The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-22

ton, that you sent kilograms on
the day Of your disappearance signed
with the name of Bryce, and also
that you received messages sent to
Helena Bryce?"
II must object to that, Mr..
Coroner. Whether this witness used
one name or a dozen has absolutely
no bearing on the matter under in
igation-namely the death Of
the infant"
neck as an animal does. He
- leaned forward till his face
was almost on a level with the table.
IF the witness wishes to conceal
facts, Mr.. Attorney, very well. The
fact that woman leads a double
life-uses two names, conceals from
her parents the birth of a child,
bears directly on this case"
When you show it, the questions
will be aswered. But If the purpose
OF this investigation is merely to
embarrass my witness, the witness
| Will Dc WlJnQrdWn--
Yes, and a warrant charging MUIR
der can be swornr'
Jonathan stirred then-he lurched
forward. started to speak The law
yer raised his hand. He answered
sauvely: "Yes-the warrant can be
sworn If the evidence is at hand. If
there Is no evidence, all parties
swearing to such a warrant shall be
responsible. However, Mr.. Coroner,
the witness wishes to aid. She Is
ready to give the complete account
Of the child's death. I am aware
that you. as coroner Of this town,
can certainly have no prejudice-no
wish to fasten guilt where guilt
can not exist. My witness will .iye
all necessary information.
The coroner fixed his large sloth
full eyes. on Chickie: did your par
ents know of the birth of your
child?"
Just a momentr'
But now the tension sharpened,
scraping of feet, an impatient stir
|
jury: THE question deals with the
death, not the birth, OF an INFANT"
The men on the jury watched
Chickie. She sat with the pale face
lowered-exquisite in its thinness,
piercing In it's mute despair.
The coroner answered: THE
death may be directly traceab1e to I'M
fortunate circumstances Of it's birth.
Is 1t a fact, Mrs. Clayton, that on
the fourth day after the birth Of
your child you secretly removed 1t
from the house Of Mrs. Robbins?"
Yes"
You knew it was a raw, freezing
day?"
II don't know"
You knew your child was weak?"
"They said So"
You left note saying that you
sent the nurse away because she
would oppose your going. So you
knew it was a dangerous thing to
take the child from the house"
Chickie was suddenly standing at
it's basket again, seeing the small
unprotesting face-dreaming of plac-
ing 1t in her mothers arms-giving
it to them-to Jennie and Jonathan.
She glanced upward, her eyes be-
seeching. She said family: vi
couldn't leave it."
Why did you go?"
"A MESSAGE had a message"
THAT your mother was dying. Is
this the message you mean?"
Chickie nodded. Now she sat
lower in the chair. She clasped and
unclasped her hands. Her eyes
seemed to grow large-to take up
with their tragic appeal TIE white
ness Of her face.
You got a message that your
mother was dying, and you left.
taking the baby with you? You in
tended to take this child to your
dying mother
A Pickering smile, half wild, went
about Chickie's mouth She said:
"Yes-oh-you see-you see
you were to bring the child to
them, although a week before its
birth you sent this telegram" He
held up a yellow slip of paper. He
read the frantic message Chickie had
sent. Oh, that was wi1en she was
snowbound-she couldn't get to
them. He read this.
HE men and women packed
into the heated room, with
- the sun streaming like a
warm liquid even through the drawn
shades-these men and women
craned forward, drinking expectant.
ly the. pitiful revelation Of Chickie's
Observation-Disclosures forlorn, lost
fight to hide the shame and the
tragedy.
Jonathan had called: I'm Gods
name, come-Jennie is sinkingp
No-she hadn't gone. She had
wired: I'm coming-travel slow.
have terribly spraineo ankle.
may be delayed
She went back now to that des.
perate hour-lost and helpless in it.
The coroner spoke twice. Agnes
Robbins tapped her shoulder before
she heard:
isn't it a fact that you were on
the farm of Mrs. Robbins at this
time, and that you were then await
ing the birth of yout child?"
A slight, responding nod.
ION the day your child was born
you received another message ask
ing why, you were delayed. You
sent no answer to this. Isn't It a
fact, Mrs. Clayton, that you went
to great lengths to keep secret the
birth Of your child?"
Chickie looked about the room,
lmploring, distracted. The faces
With their lighted eagerness fright
ened her. She moved her hands out
Mard-such pretty han0s-in q little