Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Case of The Great McClure Mystery Stevy. Writtea by I RCDSMCK LEWIS In CaMebeeaileo With Anther el the /letrteo Iteeuf 1km Slmry and Sem the JOiUI T. M’lNTYRE, Kirk Detectvve - - BHI SYNOPSIS. best to let him see Miss Page and re ceive his dismissal. So I took him into the office." show any distress at Mary Page, actress, la accused of the , murder of James Pollock and is defended i “Did Miss Pa by her lover. Philip Langdon. Pollock oipht of him*” wa* intoxicated. At Mary's trial she ad- , 0f ‘ ^ „ til mils she had the revolver. Her maid ! * es - She a little cry almost of testifies that Mm-y threatened Pollock fear and clutig to her mother, and with It previously, and Mary's leading would not answer his greeting.” man implicates I^angdon. How Mary dls- 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- i duces temporary insanity In Mary. The defense is “repressed psychosis.” Wlt- "Wbat did Mr. Polldok say?" there now. a sweet-faced matronly looking woman of middle age, rktbef old-fashioned In her dress, and a young girl of about twenty-five who was di vided between nervous fears and youthful zest She w'as destined to be the next witness and Dr. Foster smiled involuntarly when he saw her. Most people smiled at Amy. for that matter. nesses described Man 's flight from her In toxicated father and her father's suicide. Nurse Walton describes the kidnaping of Mary by Pollock. N OT since the famous trial that sent the expression ^*>rnln storm" spinning down through the years, has the testimony of an alienist so greatly stirred aw ex cited world as did the phrase "U«- pressed Psychosis," with whlcli' Dr. Foster gummed up the temporary ln- sanlty of Mary Pans. ——- - It spread through the court and the throngs In the corridor; It sped over the telephone wires to Hie waiting newspapers of the city It even reached the zenith of publicity and became the Inspiration of the cartoon ists. but all this was after that day when Dr. Foster, once more upon tha witness maud, told with technical brev ity of how prenatal Influence, Increas ed by fear and suffering, re-acted upon the delicate brain tissues under tha strain of a great shock. Much of what he said was entirely unintelligible to the excited audtem e. It waj therefore with a little rustling sigh of relief that they heard I.angdou abruptly change his line of question Ing and say: “IIow long after the night at Dr. Zellar’s sanatorium did MUa Page re main In your hospital?" “It was nearly three weeks before ahe was able to go. and even then It was with some trepidation that I con- sen ted to her leaving." He said, ‘You have no reason to 1 for she wa * 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. Her tailored suit and Soft blouse open at the throat were smartly cut shrink from me like that, Mary. At worst what I have done has been be cause I loved you. You have prom ised to marry me, and so far that promise has not been taken back, and now I have come to know what you aaw W * uia « V V/X1JC- a vs iviiv’w uat jvu K. are going to do. It seems to me that! ber nat was a hint dating In Its shape and the way It was tilted over her little nose. and. when the bailiff called her name. "Miss Amv Barton," we ought to l>e married at once—as— aa—I have Information that your fa ther’s death has left you—without— | well, without the comforts th&t I will ber agitation led her to tip It at an even be glad to give you. I have waited for lnor ® dangerous angle ns she tried to three weeks for some word from you. "P° w der her nose and kiss her mother and now I have come to claim my fiancee!’ ” . “Did Miss Page reply?" "Yen. She went up to him boldly and said without any signs of nervous ness of the moment Itefore. ’If I have not taken back my promise. James, it la because 1 have been too 111 to think of It. But I do take it back now. I 111 never marry you so long ns I live. at the same time. *Tm scared blue!” she confided to the other witnesses In a shaky voice. “A first night Is a cinch to thla. What do 1 have to say?" “You have only to answer questions.’* said Dr. Foster, "and there Is really nothing to,lie frightened alnuit." “1 suppose not." she answered as she went through the door, "but I wouldn't and I never want you to speak fo me can* anyway. I’d go be hanged If It again. I detest yon. and since yon can would help Mary." no longer harm 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 Ijingdon?' ‘It means.' ahe aabl. ‘that after what has happen ed I shall never marry anyone. We are going to Nrw York, where 1 hope to secure a |K>sltlon.'" "Did Mr. Pollock show any surprise at that?" "No. but be waa obviously chagrined .^nd then I Interfered and reminded Mrs. Page that they would miss their train If there was any further delay, ami they left Pollock driving away In bla machine almost directly back of them." * "Did Miss Page seem calm and col lected r "Yes. outwardly; but there was a look'in her eyes that made me fearful for her future, aud her hands had re sumed their uervous twitching when 1 put ber Into the automobile. "It made me realize that the great Influence to fear for her waa Pollock. Did you fear a return of her -til- _ au( j lt j, my opinion that if. aa I have beard, be continued to perse cute the defendant, the result would—" “I objectT* stormed the District At-' tomey, leaping to bis feet “Dr. Fos ter's last assertion that the defend- •r "Yea. I knew that excitement or a nervous strain of any sort would have Under the careless words there was a Sudden deeper note of sincerity, aud the moment she was on the stand she turned to the Judge and said; ”1 don't know what 1 am supiwsed to do. your Honor, but I want to tell you right here, that Mary Page la the best and the bravest and the truest girl In the whole wide world." For tbc first time the Judge smiled; then be leaned forward and said kindly; » "The Court appreciates your admire tlon for the prisoner, but you must confine your remarka. while on tbc stand, to tbe answers to questions which will Iw asked yon.” “Oh. yes. I was told that." she an swered readily. "But I forgot" Then turning to latucdon she added cheerily, "Fire away. Mr. l-angdon. Pm all ready." A tittle gust of laughter rippled through the court Then Ijingdon. coming dose to tbe witness stand. sakJ quietly: "Miss Barton, you know the defend ant. Mary Page, do you?" . "Why. of course 1 do. you goat!" she auswered with a bubbling laugh that found an echo In the room. But Lang don frowned, and bla voice waa more harsh as be said. "Please answer yes. or no. and remember that If you want managers. That was bow we happen Cd to run Into lira Pollock." • “Where did you'meet Mr. Pollock?” ' “Oh, he was oh the Job at the apart ment when we got home. Playing the trample but persistent swain—wanted to lay hU fortune at ber feet and give her a life of gilded ease. He pleaded all that sort of soft-music stuff, and told her she didn’t realize how cruel the world was to a girl imen always say that) and how she would suffer to see ber mother growing old and lack- tug the comforts she could not cam for her. Then he pulls out his wallet and taps It, saylug, ‘All that I hnvc-ls yours, Mary, even If you don’t marry me.’ ■ Business of soft music!" , "Were you In the room while tbW> was going Qn?" ’’No,*' 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 the next door flat bearing 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 I^ngdou, repress ing a smile with difficulty. “No, she stood up to him spunk lly and told him flat where he got off. ‘Pm going to get work,’ sln^sald, ’Imt •veu If 1 didn’t my mother and I would never accept any help from you. 1 have ‘'"Vw 11 * thing to ask, and that Is that you leave here at once and do not come again.* He came out in the hall where I had the door all nicely opened for him. 1 told him sweetly that I’d oi»ened It for him to get out, but I’d be shot before It ever oiiened to let him in again. I ran back the sitting room, to find Mary In a *ad faint. It was such a long time before she came round, and then she wgs so dazed and 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 < hni>eron and advice giver to Mary that any girl ever had." Her voice suddenly trembled, aud tbe quick tests filled her eyes aa, turning to Mary, she cried eagerly: “And, Mary, I’ve kept my word, haven't I? Haven’t l?" Mary nodded, suilllnf through ber own tears, aud the aiiectatora who throughout tbe breezy teatimony of tbe young actress had been In galea of laughter, auddeuly aoliered. They saw the brave heart under the butterfly ex terior. and realized tbe wisdom and the goodness behind the vulgar words. Langdon. seeing the Judge frown at thla ahattering of legal precedent, ask ed hi* next question quickly. "You ap4 Misa Page did secure post Mona In the same company, did you notf* * "Oh, yea. In The Blue Feather’ Mary took to It like a duck to water, and made a hit with tbe stage mana- over and took Mary’s hand In Ix.th ql his and said. Tle&oe Lo g ad. Marc. ! jjeard that Pollock had'gone into oust-, ness here and I worried so about you.- •1 felt I bod (siro^Lct me be your friend and protector, even If I can't be anything more, won't you, Alary? - 'Oh, but you oughtn’t to give up your practice. Phil.' she said, beginning. Just like a woman, to kick against the thing that pleased her most.. ’You— you—may not like It here.’ But he laughed at that, nnd they began to talk so much that I got worried and butted In by reminding Mary that she was an actress now nnd had to hustle. Then Mr. 1-angdon had to he told all' alKHit It. and the result was we had to run three blocks t<* get In at the stage door before they began to keep tabs on ant's mental ailment was aggravated to aid Miss Page, you most make your through the continued lersecutlon 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. Let the an swer be stricken out from tbe words. ‘Into the automobile.' ” The doctor, a flush of annoyance on bis face, turned qucstloulngly toward Langdon. “No more questions.” said Ijtngdon. But the prosecutor had. Lie got to •nswen short snd to the point Now will you please tell the court Just when and how you first met Atlas I'ager "It was some years ago, and she and her mother came to our apartment with a note from Cousin Alice Cowes, who lived In New Town. Cousin Alice bad sent them to us because she knew we had an extra room we wanted to rent, and she thought that I could help Mary laud a Job." “What sort of—er—position ?" "In the merry-merry—that Is, on tbe his feet with the alacrity of a fighting stage. I'd been across the foots my- j man going Into battle. With a tongue self for a couple of seasons and Cousin I steeped In vitriol he attacked the tes- Alice said Mary wanted to Itecome an tlmony of the alienist; he held Mary actress and thought I could show her Page up as a hysterical girl who had how to make the rounds. It's a tough aought notoriety; he flung doubt upon proposition getting a job In New York the possibility of a “temporary" men-, with no friends and no pull." tal derangement, but though he tor-1 “Will you tell the court, please. Miss tured Mary until with shuddering her- Bartou, about the’flrst position secured ror she sank forward In her chair, her by Miss Page and of the events that hands pressed against her ciirs to shut led up to it?" out the sound of his voice, he could not! ’’Well, it Just happened that the day shake the'smiliug imperturbability of Mary hit the big town I had a date Dr. Foster. j with Webster, the real boss of the mu- Cross examination meant nothing to sical comedies. Of course he isn’t the “Did you fear a return ness?" of—her-rrill an injurious effect, and 1 warned both Sirs. Page and Mr. Langdon to protect her as much as possible." “Dr. Foster, did you ever see James Pollock after the night he took Miss Page lo Zellar’s?"' “Yes. 1 saw him again on the day when Miss Page left my sanatorium." “Will yon U‘ ll i| l *>lK* (,ir ' limsl;s ofthaF secoud meetiiigT please. ’“Miss Page and her mother and Mr. Langdon wore just about to leave. In order to take a train Ho New York when Mr. Polio k drove up to the sau- ntorium in his motor. I was'very-in dignant at his (daring to come fo the hospital after what hid occurred, and asking the Pages am! Mr. Langdon to go Into my offl e and wait. 1 went to the door myself and |K*remptorily or dered Mr. Pollock fo leave the grounds lie refused to p>. sa)ing that he. had something of great ImpoTtaaco to say to Miss Page. He would not. he said, ask to see ber Slone, but It was his right to see her If he wished, beeatjre their engagement had pot been broken I felt that ta (he rin umstaoews it »«• the latter, andvtnuch as he regretted the strain upon the pitiful little prison er, he really enjoyed pitting his power against that of the prosecutor. r So his answers came with cool de,-' liberation.' and a hint of insolence that sort that you’d want to send your lit tle sister from the country to see. but too much hedging don’t go In the show business worth a whoop. You’ve got to trust to n sharp,tongue and a hat-pin till you show them where they get off won tin* admiration of the spectators and once they're wise, they treat you who were divided between zest In the stirring battle and pity for Mary. But it was the sympathy tlia-t came upper most. At last, unable to bear any longer | the brutal wrangle over her sanity, I Alary leaped to her feet, a little moau- rtnlfTrr 'of protest wrung from her white llps.' s * Langdon w as at her side In an Instant, his bands drawing her down Into her chair again, his lips whispering encouragement and com fort, till she smiled up at him—a wav ering, pathetic little smile. To the prosecutor In his present sav age lumiur il S( > cfncd j a carefully plan ned bit of by-play, yet he could so all right. Webster was-like that, but if he promises you a part he plays fair, so I never was afraid to buck Ids of- fioe-boy even on a busy day. 8$ off we went , "I had an appointment with the old man. but he’ w as scrapping with,one of his ‘romantic leads’—you could hear thein clear,out to the fruit hall—and It was a long time before I could per suade his little eerberus to go in nnd tell him I was waiting. At any rate, he came out at last blowing blasts of red fire after the actor—and then he saw Alary. Talk almiit lions nnd lambs! Why, he purred when he saw her.'and he was so sweet to me I almost got a “She told him flat where he got off.” ger before he’d got through calling the rest of us all the names lu his vocab ulary. So when It came to one bit where the fat tenor had to choose a girl out of the chorus to sing an encore with him, Alary got.the chance, and made good, too. But that^as after wards." ' "Well, supi»ose you tell us what oc curred on the day The Blue Feather’ Opened." “Oh. the day was the same as any other opening day. We’d rehearsed half the night and started In at eight- thirty lu the morning, nnd we were all tired to death and wished we were i dead. It’s always like, that a few hours before the overture on an o[ien- ,tHg night, so Alary and I were mighty glcd to slip out.homo and rest an hour before going back to make up. We didn’t dare stay long, though, for being late is the worst sin in the box at a '’show-shop, so it was round about sev en when we got on our lids and were ready tobea.t It back. Just when we were leaving, though.’'fnother came "Mary lights lamps In hsr plainly see its effect upon the Jury, and i •‘’•din* lady’s contract out of him l*v could read so clearly the antagonism fur® he woke up. and began lo ask me Then be tried growing In Ihelr eyes Thgp, th**T 'motions about Mary- to iias ber and I put i be swung upon his heel and sat down with* eiirt.'That’sall.*’. That released I»r. Foater. and sent him back triumphantly to the wltnesa- room There were two an inch or so of my hat pin la bis arm Just above tbe a eltiow. Mary and I beat It While tbe' going was good, snd Mary was so up set Wo decided to go right home In stand of calling on any of the other runnlng In’ a nil said, 'Oh. Alary, I’hillp | Longduh' Is here nnd he wants to see ' you Just a .minute before you leave.’ At (hat Alary lulifs nil ttie lamps In her eyes, and Adetit Into the sitting room with me s close seebud. . ."Mr. Langdoft was there talking to Airs Page and when we came In sbr railed out. ‘Mary. Philip has given up bla pra.tiee In New Town and ha* cotor here to lire.’ At (hat 4s ennw all ths eysa." tbe late comers. Air. I-augdou was to go with root her a ud Mrs. Page, and I soon spirted them up iulbe balcony, for the management doesn't hand oul boxes for the families of Its front row of the chorus, but in one of the Isnes I did see a familiar face—that .of Pol lock. He was all gotten up In soup and fish, but be was alone, and I could see that he was taking Alary all In, and then some Alary had told me a lot about him. and tbe plkey way he'd acted, and slic'd also told no* a lot about Air larngdon. an | deemed that I wouldn’t put ber wise to tbe fact that Pollock was there, bid would le* ber play to the balcony, which site did She was so pretty and so hnppv that she got a stlly song over big. and even the tenor had the decency to make lie- go on and take a curtain with him Everybody Just made a fuse over he till Alary fairly cried. sIn* wa« liap py. And the pn rt I Imt ’■eras'd t< please her most was Hint site had *eei langdon applauding Ids Imnd* off in stairs. ” "Did yon Jnln yonr mother and Mt> Page after I lie slum Y* Inicrriipte- Langdou warnlngty “That was the big Idea **- »lir sap I "But It hit tbe rocks, for a-h«-ti Mar.' and I hustled Into onr glad mgs ami started for I he door we Ihiiii|ws1 square ly Into the stage uiana-.’er and Mr. Pol lock—tbe latter all done up to kill, even to • top bat. Dh. Mina Page,’ tings 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 buss wagon.' He laughed nastily as be apoke, and I could feel Mary’s hand X® cold as tee as she grabbed mine and says, *1 have no dewire to take supper with Mr. Pollock, either now or at any other time to come. Amy.’ But that made old Ecky sore, so hu began to roar like a bull and shouts. ‘What’a this? Are you crazyY But Pollock Interrupted him—there was a quick business of being hurt to tbe heart; tbe misunderstood soul—and tbe chivalry stunt was pulled off without a break. Then be says, ’Miss Pag* is quite within ber rights. I do not wish an unwilling guest Perhaps my moment of renewing her acquaintance was Inopportune,’ and he stalks away for all the world like the heavy In the third act But old Ecky was up In the air, and be began rowing Mary for fair. He told ber. the dog, that it was her beauty, not ber talent, that ’got the house,’ and added, ‘It’s your business here to be civil to your ad mirers and go to supper when they ask you. If you’re golu’ to ride a high horse I’ve got no use for you in this show.’ ’’ "Did Alias Page answer him?" “No, I think she was too horrified, and old Ecky, thlnkin’ that_sllence meant consent, told her to stay there till he brought Mr. Pollock back. Tbe mlnuttf his back was turned I gave Alary tbe cue to get away quick, but we didn’t bare to, for Just then . Mr. Langdon came In, and we beat it for blm. We didn’t have time to tell him what had hapjiened before old Ecky came back with Air. Pollock aud they both stopped short when they saw Mr. Langdon with us, and then Mr. Pol lock drawls out. ‘You see this Atiss Page is not so virtuous as she pre tends. She’s not even particular lu her riioice—everybody knows that.’ He , must have Intended ns to hear, but i what h*| didn’t give any high sign for, was for Air. Langdon to make a Jump and grab blm by the throat, shouting that 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 tbe stage crew, bill.I get "-it my little old trusty hat-phi fad promised anybody that came near two or three inches of It, so tbe men Ju>t stood around swear ing and grinning behind their bands till Mr. Pollock waa IP-ked to a standstill snd asked Mr Langdon to kf up. Then Mr. Langdon ordered blm oat of tbe theatre, spd be—wept! Rat while he was on bla way I’d sided s made Mary write oat oar Joist rest* , nation which we banded to old Ecky *ith business of much pomp aa oooa aa tbe stage crew bad gone bock to work. It waa a knockout for old Ecky. Yon see. be knew Mary bad made • bit, aud. that tbe show bad got over good, anil to have to train In two new, recruits for our parts before tbe next night was some Job. So be turned on the soift soap, but we beat It toward* tbe door, and Mr. Langdon marches op to Ecky and hands him bis card, say ing calmly. These girls are quite .wttfc- In their rights because qt what hae happened. Added to which T I under stand that you told Miss Page you 1 not need her If she wouldn't #»?< t the attentions of men obnoxious to her. Well, I’m a lawyer and Hi look after) tbelr Interests. You can send yonr aU tomey to me at any time.’ “So we got away and went home— Jobless but happy. Of course when we told them at home 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, anti that If I was willing we might try foz^ some small road company and work our way up In tbe ‘drama’. 4 I would have followed Mary any place, so I) said 1 was on. and we even fa Iked Mr. Langdon down liefore he left.” ‘That is all, thank yon. Mis* Bar ton,” said Langdou with a smile a* she finished, and Amy, looking around bewildered, asked tbe Judge confiden tially; "What do I do now, your HonorY’ 'Ton answer a "few questions for me.” said the prosecutor with a honeyed sweetness. “Alias Barton, you are • very good actress, are you notY’ j “Go ask my pres* agent!” she an swered pertly; and he flushed. “Well, at any rate you can be very! convincing In saying things-let’s call It reciting Ubes—that have nothing to do with events that really happened, can't yon? F^peclally In a sympathetic roleY' “If you’re trying to put anything acrus-H,” she said slowly, "yoo’ve come to the wrong shop. I took the oath nnd I don't swear to tell tbe truth and then He. I'm an actrena. sot ■ law yer.”- ( A burst of laughter swept tbe room, and the Judge's gavel came down sharply, though tbe corners of hie mouth twitched as be said to Amy; "Yon most confine your remarka to answering tbe questions pot you. Mies Barton." "1 • am. - ' she replied Impertarbabljr. and tbe prosecutor flushed aa he asked sharply: "Isn’t It true that yon said jam would do anything In tbe world to save Mary Pager . "Isn't It true that you're doing ev erything in tbe world te rain beer ’That Is not answering nj qnee- Uoc." roared tbe proeecutor Thin Id contempt of court—yoa have sworn te tell tbe truth—tell It” "Tell It to a policeman!" scoffed Amy. ”1 hers told tbe truth, the whole truth and nothing bat tbe troth, and there Isn’t any more te tell, onleee you'll let me tell you wbat poor taat- neeel think you have for yoar part off tbe show.” • "Silence!” roared the Judge and the prosecutor In unison, and now Amy. ? “1 do not wish an unwilling guoat,* 1 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 rejicarsals that the usual f line of chatter just slips out." Again a gale of laughter swept tbe room, and the prosecutor, realizing that the iiertness of the actress was a shield behind which he could not pene trate. and feeling that her testimony was after all unimportant, dismissed her with a shrug. — 1 , At her glad. “Oh, can I goY* tbe laughter broke out afresh; but it died away when she rap straight to Mary’e side, and before tbe bailiff or Langdon could stop her. had leaned, over and Impulsively kissed.her cheek. "You darling!*’ she cried, and sud denly burst Into tears—tbe genuine childish sobs of one whose heart la overflowing with pity. When she wn» led beck to tbe wtine*s-rootn she wee no longer an obscure little actress—she was fa moos. For tbe time at Mast she even or ere had owed Mary—so much dote tbe old egwid love tboes wkw laugh and yet have teoda Death tbe gaiety. Ob bet