The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-01-23


but she did not answer"
did You touch herr"
Eyes. slightly
but she did not speak 10 your"
well | heard some mumbling.
do you know Who. II was?"
mo"
Mrs. Dalton, could your dsugh-
ter by any means. in your judg-
meni. have been dead then. and you
not have known or suspected it,
Il don't know"
DO you know II your daughter
vas alive when you spoke to ner?"
Il don't know. assumed she
Sas"
Was there anyone else In the
room AZ the time?"
II don't know. But felt strange
there
strange: wha, do you mean.
strange"
IL don't know. ! wasn't salts
fed, for some reason. IL seemed
10 me that there was something !
should have done, or said. But
kept saying 10 myself. She's asleep.
that's all.
III you felt so dissatisfied. Why
did YOU leave the room without
trying 10 awaken herr
Mrs. Dalton paused before an
swefing. her thin mouth was wide
open and her face tilted far 10
one eide
smel, alcohol in the room" she
whispered.
"Yes:'
Il thought Mary was intoxicat-
cd"
Had you ever encountered your
daughter intoxicated before
yes: and that was why l
thought she was intoxicated then.
/ was the same odor."
"Mrs Dalton. II someone had
possessed your daugher sexually
While she lay on that bed. could
you IN any way have detected it?"
The room buzzed. The coroner
rapfed for order
Il don't know" she whispered.
Just few more questions.
Please. Mrs. Dalton. what aroused
your suspicious that something
had hefallen your daughter"
when ! went TO her room the
next morning i fel. her bed and
found that she had not slept in
Il. Next felt in her clothes rack
and found that she had not taken
the new clothes she had bought"
Mrs. Dalton. you and your hus-
band have given large sums OF
money to Negro educational insti-
tutions. haven't your
YES"
"couid you tell us roughly how
muoA?"
over FIVE million dollars
you bear no III will toward the
f, Negro people,
No. none whatever"
Mrs Dalton. please. tell us what
vas the last thing you did when
you stood above your daughters
bed that Sunday morning."
IL f" She paused. lowered
her head and dabhed at her eyes.
Il knel; at the bedside and pray
, cd - She said. her words COM
ing IN sharp breath OF despair.
THAT is all. Thank you, Mrs.
Dalton"
The room heayed a sigh. Bigger
saw the woman lead Mrs. Dalton
back 10 her seat. Many eyes in
the room were fastened upon Big
ger now. cold grey and blue eyes.
eyes whose tense hate was worse
than shout or curse. To get
rid OF that concentrated gaze, he
stopped looking. even though his
eyes remained open.
The coroner turned to the men
sitting in rows to his right and
said.
"You gentlemen. the Jurors. are
any OF you acquainted with the de-
ceased or are any OF you mem
bers OF the family?'
One OF the men rose and said,
no. sir"
Would there be any reason why
you could not render fair and
impartial verdict in this?"
no. sir"
rs there any objection TO these
men serving as jurors in THE case?"
the coroner asked OF the entire
room.
There was no answer.
In the name OF the coroner. | !
will ask the jurors to rise, pass BY
this table and view the remains
CT the deceased. one Mary Dalton"
In silence the six men rose and /
fled past the table. each looking
az the pile OF white bones When
they were seated again. the coro- .
ner called.
We will now hear Mr. Jan
Erlonel"
Jan rose. came forward briskly. 1
and was asked 10 swear to tell the 1
truth. the whole truth. and nothing
but the truth, so help him God. I
Bigger wondered II Jan wou A
turn on him now He wondered n
he could really trust any white
man, even this white man who had