mr.. Page had con
Observation-Disclosures was sitting
the library. Mary ran 70 him and L
tonk her on his knee Suddenly sh
began screaming and striking ut hin
and he pushed her of his lap. Then
She faltcred little but went brave
! ~ on, ".ir, Page took flask of viii,
key out Of his pocket. and half In fun
half in anger, grabbed Mary and trle
to force the liquor on her She-sl
seemed to 20 mad. and when | snatcl
ed her away from him her little nigh
gown had slipped or her shoulder an
there--plainy-could be seen the mari
of the hand
A murmur OF excitement crcpt aboI
the reporters table rs we'll rs amor
the spectators This was great stuff
and when Marys trembling hand can
back from its impotent reaching {
ward her mother. and went SHARPLY
her left shoulder, there was no one
the room who needed the answer
I LangdOn's question.
(Which shoulder was that ma
upon, Mrs. Page
THE left one"
a How long was ii before the CHI
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