The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-07-11

had stormed and Mable tried to
wait until it was over. And Street.
er found her here alone"
With sobbing breath mother told
of the futile struggle against one
whose Strength was greater than
Der own. She told Of the cruel and
inhuman treatment strangely re-
miniscent of those far off days OF
slavery when Negro women were
the legal property of white men.
For hours after Mable laid there
dying where Streeter had beaten
her into submission, then left her
crushed and bleeding.
The court was silent. Only a &C.
casional sob broke the stiffness.
Men looked ashamed and women
wiped away tears as Mother re-
lated the discovery of Mable's brok-
en- body.
They brought her home dying
and sobbing Joe's name with her
last breath
Tell Joe good bye, mother"
AS mother Clark's voice died
away in a sobbing whisper, Jason
said softly.
The States witness"
Allen Grant shook his head and
looked away.
Mother Clark stepped down
from the stand and Jason escorted
her back to her seat.
The next witness was-Dr. John
Sheppard.
He was tall and thin, with a
gentle mien, dressed carefully in
black suit.
A white doctor as witness for
the defense
DR.. Sheppard took the stand,
leaned back in the chair and wait
ed.
"Dr. Sheppard" Jason began
Where were you born?"
Christie, Alabama"
Near Halstead.
Eyes"
you know the Clarks."
yes"
And Jim Streeter."
Eyes l knew him too"
Did you ever render profess
sional service for the Clarks?"
Yes"
when"
I'm the fall of nineteen-eigh-
teen"
The day."
October fifteenth"
Whom did you attend
Joe Clark's wife, Mable."
Tell me doctor the nature of
Mrs. Clark's illness"
Mrs. Clark was dying from
severe injuries and shock. Two
head fractures and Vulnerable
bruises, while all of her front
teeth were gone-one arm broken.
She had been brutally assaulted.
In hard tense voice he told the
ugly story of Jim Streeter's de-
fiance. He dared the doctor to
make known who was response
Bile for Mable's condition.
The day after the attack, Mable
died. She never regained consci-
ousnss after her pitiful words of
farewell to her absent young hus-
band who was fighting on the
battle fields of France.
Allen Grant attacked the doc
tors story viciously but there was
no sting in his fight for the doc
tor answered in quiet tones and
refused to intimidate.
The doctor was dismissed. The
was Jason's clinch witness.
Jason again walked over to Joe
and laid his hand on his shoulder.
He addressed the court.
IL ask permission to recall this
witness"
Joe took the stand, sorrow
beaten figure, all the fury gone
just a heart broken man. filed
with suffering. Seeing only the
crushed body of one he had loved
better than his life.
Joe" Jason began gently
Tell me about the day Of the
murder"
Joe smiled sadly and moved his
hands slowly over the smooth sur
Of hn nm Of hA TN g
chair.
Il had breakfast with mother
that morning, she was so happy to
see me-" he stopped.
YES" said Jason.
We'll mother was over joyed
to see l was-sober. Then she
prayed" his voice filled up, cit was
a beautiful prayer, the sweetest
I've ever heard. l felt ashamed
that l had been so weak as to live
in my sorrow and forget all that
| owed mother. And so l promised
mother to turn over a new leaf
to do better-to live to make her
happy. Then mother told me Mable
would be happy to know | was be-
ing a man. I'd never looked at it
that way before. l always wanted
to make Mable happy"
Joe glanced at Jason and smil-
ed.
1T was the first time I'd thought
of trying to live for others. 1t
made me feel good, an dso l left
the house. Then l met a flower
vendor and l bought two carDa-
tions-a white for mother to wear