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PACK SEX TUB GASTOXIA. GAZETTE. TUESDAY, ML1Y 18, 1916. ; 8YN0PSI8. hCary Put. actress, is accused of the saurder of James Pollock and Is defended by her lover. Philip Langdon. - Pollock was intoxicated. At Mary's trial she ad mits she had the revolver. Her maid testifies that Mary threatened Pollock with It previously, and Mary's leading BUui Implicates Langdon. How Mary dis appeared from the scene of the crime is a mystery. Brandon tells of a strange hand print he saw on Mary's shoulder. Further evidence shows that horror of drink pro daces temporary insanity in Mary. The defense is "repressed psychosis." Wit nesses described Mary's flight from her in toxicated father and her father's suicide Nurse Walton describes the kidnaping of Mary. by Pollock. STAGE ASPIRATIONS N OT since the famous trial that sent the expression "brain storm" spinning down through the years, has the testimony OC en alienist so greatly stirred an ex cited world as did the phrase "Re pressed Psychosis," with which Dr. Footer summed up the temporary ln . sanity of Mary Page. . It spread through the court and the throngs In the corridor; it sped over the telephone wires to the waiting newspapers of the city. It even reached the zenith of publicity and became the Inspiration of the cartoon lata, but all this was after that day when Dr. Foster, once more upon the witness-stand, told with technical brev Ity of how prenatal influence. Increas ed by fear and suffering, re-acted upon tbe delicate brain tissues under the .. strain of a great shock. Much of what he said was entirely Unintelligible to the excited audience. . It was therefore with a little rustling sigh of relief that they heard Langdon abruptly change his line of quest ion ' Ing and say: "Dow long after the night at Dr. Zellar's sanatorium did Miss Page re main In your hospital?" ""It was nearly three weeks before she was able to go. and even then It ' was with some trepidation that I con sented to her leaving." "Did yon fear a return of her Ill ness?" "Yes. I knew that excitement or a nerroua strain of any sort would have "Did ysu fear a return nessf' ef her ill .an Injurious effect, and I warned both Mrs. Page and Mr. Langdon to protect tier as much as possible. v "Dr. Foster, did you ever see James Pollock after the night be took Miss - Tea. I saw him again on the day when Miss Page left my sanatorium." "Will you tell us the circumstances of that second meeting, please?" Langdon were just about to leave. In rder to take a train to New York when Mr. Pollock drove up to the san atorium In his motor. I was very In dignant at bis daring to come to the hospital after what had occurred, and -asking t&e Pages and Mr. Langdon to sro Into my office and wait, I went to the door myself and peremptorily or dered Mr. Pollock to leave the grounds. Da refused to go. saying that he had omethlag -of great Importance to say t Miss Page. He would not, be said, sat to see her alone, but It was his light to see her If he wished, because tbelf engagement had not been broken. I felt tbat la the circumstances It was The Straiige Case of MARY The Great McClure Mystery Story. Written by FREDERICK LEWIS In Collaboration With JOHN T. M'INTYRE. Author of the Ashton Kirk Detective Stories. Head the Story and S the Esjanay Moving Tictxire 0- Copyright 1915. by McClure PublicatWa beet to let blin see Miss Page and re ceive his dismissal. So I took him into the office." "Did Miss Page show any distress at sight of him?" "Yes. She pave a little t ry almost of fear and clung to her mother, and would not answer his greeting." "What did Mr. Pollock say?" "He said. 'You have no reaSn to shrink from me like that. Mary. At worst what I have done has been le cause I loved you. You have prom ised to marry nie, and so far that promise has not leen taken buck, and now I have come to know what you are going to do. It seems to me that we ought to be married at once as as I have information that your fa ther's death has left vou without well, without the comforts that I will be glad to give you. I have waited for three weeks for some word from you. and now 1 have come to claim my fiancee!'" "Did Miss Pace reply?" "Yes. She went up to him boldly J and sa,J without any signs of nervous ness or the moment In-fore, If I have not taken back my promise, James. It Is because I have been too ill to think of It. But I do take It back now. I will never marry you so long as I live, and I never want you to speak to me again. I detest you. and since you can no longer barm my father, the reason for my promise to you, is gone. That is all I have to say. Good-bye." At that Pollock got very white and said hoarsely. 'Does that mean that you are going to marry langdon?' 'It means.' she said, 'that after what has happen ed I shall never marry anyone. We are going to New York, where I hope to secure a position.' " "Did Mr. Pollock show any surprise at that?" "Xo. but he was obviously chagrined. And then I interfered and reminded Mrs. Page that they would miss their train If there was any further delay, and they left. Pollock driving away In his machine almost directly bark of them." "Did Miss Page seem culm and col lected?" "Yes. outwardly: but there was a look In her eyes that made nie fearful for her future, and her hands had re sumed their nervous twitching when I put her Into the automobile. "It made me realize tliut the great influence to fear for her was Pollock, and It is my decided opinion that if. as I have heard, he continued to perse cute the defendant, the result would" "I objectr stormed the District At torney, leaping to his feet. "Dr. Pos ter's last assertion that the defend ant's mental ailment was aggravated through the continued persecution of James Pollock, Is hearsay evidence, and a direct maligning of a dead man." "I sustain that objection." said the Judge sternly, adding to the doctor. "You must restrict yourself to answer ing questions. Dr. Foster. I.et the an swer le stricken out from the words. 'Into the automobile.' " The doctor, a flush of annoyance on his face, turned questioning!- toward Langdon. "Xo more questions." said I-angdou But the prosecutor had. He got to his feet with the alacrity of a fighting man going Into battle. With a tongue steeied In vitriol he attacked the tes timony of the alienist; be held Mary Page up as a hysterical girl who had sought notoriety; be flung doubt upon the possibility of a "temporary" men tal derangement, but though be tor tured Mary until with shuddering hor ror she sank forward in her chair, her bands pressed against her ears to shut out the sound of bis voice, he could not shake the smiling imperturbability of Dr. Foster. Cross examination meant nothing to the latter, and much as he regretted the strain upon the pitiful little prison er, be really enjoyed pitting bis power gainst that of the prosecutor. So his answers came with cool de liberation, and a bint of Insolence that won the admiration of tbe spectators who were divided between test In the stirring battle and pity for Msry. But it was the sympathy tbat came upper most At last, unable to bear sny longer tbe brutal wrangle over her sanity. Mary leaped to her feet, a little moan ing cry of protest wrung from ber white lips. Langdon was at ber side in an Instant, his bands drawing ber down Into ber chair again, bis lips whispering encouragement and com fort, till she smiled up st him a wav ering, pathetic little smile. To tbe prosecutor hi his present saV. age bumor It seemed a carefully plan ned bit of by-play, yet he could so plainly see Its effect upon tbe jury, and could read so clearly the antagonism growing In their eyes when they look ed at him, that with an abrupt shrug be swung upon his heel and sat down with a curt, ThafB alL That released Dr. Foster, and sent him back triumphantly to tbe witness- room. There were two newcomers there now, a sweet-faced matronly looking woman of middle age, rather old-fashioned In her dress, and a young girl of about twenty-five who was di vided between nervous fears and youthful zest. She was destined to be the next witness, and Dr. Foster smiled Involuntarly when he saw her. Most people smiled at Amy, for that matter, for she was bubbling over with youth and laughter, but for all that, her gai ety was backed up by the shrewdness of the modern girl who fights her own battles promptly and successfully. Iler tailored suit and soft blouse open at the throat were smartly cut. and her hat was a hint daring in its shape and the way it was tilted over her little nose, and when the bailiff called her name. "Miss Amy Barton." her agitation led her to tip it at an even more dangerous angle as she tried to powder her nose and kiss her mother at the same time. "I'm scared blue!" she confided to the other witnesses in a shaky voice. "A first night Is a cinch to this. What do I have to say?" "You have only to answer questions." said Dr. Foster, "and there is really nothing to lie frightened about." "I suppose not." she answered as she went through the door, "but I wouldn't care anyway. I'd go be hanged If It would help Mary." Under the careless words there was a sudden deeper note of sincerity, aud the moment she was on the stand she turned to tbe Judge and said: "I don't know what I am supposed to do. your Honor, but I want to tell you right here, that Mary Page Is the best and the bravest and the truest girl in the whole wide world." For the first time the judge smiled; then he leaned forward and said kindly: "The Court appreciates your admira tion for the prisoner, but you must confine your remarks, while on the stand, to the answers to questions which will lie asked you." . "Oh. yes. 1 was told that." she an swered readily. "But I forgot." Then turning to Langdon she added cheerily. "Fire away. Mr. Langdon. I'm all ready." A little gust of laughter rippled through the court. Then Langdon coming close to the witness stand, said quietly: "Miss Barton, you know the defend ant. Mary Page, do you?" "Why, of course I do. you goat!" she answered with a bubbling laugh that found an echo in the room. But Lang uon rrowned. and uis voice was more harsh as he said. "Please answer. yes or no, and 'remember that If you want to aid Miss Page, you must make your answers short and to the toint. Xow will you please tell the court Just when and how you first met Miss Page?" "It was some years ago. and she and ber mother came to our apartment with a note from Cousin Alice Cowes who lived la New Town. Cousin Alice bad sent them to us Itecause she knew we had an extra room we wanted to rent, and she thought tbat I could help Mary land a Job." "What sort of er position?" "In the merry-merry that Is, on the stage. I'd been across the foots my self for a couple of seasons and Cousin Alice said Mary wanted to become an actress and thought I could show ber how to make the rounds. It's a tougb proposition getting a job in Xew York with no friends and no pull." "Will you tell tbe court, please, Miss Barton, about tbe first position secured by Miss Page and of the events that led up to it?" "Well. It just happened that tbe day Mary bit tbe big town I bad a date with Webster, tbe real boss of tbe mu sical comedies. Of course be Isn't the sort tbat you'd want to send your lit tie sister from tbe country to see, but too much hedging don't go In the show business worth a whoop. You've got to trust to a sharp tongue and a bat-pin till you show them where they get off, and once they're wise, they, treat yon all right Webster was Ilk tbat, but If he promises you a part he plays fair, so I never wss afraid to buck his of fice-boy even on a busy day. 80 off we went "I bad an appointment with the old man, but he was scrapping with one of his 'romantic leads' you could hear them clear out to tbe front ball and It was a long time before I could per suade bis little eerberug to go In and tell him I was waiting. At any rate, be came out st last blowing blasts of red fire after tbe actor and then be saw Mary. Talk about lions and Iambs! Why, be purred when he saw ber, and he was so sweet to me I almost got a leading lady's contract out of blm be fore be woke up, and began to ask me questions about Mary. Then be tried to kiss ber and I put an Inch or so of my hat pin In his arm just above the elbow. Mary and I beat It while the going was good, and Msry waa so up set we decided to go right home In stead of calling on any of tbe other nanagers. Tbat was how wt happen- d to run Into Jim Pollock." -"Where did you meet Mr. Pollock V "Oh, he was on the job at the apart ment when we got borne. Playing tbe humble but persistent swain wanted to lay his fortune at ber feet, and give ber a life of glided ease. 116 pleaded all that sort of soft-music stuff. 'and told her she didn't realize jfaw cruel tbe world was to a girl (men always say that) and how she would suffer to see her mother growing old and lack ing the comforts she could not earn for ber. Then be pulls out his wallet and taps It saying, 'AH that I have la yours, Mary, even if you don't marry me.' Business of soft music V "Were you In the room while this was going on?" "Xo," she answered, winning a gale of laughter from the court-room, "but you can't brush your teeth In a New York apartment without the people In tbe next door flat hearing you, and ev erything that Mary said or Jim Pol lock said, might as well have been shouted through a megaphone." "Did Miss Page seem touched by Mr. Pollock's offer?" said Langdon. repress ing a smile with difficulty. "Xo, she stood up to him spunklly and told him fiat where he got off. 'I'm going to get work.' she said, 'but eveu if 1 didu't my mother aud I would never accept any help from you. 1 have only one thing to ask, and that is that you leave here at once and do not come again.' He came out tu the hall where 1 had the door all nicely opened for him. 1 told him sweetly that I'd oiened It for him to get out. but I'd be shot before it ever opened to let him in again. I ran back to the sitting room, to find Mary in n dead faint. It was such a long time lie'fore she came round, ami then site was so dazed aud terrified that we were all scared to death, and 1 swore a solemn vow then and there that I'd be the busiest little stage mother and chaperon and advice giver to Mary that any girl ever had." Her voice suddenly trembled, and the quick tears tilled her eyes as, turning to Mary, she cried eagerly: "Aud, Mary, I've kept my word, haven't I? Haven't 1?" Mary nodded, smiling through her owu tears, and the spectators who throughout the breezy testimony of the young actress bad been In gales of laughter, suddenly sobered. They saw the brave heart under the butterfly ex terior, and realized the wisdom and the goodness behind the vulgar words. Langdon. seeing the Judge frown at this shattering of legal precedent, ask ed his next question quickly. "You and Miss Page did secure posi tions in the same company, did you not?" "Oh, yes. In 'The Blue Feather.' Mary took to It like a duck to water, mid made a hit with the stage mana- "8he told him flat where he got off." ger before bed got through calling tbe rest of us all tbe names in his vocab ulary. So when it came to one bit where tbe fat tenor had to choose a girl out of the chorus to sing an encore with him, Mary got the chance, and made good, too. But that was after wards." "Well, suppose you tell us what oc curred on tbe day The Blue Feather opened." "Ob, tbe day was tbe same as any other opening day. We'd rehearsed half the night and started In at eight- thirty In tbe morning, and we were all tired to death and wished we were dead. It's slways like tbat a few hours before the overture on an open ing nlgbt, so Msry and I were mighty glad to slip out home and rest an hour before going back to make up. We didn't dare stay long, though, for being late is tbe worst sin in tbe box at a show-shop, so It was round about sev en when we got on our lids and were ready to beat it back. Just when we were leaving, though, mother came running In and said, 'Oh, Mary, Philip Langdon is- here and be wants to see you Just a minute before you leave.' At that Mai lights all tbe lamps In ber eyes, and went Into the sitting room with me a close second. 'Mr. Langdon wss there talking to Mrs. Psge and when we came In she called out. 'Mary, Philip has given up his practice in Xew Town and has 4 . A s iin-l in.,,, 1 13 r :.&A ver and took Mary's hand in both of his and said, 'Please be glad. Mary. I heanfHbat Pollock bad gone into busi ness here and I worried so about you. I felf I bad to come. Let me be your friend and protector, even if I can't be anything more, won't yvu, Mary? Oh. but you oughtn't, to give up your practice. Phil.' she said, beginning. just like a woman, to kick against tbe thmg that pleased ber most 'You you may not like it here.' But be laughed at that and they began to talk so much that I got worried and ' ntted in by reminding Mary tbat she was an actress now and had to bustle. Then Mr. Langdon had to be told all about it and the result was -we bad to run three blocks to get In at tbe stage door before they began to keep tabs on "Mary lights all the eyes." lamps in her the late comers. Mr. Langdon was to go with mother and Mrs. Page, and I soon siHitted them up in the balcony, for the management dwsn't hand out boxes for the families of its front row of the chorus, but in one of the boxes I did see a familiar face that of Pol lock. He was all gotten up In soup and fish, but he was alone, and I could see that he was taking Mary all In. and then some. Mary had told me a lot about him, and the piker way he'd acted, aud she'd also told me a lot about Mr. 1-angdon. so I decided that I wouldn't put her wise to the fact that Pollock was there, but would let her play to the balcony, which she did. She was so pretty and so happy that she got a silly song over big. and even the tenor had the decency to make her go on and take a curtain with him Everybody just made a fuss over her till Mary fairly cried, she was so hap py. And the part that seemed to please her most was that she had seen Langdon applauding Ids hands off up stairs." "Did you Join your mother and Mrs. Page after the show?" interrupted Langilou warnlngly. "That was the big idea." she said "But it hit the rocks, for when Marr and I hustled Into our glad rags and started for the door we bumped square ly Into the stage manager and Mr. Pol lock t lie latter all done up to kill even to a top hat. 'Oh, Miss Page.' sings out Ecky (that's the manager! 'here's a gentleman from your home town, that wants to take you out to supper and see you home in a buzz wagon.' He laughed nastily as he spoke, and I could feel Mary's band go cold as ice as she grabbed mine and says, 'I have no desire to take supper with Mr. Pollock, either now or at any other time to come. Amy.' But that made old Ecky sore, so be began to roar like a bull and shouts. 'What's this? Are you crazy?' But Pollock interrupted him there was a quick business of being hurt to the heart; tbe misunderstood -soul and tbe chivalry stunt was pulled off without a break. Then he says, 'Miss Page is quite within ber rights. I do not wish an unwilling guest. Perhaps my moment of renewing her acquaintance was inopportune.' and be stalks away for all the world like tbe heavy in the third act. But old Ecky was up in tbe air, and be began rowing Mary for fair. He told her, the dog, tbat It was her beauty, not ber talent that 'got the bouse,' and added, 'It's your business here to be civil to your ad mlrers and go to supper when they ask you. If you're goln' to ride a high horse I've got no use for you In this show.' " "Did Miss Page answer him?" "Xo, I think she was too horrified, and old Ecky, thinkln' tbat silence meant consent, told ber to stay there till he brought Mr. Pollock back. The minute bis bsck was turned I gave Mary the cue to get away quick, but we didn't have to, for just tben Mr. Langdon came in, and we beat it for him. We didn't have time to tell him what bad happened before old Ecky came back with Mr. Pollock and they both stopped short when tbey saw Mr. Langdon with us, and tben Mr. Pol lock drawls out. 'You see this Miss Page is not so virtuous as she pre tends. She's not even particular In ber choice everybody knows that" He must have Intended us to bear, but what be didn't give any high sign for, wss for Mr. Langdon to make a jump and grab him by tbe throat, shouting tbat he'd have to eat his words or he'd kill him. Old Ecky is deathly afraid of a fight and began to holler for the stage crew, but I got out my little old trusty bat-pin and promised anybody that came near two or three inches of it, so the men just stood around swear ing and grinning behind their hands till Mr. Pollock was licked to a standstill and asked Mr. Langdon to let up. Then Mr. Langdon ordered him out of tbe theatre, and he wentt But while he I was on bis way I'd spied a pen and I made Mary write out our Joint reslg nation which we handed to old Ecky with business of much pomp as soon as the stage crew had gone back to work. It was a knockout for old Ecky. You see, he knew Mary had made a hit,' and that the abow had got over good, and to have to train In two new recruits for our parta before tfle next night was some Job. So he turned on the soft soap, but we beat It towards the door, and Mr. Langdon marches np to Ecky snd hands him his card, say ing calmly. These girls are quite with in their rights because o what has happened. Added to whkh I under stand that you told Miss Page you did not need her if she wouldn't accept! the attentions of men obnoxious to ber. Well, I'm a lawyer and I'll look after their Interests. You can send your at torney to me at any time.' "So we got away and went borne jobless but happy. Of course when we told them at borne Mrs. Page said Mary must give up ber stage career, but she was too spunky for that." "She said no. that the mistake she'd made was in getting a chorus Job,;Rid that if I was willing we might try for some small read company and work our way up In the 'dranra. 1 would have followed Mary any place, so I said I was on. and we even talked Mr. Langdon down before he left." "Tbat Is all. thank you. Miss Bar ton." said Langdon with a smile as she finished, and Amy, looking around bewildered, asked the Judge confiden tially: "What do I do now. your Honor?" "You answer a few questions for me," said the prosecutor with a honeyed sweetness. "Miss Barton, you are a very good actress, are you not?" "Ho ask my press agent!" site an swered pertly: and he flushed. "Well, at any rate you can be very convincing in saving things let's call it reciting lines that have nothing to do with events that really happened, can't you? Especially in a sympathetic role?" "If you're trying to put anything across," she said slowly, "you've come to the wroug shop. I took the oath and I don't swear to tell the truth and then lie. I'm an actress, not a law yer." A burst of laughter swept the room, and the Judge's gavel came down sharply, though the corners of his mouth twitched as be said to Amy: "You must confine your remarks to answering the questions put you. Miss Barton." "I am." she replied imperturbably., and the prosecutor flushed as he asked sharply: "Isn't it true that you said you would do anything in the world to save Mary Page?" "Isn't it true that you're doing ev erything In the world to ruin her?" "That Is not answering my ques tion." roared the prosecutor. "This is contempt of court you have sworn to tell the truth -tell It." "Tell it b a policeman!" scoffed Amy. "I have told the truth, the whole truth und nothing but the truth, and there isn't any more to tell, unless you'll let me tell you what poor busi ness I think you have for your part of the show." "Silence!" roared the Judge and the prosecutor in unison, and now Amy. ty- , t -v 11 "I do not wish an unwilling guest" looking up at his Honor, smiled and brought into view a dimple, as she said quietly, "Your Honor. I don't mind answering questions, but I'm so used to being hollered at In rehearsals that the usual line of chatter just slips out" . Again a gale of laughter swept the room, and the prosecutor, realising that the pertness of tbe actress waa a shield behind which he could Hot pene trate, and feeling that ber testimony was after all unimportant dismissed ber with a shrug. At her glad. "Oh, can I goT' the laughter broke out afresh; but It died away when she ran straight to Mary's side, and before tbe bailiff or Langdon could stop her. had leaned over and Impulsively kissed her cheek. "You darllngr she cried, and sud denly burst into tears tbe genuine childish sobs of one whose heart la overflowing with pity. When ahe was led back to tbe witness-room she was no longer an obscure little actress she was famous. For the tune at least she even overshadowed Mary so mucn does the old world lore those who' laugh and yet bare tender hearts be neath the gaiety. Iff come here to live.' At that he cams some ink on . the prompt desk, and (To be continued.)
Gastonia Daily Gazette (Gastonia, N.C.)
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May 16, 1916, edition 1
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