The Washington times., 1922-09-17
WAR COLLAPSE
/ WILL BE MADE
7 BASIS Of PLEA
I FORACQU|TTIL
First Trial in Which Such a
Z Condition Has Ever
Figured.
suFE WILL BE DETAILED
Accussd Man Calmly Awaits
Court Session To-
morrow.

SSAtk SSoStou "
morrow.
II Is q far cry from the hellish
noises and terrifying scenes of
the Argonne Of September, 1918,
70 a tensely hushed court room in
the little town of Huntingdon, Pa,
In September, 1922.
Yet, counsel for the defense Of
DR.. Herbert Bryson, former proni-
inent physician Of Washington and
hero Of the Forty-second (Raln-
bowl Division, will. with every
weapon at their command, en-
deavor to establish beyond a rea-
sonable doubt that the cause Of
he murder with which DR.. Bry-
son Is charged finds its roots in
he horrors of the last great bat
ie IN which the Americans par
icipated.
Face Titanic Task.
The tracing of cause and effect is
IN elusive process, and on the face
u II the task of DR.. Bryson's attor.
eys appears titanic.
To picture on the one hand a
pan crumpling on the field of bat.
e, the victim OF shell shock, and
N the other the same man, almost
our years later, towering, with
moking revolver in hand, above the
orm of his dying mate-and then
10 weave a case which demonstrates
he latter picture was the natura.
md inevitable sequel to the first
his 10 the thing which DR.. Bryson' 3
attorneys must do.
Trial Begins Tomorrow.
DR.. Bryson's trial for life, on the
charge of staying Mrs. Helen Irene
Iaines, wife of a washington chauf,
feur, at q seQuestered village In the
nountain Businesses Of Huntingdon
ounty, begins before Judge Thomas
T. Bailey at Huntington tomorrow
fternoon.
There have been few murder
hses in the State Of Pennsylvania
recent years presenting 80 many
nusual ramifications or promising
the outset SO many developments
a sensational trend.
So far as is known, shell shock
A.
q prominent case as a defense for
burder.
Testimony Of witnesses for the
efense, II is believed, will take up
he thread of DR.. Bryson's life
ack in Washington in the ante
ellum days.
1t will be shown that he was grad.
hated with honors from George
Washington University and finished
bis interneship in a highly satisfac-
(ory manner.
To Recall Success Here.
The proud day when he opened his
ffice' In the National Capital for
ne practice Of his profession will
e recounted. The steady growth
4 his clientele, and the conscien :ious
nd skilled manner Of his practice
lin be emphasized. His success and
ne promises which the future held
br him will be developed in the
Pstimony.
How he went to the Mexican
brder with the Federalized national
iardsmeh in 1915 and served faith.
lily until the international trouble
as settled, will be brought out.
Then the world war. and the quick
sponse by DR.. Bryson to his coun-
US call.
His assignment as medical officer
the 1l7th ammunition train of the
|roic Forty second Division, and the
Fly months Of training on French
II will be told.
Then will come a description OF the
rst contact Of the division with the
ar itself.
skilfuily will William Wallace
hisolm and Harry w. Petrikin. at.
rneys for the accused man. lead
be jury through the gray days at
be front; through the frightful
ghts, as the young medical officer
bilowed the flag OF his country
trough the five greatest actions In
|hich American troops participated
n the western front.
Picture Mental Collapse.
The night raids Of the bombing
lanes, with the ever.present danger
ID disaster to the ammunition train;
kiyid pictures of the constant shell.
ng, the destruction Of ammunition
humps, the raklng Of truck trains
by boche planes, the long rows of
Wounded at the dressing stations -
knally, after months Of this, shell
shock.
Something snaps in Major Bryson' s
brain, to relieve the tenseness OF a
haily and nightly strain that was
beyond human endurance.
From the date of that mental col.
hpse, witnesses for the defense will
weave q different story as they ,akc
he stand In the crowded court room
A strange metamorphosis, war.
brought, which left DR.. Bryson
roken In mind and body, and appar.
ntly no longer morally responsible
society, will be skillfully traced.
The meeting between the ex.ma ior
nd Mrs. Bruce Haines, an attractive
tenographer In the War Risk Blu.
eau here, will be recalled.
This woman was described by her
husband, following the tragedy, as
In butterfly woman" He declared
'she used all the money could
make In buying clothes. finally took
N office job, and then took all the
honey both Of US earned to pay for
er gowns and hats"
Whether Mrs. Haines saw in DR..
bryson an opportunity to get away
from the monotony of routine work
n the Government bureau without
enying her growing love for SHIN
fsring silks and hats which. bore