The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-01-16

be- Mrs. Patterson. Bigger though,
remembering the woman Peggy
had mentioneI as Mrs. Da.ton's
maid.
VIII you please raiselyous rich,
hand?
Mrs. Dalton's frail. waxen hand
went up timidly. The man asked
Mrs. Dalton II the testimony shs
was about TO give was the truth
the whole truth and nothing but
the truth. so help you God. ard
Mrs. Dalton answered,
Yes. sir: do"
Bigger sat stoiidly. trying not "a
let the crowd detect any fear in
him. His nerves were painfully
taut as he hung onto the Cd
woman's words. Under the main
questioning, Mrs. Dalton said that
her age was fifty-three. that she
lived at 1905 Drexel Boulevard.
that she was retired school
teacher. that she was the mother
OF Mary Dalton and the wife AZ
Henry Dalton. When the man be-
can asking questions relating 10
Mary. the crowd leaned forward
in their seats. Mrs. Dalton said
that Mary was twenty-three years
Of age. single: that she carried
about thirty thousand dollars
worth OF insurance. that she own
cd real estate amounting 70 ap-
rroximately quarter OF a million
dollars. and that she was active
right up 10 the day OF her death.
Mrs Dalton's voice came tense
and faint and Bigger wondered
how much better TO have stood up
in the full glare OF those rowing
knives Of light and let them shoot
him down? He could have cheated
them out OF this show. this hunt.
this eager sport.
Mrs. Dalton" the man said.
I'm the Deputy Coroner and IL Is
with considerable anxiety that
ask you these questions. Blu, II Is
necessary for me TO trouble you
in order 10 establish the identity
OF the deceased :"
"Yes. sir" Mrs. Dalton whis-
pered.
Carefully. the coroner lifted
from the table at his side tiny
piece OF b'ackened metal; he turn
cd. fronted Mrs. Dalton. then
paused. The room was 50 quiet
that Bigger could hear the coron-
er's footsteps on the wooden floor
Is he walked TO Mrs. Dalions
crair Tenderly. he caught her
hand In his and said.
I'm placing in your hand a
metal object which the police re-
trieved from the ashes OF the fur
mace in the basement OF your
home. Mrs. Dalton. | want you 20
feel this metal carefully and tell
me II YOU remember ever having
felt Il before"
Bigger wanted TO turn his eyes
away. but he could not. He watch
ed Mrs. Dalton's face: he saw the
hand tremble that held the black
cred bit OF metal Bigger jerked
HIS head round A woman began
10 sob without restraint. A wave
CT murmurs rose through the
room. The coroner took quick
step back TO the table and raped
sharply with his knuckles. The
room was instantly quiet. save Tor
the sobbing woman. Bigger look
cd back 10 Mrs. Dalton. Both OF
her hands were now fumbling
nervously with the piece OF metal;
then her shoulders shook. She
was crying.
DO you recognize IT."
Yves. -"
What Is IT."
"A-a-an earring"
When did you first come 10
contact with IT."
Mrs. Dalton composed her face,
and. with tears on her cheeks, an
swered,
when was a girl years ago
DO you remember precisely
when?"
"Thirty-fve years ago"
You once owned IT,
Yes; II was one OF a pair"
Yes. Mrs. Dalton. No doubt the
other earring was destroyed In the
fire. This one dropped through the
crates into the bin under the fur
mace Now. FRS. Dalton. how long
did you own this pair OF ear
rings?"
For thirty-three years"
How did they come into your
! possession :"
We'll, my mother gave them 70
me when was OF age. My grand
mother gave them to my mother
when she was OF age. -"
What do you mean, OF ageT
AT eighteen"
And when did you give then 70
/ 0s9