The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-25

ner Of death Of one Margie
Shannon Thus endeth the first
lesson"
How simple you make every
thing!" Betty breathed admiringly
as Prosecutor Miles went through
the formality of introducing the
certificate and establishing fol
the purpose of the record that 8
murder had been committed.
I'm better than you think,
said Terrell. "Ill bet that Miles
calls Bertha Ramsey to the stand
when he has finished with the
coroner. She's the colored maid
remember?-who discovered the
murder"
interruption Brings
Smile From Prosecutor
Miles bowed slightly and re-
turned the smile. "Of course" he
acknowledged, and turned once
more to the jury, "the state VIII
endeavor to prove" he proceeded,
that Janice Fowler, at or about
midnight of October 9, entered
the apartment of Margie Shan
non and stabbed her to death. In
support of our contention we shall
produce the weapon with which
Margie Shannon was murdered
and which was found in the de-
PENDANTS apartment, bearing the
defendants fingerprints. We shall
produce other exhibits and wit
nesses, among them a witness who
will testify that he saw the de-
PENDANT leaving Miss Shannon'S
apartment at about the time Of the
murder as established by the cor
oner.
And so on, speaking leisurely,
conversationally, impressing the
jury with his earneStness. His
way of looking at them was an
ingratiating bid for their favor.
He was making them like him.
Betty Kelley, sitting at my
right, nudged me with her elbow.
Look at Janice Fowler" she
whispered. did you ever see
anyone so calm?"
I had scarcely shifted my eyes
from her during Miles opening
speech. And her expression had
not changed a whit-not even
when he spoke of her beauty, nor
when he pictured her as a mid
night assassin. All the while she
sat there at the defense table be-
side Stanley Evans and his young
associate, Claude Messick, and
kept her calm, level gaze on the
prosecutor who was trying to send
her to the electric chair.
There's a good story just in
her chin" said Betty Kelley
softly. ITS "a valiant sort Of
chin, isn't it?-and her hats aw.
fully cute. I like it," She fell
silent and began jotting down
notes of Janice Fowler'S cos
tunes; and while she scrubbed
Miles took his seat at the prose
cutor'S table and began a whis-
pered conference with his two
assiStantantS and Stanley Evans.
with an encouraging smile for
Janice Fowler, rose and walked
over to the jury box.
There are certain preliminarieS
to trial Of this kind" he began
deliberately. which cannot be
dispensed with. They are neces-
sary in order to answer the re-
quirement of legal procedure. But
at least we can make them brief,
and that is what I propose to do.
There is one thing I want you
to bear in mind, If you please,
ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
and let us not for one minute for.
get it. A trial is about to begin.
A trial for first degree murder.
There, just a few yards from
where you sit, sits the defendant,
Janice Fowler. She comes into
this court unafraid, unashamed,
proud in her innocence and con-
fident that she will find justice
here. ask you to bear in mind
that, under the laws of our coun-
try and our state, any man or
woman who is accused of q crime
shall be considered innocent until
he or she has been proved guilty
OF that crime. That is what we
call the presumption Of limo
cence."
To Be Continued
(Coryright by Michael o'MaIieyD
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