The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-22

habit of borrowing money from
her and not paying it back. The
last time Margie asked for a loan,
Janice refused it and there was a
quarrel. So that, although her
first impulse upon finding the
misericorde was to return it, Miss
Fowler was human enough, after
being unable to get a response, to
decide to hold it as hostage, so to
speak, for the money that Margie
Shannon owed her. It was her
intention to inform Miss Shannon
the next day that she had found
the misericorde and was willing to
relinquiSh it upon payment Of the
debt. It certainly did not occur
to her at the time that there was
any unusual circumstance at
tached to the dagger'S lying just
outside Miss Shannon'S door"
But" said Grady Williamson,
saul Mitchell said very positively
that he saw Miss Fowler leaving
Margie Shannon's apartment"
Janice spoke up then for the
first time during the interview.
"Mr. Mitchell" she said calmly,
''iS either mistaken or he is lying.
I did not enter the apartment"
"Other than that" Evans went
on smoothly, ignoring the brief
dialogue, there is no change in
Miss Fowler's story. She went to
bed, and when she got up the next
morning she noticed for the first
time that her apartment had been
entered and some valuableS stolen.
She reported that at the desk
downstairs and went to work.
That afternoon she was taken in
custody by the police and informed
that Margie Shannon had been
murdered and the weapon found
in a drawer chest in her own apart-
ment. The combination of those
two circumstances appalled, her.
When she was asked to explain
she said she could not account
for the presence of the miseri-
corde in her room.
"A little later she was told that
her fingerprints had been discov-
cred on the weapon, but she chung
to her original story then rather
than confess that she had lied
That is Miss F'owler'S story, gen.
tlemen, and that is her defense.
I am sorry that when she was ar
rested she did not stand upon her
constitutional rights and refuse
to answer questions until she had
engaged counsel to speak for her.
1t would have saved her consid.
cradle humiliation.
He gazed somewhat reproach.
fully at Janice, who smiled rue
fully and dropped her eys.
Anyway" said Evans, bright.
ening once more and turning back
to his interviewers. well be ready.
must say this is the most I'm.
usual case I have ever handled.
have never encountered a more
damning array of circumstantial
evidence, but it is purely circum.
stantial, of course"
Grady Williamson INTERRUPTED
"You wouldn't call Saul Mitch.
ellis story circumStantial evidence,
would you?"
Grady'S Comment
RuffIes Attorney
Stanley Evans thrust his hands
in his trousers pockets and tilted
back on his heels. "Of course" hi
said, cycling Williamson a little
coldly, I'VE can't fight the case
here. But remember one thing. A
man who admits that he had beer
reading a book until he started
to go to sleep can hardly be ex
pected to remember accurately
every detail of a totally unex
pected vision of a girl in a hall
way"
Bunny Jackson folded UP his
notes and tucked them in g
pocket. 80 it will be Mis-
Fowler's word against that of the
States star witness?"
Yes, I suppose So"
ANY idea when the case viii
be tried2'
I've told the prosecutor thu
sooner the better as far as we're
concerned. He feels the same way
about it."
While they were talking drew
Janice Fowler to one side to tel
her I wished her well. "And Tn
glad you took my fatherly ad
vice." I added.
To Be Continued
Copyright by Michael o'Mallsvl
| Distributed by King FOaturs0