Connecticut western news., 1916-03-30

| niicant 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 inso place.
 Four excited and self important of flee boys scuffied out of the room bear | ing sheets on which was scrawled:
 State rests it's case after evidence of Detective Farley" And through the open door as they went came a murmur like the distant roar of wild beasts, the unadmitted public clamor- i ing for the news borne by the boys ell route for the newspaper offices.
 But when the door closed again q l 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: Now 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 q tremendous current and said quietly:
 "Your honor and gentlemen of the | mad niIa-t Mary Page. Now listen to the case 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 a miserable beast She remembers only a 1ash-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 a moment of insanity superinduced by the horror of intoXica- ton 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 a sudden bab- ble, in which the word insane bob bed like a cork on sea of rumor, and f 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- tion.
 The district attorney was drowning and whispering to his assistant, who nodded from time to time as he nerv ously fingered the pile of papers in front of him, but now Langdon wG~ speaking again:
 Tt 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 intoXicatiol has played, a horror that has entan- gled her in this mesh of tragedy. shall call as my first witness Mary Page"
 It came as an overwhelming sur prise, this calling of Mary to her own defense, and, although she strove tt 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 a strong prenatal influ. ence you were born with an unnatural horror of intoxication?''
 'It is true," sighed Mary, but in an instant the district attorney was on his feet.
 'I objectr' he cried. That question concerns something that took place be fore Miss Pages birth. She can-shc must, in fact-know it only by hear say"
 "I must sustain your objection" said the judge. MT. Langdon, your ques- tion was unfortunately worded. Can you alter itY'
 "I think I can," said Langdon. Let us put it this way: What is your ear Hest recollection of your father"
 "I object to that also!' stormed the district attorney. "It is not relevant What have a child's vague recollections to do with the action of a woman of Miss Pages age?"
 The judge hesitated, and Langdon, still smiling, said quickly:
 "I withdraw my question. The wit ness is excused"
 "Do you wish to cross examiner" [ asked the judge, and the district attor- ney, with a scowl, shook his head.
 "Are-are you through with me?" gasped Mary in bewilderment, and Langdon nodded. And now, as the throng waited, he turned to the little gray haired mother, and his voice rang out Cwas it with triumph0:
 Mrs. Pager
 In an instant the room was in an up roar. More copy boys rushed for the door bearing Tapping sheets covered l with scrawled, disjointed words, and the l onlookers, who had so far considered | Mrs Page as merely a "DroD" q bit of l