Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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.. f The^range Caseuf “None. JThnt wasn’t my bpalneaa. bat was opto btm. All I Asked Wfli 'HSn7els r stnrt 1 lb^ slatcmeiit to be even The Great McClure MyHery Story. WriHea by > RCDERICK LEWIS la CoIUbora«oe With JOHN T. M* INTYRE, Author of the Kick Hetectiaj Siones. "Remd thm tuxd St* thm EManor Mwmj wm. br SYNOPSIS. Mary Paae, actreaf, la accused of tha murder of James Pollock and la defended by her lover, Philip Langdon. Pollock was Intoxicated. At Mary’s trial she ad mits she had the revolver, tier maid testifies that Mary threatened Pollock , with It previously, and Mary’s leading man Implicates Langdon. How Mary dis appeared from the scene of the crime Is a mystery. Brandon tens' of a strange hand print he saw on Mary's shoulder. Further evidence shows that horror of drink pro duces temporary Insanity In Mary. The defense Is "repressed psychosis." Wit nesses describe Mary's flight from her In toxicated father and her father's suicide. Js’urse Walton describes the kidnaping of Mary by Pollock, and Amy Barton tells of Mary's struggles to become an actress, of Pollock’s pursuit of her and of another occasion when the''smell of liquor drove Mary Insane. There Is evidence that Dan iels, Mary's manager, threatened Pollock. Mary faints on the stand and again goes Insane when a ■ policeman offers her whisky. Whatever doubts had lingered In the minds of the public as to the veracity and the strcrfgtK^bf the defense built up by Langdon had been shattered at one blow. For ^lary, os everyone said, might Indeed have been actress enough to feign madness at the sight of the drunken policeman, but she could not have feigned that great bruise on her shoulder. The shadow of the gripping hand with those livid scars beneath It told mutely of how the cruel fingers bad tom into the tender flesh. , The newspaper bearing Df. Foster’s article on ‘‘Repressed Psychosis" which the District Attorney had so sarcasti cally Introduced as evidence had been pored over by every Juryman, and from coast to coast the dramatic story T I1E green shaded lamp flung a wide [tool of mellow light over the scattered iiapers on the ta ble and brought out boyish glints In langdon’s dark head as It lay on his folded arms, sunk In Ineffable weariness. _ All through the long hdurs of the nIgbt he had kept-hls lonely ylffll—now !T5oTegiT documents on the .table, now paelinc the-floor In n fTCh' of anxiety, or making his way down the echoing corridors to look In with mute suffering at the room where Dr. Foster and Nurse Walton watched so silently beside a moaning, twitching figure on a narrow prison bed. But when the scanty furniture of the office was gradually emerging from the en veloping cloak of flight Into visible ug llness he bad at last sunk Into a doze of complete exhaustion. Miss Walton, coming to the door, an eager message on her Ups, turned silently and pitying ly away. Some betraying sound reach ed him, however, and he lifted his bead with a start, blinking to find the lamp light paling before the gray of morn ing. Yawning, he got to bis feet and crossed to the window. He flung It wide and drew In great breaths of the chill air. For the first time since Mary’s at tack of madness In the courtroom he realised fully how tremendous an as set the tragedy was to the defense, and In spite of bis grief, as a lover, over her suffering, the lawyer In him ex ulted In the episode which cemented Into place the cornerstone of his case. The thought of this lent a hint of buoyancy to his tired body as he made tnotber trip to the cell where, at Dr. . Foster’s orders, they bad carried Mary, atlll screaming with frenzy. Mary herself was sleeping soundly when he glanced Into the cell, and Dr. Foster was on his feet, frankly stretch ing, while Miss Walton was bathlngber tired eyes at the basin In the comer. Both greeted him with a smile, and answering the question In his eyes rather.than the one he huskily whls pered with his lips. Dr. Foster said: “She will be all right now. She woke, conscious. Just after your last visit and Is now sleeping soundly. There’s nothing to worry about—at least, not Just at present” “Thank God!” Langdon’s voice broke on the words, and Dr. Foster put out his hand and patted the shoulder of the younger man reassuringly, saying: "We all say that, but you’d better go get some rest now; you look done up.” “Oh, I’m all right.” said Langdon. “But, Doctor, Is she—Is It going to be possible to go oh with this trial? Can Mary bear It?” “I think so.” The.answer came slow ly. “Of course yesterday’s scene was bad, very bad. But you must realize that the attack, while it was plainly due to the whiskey thrust upon her, was only to some extent brought about by the fact that the liquor was hand ed her at a time when she was hys terical and had been re-enacting events that kept her earlier experiences con stantly in her mind. Given healthy surroundings and happiness, J wouldn’t' worry about attacks in the future.” Langdon nodded absently, for his heart was echoing the earlier words of .the great alienist: “Given healthy sur roundings and happiness 1 wouldn’t worry about attacks In the future.” and he was vowing to himself that cost what it might, he would Yet win freedom and happiness for her. He had not dared hope that she would be well enough for the trial to continue for some days at least, but when she woke a few boure later she ▼owed she was perfectly able to go into conrt even than. And so, no more than an hour late, the proceedings were continued. That boar bad seemed a very short .MwtoManrMid^O' ♦as "a”very long one She Came In, Very Pale, Very Wen, but Serenely Calm and Smiling. of the scene In court was the one sub ject at the breakfast table of rich and poor alike. It seemed Incredible to those who had watched the frenzied, screaming woman carried out the day before that abe could ever regain her sanity. When she came In. very pale, very wan, but serenely calm and smiling, nothing but | the fear of being shut out from the final scenes of the great drama kept the crowds from wild applause. The prosecutor alone did not look at her. He felt at that moment almost as If he hated her with personal vindic tiveness. For he. too, had had an all- night vigil, seeking some ruse or legal technicality that would keep the events of the day before out of the records of the case. He knew only too well that any Jury, having seen Mary’s seizure, would be readily convinced that she might have suffered in the same fash- lon on tbe-idghe-wken James Pollock was killed, and that If they were con vinced of that, proving Mary’s guilt was going to tie the hardest struggle he had ever known. In consequence the opening hours of court were marked by a series of bitter wrangles during which even his honor lost bis temi>er, and the restlessness of the spectators became open disorder. But for all his acidity of wit and skill at argument It was a losing fight that the District Attorney waged. He was conscious of that himself. Therefore It came ns no surprise when It was at last brought summarily to an end by the Judge, who ordered the testimony of the policeman as to Mary's madness entered ns evidence. With a long brejith of relief Langdon turned back toward his scat, suddenly becoming conscious that he wns hold lug a crumpled scrap of paper which the bailiff had thrust- Into his hand some moments before. He remember ed now that the court officer had said something when lie gave it to him, but he hadn't caught the words, mid It was with entire Indifference that he opened the note and read the hastily scrawled words. But at..the sight of them,Indifference gnve'place to excite ment Crumpling the paper np In his hand, he turned sharply to the bailiff. “Call George Brennan!’’ he said, and there was triumph In his tones. Brennan was the same cleancut young detective who had told of the disappearance of Daniels, and the first question asked him revealed what had b€*en In the note. “Mr. Brennan, I have Just .received a message which says that you have found Mr. Daniels. Will you tell the court, please, the circumstances of the finding of the missing man?” “Well, It wasn’t exactly a case of "finding' him,” said the detective, with a smye. “You see—he Just came home! I was hanging around the apartment- house In case anyone brought a met sage to Mrs. Daniels That tnti the vestibule. He had a iftKth nf haaai looked like a bum after a three days’ Jag, but I had no trouble recognizing him.” “Did he seem excited—or anxious to get Into the building without being seen?” .“No. He moved slowly, as If he was dazed. He hesitated quite a while be fore he rang the bell of his apart ment, but as soon as he’d pushed it he got impatient, and kept calling, ‘Hello!’ up the speaking tube, and when someone answered he said ‘Open the door quick! It’s me—your father.’ When the latch clicked he went In, but he made no effort to close the door after him, so I followed. Both Mrs. Daniels and the daughter were In the doorway of the apartment to meet him, and while they were kissing and hug ging Mm I walked lb.” "Did Daniels seem startled at the sight of you 7” “No. -He seemed sort of stupid as if he was sleepy, but when Mrs. Daniels told him I wns a detective and that he wns wanted us a witness in the Page trial he woke up fast enough and got very excited. He said he had nothing to tell and wouldn’t accept service of any subpoena. ‘I don’t know any thing,’ he kept saying, and when 1 uske<Lhliu where he had been he said he’d been on a little spree to forget his business troubles.” “Did you tell him ha W.upld ha. u iu nffiV.'ir fri <7>urt ^ —“T«. Bunt wasn't what I told him about the law. but what hts wife 4* id that seemed to convince him. She told him she had every faith iu him, and that what Ik* had to tell wouldn’t do any harm, and for him to go. So he said he would If I’d give him time to wash up.” __ , , “Is Mr. Daniels In court now?” "Yes, sir. He Is in the witness room.” A stir of excitement swept through the room, but declined to an ominous whls[ier of suspicion when, Brennan dismissed, the bailiff summoned the former manager of Mary Page. For Daniels slunk Into the room with an ashen fare and trembling hands. Great beads of sweat stood out visibly on his forehead, and hla voice when he took the oath was husky and uncertain. If ever guilt was written large ujioa any man. It was apparently written upon the erstwhile Jaunty theatrical mans ger. The Judge, studying him with eyes psychologically keen, wished he had the full papers of this case before him to learn more of this new witness, and inwardly vowed a mess to study them should the evidence take any un expected turti. Daniels, however, re covered some measure of self-control under the preliminary questioning and gave his occupation as “manager of the Covington Theatre” with a hint of pompousness, but Langdon's next ques tion brought the startled look back Into his eyes. "Mr. Daniels, you say you knew the defendant well and that you starred her In The fteek'ers? Will you tell us frankly, please. Just what made you excited of the do/ before. f clothes wore all m If he’d beep sleeping to Mpdheor op as He' "I starred Miss Page because Jim Pol lock said he would put up the money,” select Miss Page for the leading role of the new play mid what share Janies Pollock had In your decision?” For an instant Daniels hesitated and cast a furtive look at Mary. Then, clearing Uis throat, he said with a hint of brusqueuess: “Well, I guess it's no sectet-now. I starred Miss Page because Jim Pol lock said he would put up the mohey to back thq show if I would give her the chance ” ’ , Mary gave ap Involuntary gasp of dismay, and again Daniels shot a fur tive glance In her direction as Lang don asked: “Did Miss Page Jmow of this?” “Of course not 1 told her that I had she. was a W' food JJI itjHd you have with fair play, and that’ he should s r tick to me even If • h down. I knew sue didn’t like him.” • “Isn't it trap that yon had a quarrel with Mr. Pollock ns early hi your part nership as the -day Miss Page signed her contract?” ’, • “Yes, It’s true. James was mad be cause you had been called In by Miss Page to look over her contract He, satd-jmi wete butting In where Miss Page was concerned, and he wanted me to keep you away from the thea ter.” Langdon Airshed and frowned. ‘“Please remember. Mr. Daniels,” he said htfrshTy7 “that you are addressing the court and not me personally. I re quest, your honor, that the name ’Mr. Langdon' be substituted for the word ‘you,’ as used by the witness.” “Your request Is granted.” said the Judge, who was still narrowly study ing Daniels. - “Was that first day the only time you and Mr. Pollock quarreled about finan cial support for the play in case Miss Page left the company?” The ques tion was quietly asked, but pregnant with a meaning that brought the blood Into Daniels’s face. >. “No. it wasn’t," he snapped. “When I found how dead set Miss Page was against hlm.^I knew he wasn’t going to win out In that game. I tried to make my position safe, but be wouldn't promise, anything, unless I promised to arrange things so that yon—I mean Mr. Langdon—was denied admission to the theatre.” ♦ “When did you have the last qua^l on that subject with Mr. Pollock?" “On the day that The Seekers’ opened.” With an abrupt gesture Langdon caught up the sheet of paper on which were pasted the torn scraps of the note to Pollock and held It up before the witness. “Mr. Daniels, did you write that let ter to Sir. Pollock?” “Sly God! Where did you get that?” The cry was a confession, but langdon repeated his question, and this time Daniels said with sudden sullenness: “Yes. I wrote It" WhcTT* upon the ppgslhllltles that, lur behln vouscious of the audience that .wa ” m> .< wiiial** Hn enactment 'of this drama. He was more than thahkful to t!^* judge whose hasty- recess had. momentarily stopped the protest from tlio prosecutor, and.lt was with a rush of relief that he saw. the latter take his seat wlien court re opened and' realized that, after all. Daniels’s statement was to pass with out u legal wrangle. It made his first question up easy one. • “Mr. Daniels, yob say that you had heard Mr. Pollock threaten to kill the defendant and himself. Will you tell the court when that threat was made and to whom?” “It was made to me. on an occasion when I almost became an unwitting accomplice in a murder: lairing-the re hearsals of The Seekers.’ ” “Whose murder?" "Mr. Langdon’s.” A startled sob caught at Mary’s throat at the words and, lifting her head, she looked at Langdon with such an expression in her eyes that for a A Starts Sob Caught Throat. at Mary’a 'The day *The Seekers' opened There—had been a scene In Miss Page's dressing room, and—and—I was afraid the allow would he queered If Pollock didn’t let the girl slone” “Why didn't you finish It?” "Because’’— Daniels hesitated and moistened his dry Ups wltn a nervous tongue. “l*ecause—I—I—thought It sounded pretty raw, and I’d lietter let things go till I saw Pollock that night” Again the ominous little murmur that meant suspicion crept through the room, and Daniels shuddered, grip ping the skies of hla chair to bide the trembling of bis bands as Langdon turned to tha stenographer and said quietly: “Mr. Wilson, will you be kind enough to turn to the testimony of the bell boy, ‘Joe,’ as given yesterday and read It beginning with the words, ‘was there anyone In the hallway when you looked back?” There was a alight rustling of pa pers. when the clear voice of tha ate nograpber rang out “Question: Was there anyone In the hallway when you looked back? An swer: Yes. The fgt man who bad been at the banquet the one they call ed Mr. Daniels. Question: What was he doing? Answer: He was standing close to the door of the gray suite with his ear against It as If he was listen ing.” “That will do. Mr. Wilson. Now will you please turn to the testimony of Itandatt William*, ami read the test! mony beginning with the wore!*. ‘Where were you when' you heard the shot?”’ “Question: Where were you when you heard the shot? Answer: Just outside the door of the banquet room Question: What did .von do? Answer:.. I ran down the hall In the direction from which the sound came. Question: Did you meet anyone? Answer: Yes I rim bang into Daniels at the corner where the corridor turned. I nearly upset him, I guess, for be caught at my arm and held on as If to steady him self. Question:”— “That will do. thank you.” cried Langdon sharply. “And now, Mr. Dan iels, will you toll us what you did when you overheard the voices of Miss Page and Mr. Pollock talking In the. gray suite and why you were so agitated when you met Mr. Williams?” “Because,” the voice of the manager rose to a sudden scream, “because 1 thought he had killed them both—as he had threatened to do”’ In an Instant tire prosecutor was on his feet, but. quick ns he was, the Judge was quicker. The unexpected turn HAD come In the evidence, and kls honor briefly a.nnounced a thirty minute recess. Had HE been the stage manager, rather than Daniels, he could not have •boson a more dramatic moment to bring the testimony to Its temporary close. Every man and woman among the spectators was keyed to the highest tension by the swiftly mdving events and to dfop (rotn- these heights to the flatness of mere waiting strained pa tlence to the-’breaklng point. The sera]) Ing of chairs along the floor, the sbuf fling of feet, the waves of shrill whls poring question and comment—all the sounds of restless humanity re|daccd the tense silence which had gone’ tie forer-and when at last the clock had ticked oat Its slow half hour and the bailiff brought Daniels back to moment be forgot thexunrt. Hla ludkf ami the witness on tlic stand, ami knew only, with a blinding rush of an au3T A^wfllFPWfljrrW^pRTSToFnSaf'uDder Mr. Pollock regard log Ms attention la 1 Mia Pager any oihfT circumstances would ha?*- won a laugh from Langdon. * Now, however, be was too Intent Joy. tturt d'luttever sne tor ed him. That reaMzathni was surging through Mtify' herself at the inotudnt and she felt as if she were Wcing him for the first time—truly i|iid fairly. The protective maternal Instinct thu! Is always the real keystone of a wo man's dec|>er love came to the fore for the first time ami was followed by » awlft fierce gladness that James Pol lock wns dead! Whatever the tragel. and the suffering that enmeshed her at least Philip was safe, and at tb thought all the fear add the.horror o: the law left her. and she drew a lorn happy breath that was almost a mute paean of gladness that It w.i* slie win could pay for tils safety Langdon himself was equally shaken by the wonderful little Interlude that had come like a streak of sunshine through the dreary gh-om of the court scene, but those uImmii him attributed the unsteadiness of h!s voice to cx cltement. and only Mary guessed the real reason and flushed rosily under her own thought a “Mr. Daniels." Ijuigdon was asking In that strange, choked voice, “will you please tell the court the ctrcum stances of the—the attempt upon my lifer "I didn't know It was. you know,” protested Daniels. "I understood It was Just to be a kidnapping—to—to get you—Mr. laingdon. I mean—out ef the way till after the opening of The Seekera.' “ “You say ’Just, a kidnapping.’ Mr. ' Daniels,” broke in the Judge harshly. “Did you not know that the law does not consider 'kidnapping' a light of fence?” “Yes, I know.” Daniels's voice was husky and un certain. ”1 knew, but— all I had was invested In this new play, and if James Pollock had pulled out then, Pd have lost It all and—I’ve got„a wife and daughter. I didn't think any harm would come to Mr Langdon; In fact, Mr. Pollock prom ised It wouldn't, or I’d never have let that man Shale take the watchman’s place.” “When was that?” “During the rehearsals, ns I said. Jim came to me and said that Philip Langdon was butting In too much, that he was upsetting Miss Page and mak ing trouble for him—that Is Pollock— and he wanted him out of the way Then he said he had a plan to kidnap Langdon and take him out to the coun try till after the opening of the play. At first I wouldn't listen,^but—finally I—did. It sounded simple enough. I was to send for Langdon late that night, supposedly to ask him some thing about the Page contract. In the meantime we .were to drug the watch man and let Sliale—Pollock’s Jackal, they call him, you know—take his place. Then when Mr. Langdon was leaving the watchman was to nab him and carry him out to a waiting auto mobile and cart him off.” “Were these plans carried out?” “No. That Is, not the latter part -It was then that ITound out about the attempt at murder." , “Will you tell the court In detail Just what happened on that nighf?” “W<;11. I—I sent for Mr. Langdon,” said Daniels nervously, “and he came. In the meantime we had given the reg ular watchman knockout drops and left him In a corner of the balcony, and Shale took his place. When Mf. Lang don was leaving 1 called thla supposed watchmau and. acting on Jlm'a in- itnictlona told him m «hn« Mm.J. yon"—his voice roee suddenly to a high, •brill note of hysterical emphaats—”1 tell you 1 knew nothing of that open trap door la the stage. I thought he was going to take him ri&ht out of the— theatre. And w"hen I heard Mr. Lang-, don’s cry—I—I was too horrified to mdYr’TSF'Tt fidtihlt,. Tfieii' 1 rtSESF down and turned on the stage lights.” “Will you tell us what you snw?’*^^ “I saw' Mr. Langdon banging to edge of an open trap that led some thirty feet to the cement cellar^ below, and. Shale standing to one sif^ wit^ a biaek-jaek in his hand, thought he was going to h|t Langdon. and I snatched it away from him and dragged Langdon back upon the stage. The very first words he said made me realize he didn't know the real reason of that open trap, so I^bid the black jack behind me and took Mr. Langdon to the door myself and saw him safely away.” “Did you see Mr. Pollock again that night?” “Yes. When I got back to the stage I found him there denouncing Shale for having failed to do his part, and when I asked him If he had meant murder, he said. Wes! I meant to have him killed through an apparent acci dent. What Is more, I tell you here and now. that I’ll kill Mary Page and I’ll kill myself, before Langdon shall win her!’ That’s what Jim -Pollock said, and that’s what I thought he had done—that night. I SWEAR ,1 didn’t go into that room! But I heard them quarrel, and I heard the scream and the shot. And 1 thought he'd done It —and I ran «way, fh sheer horror— that’s all! My God! You must believe me. It’s true that 1 quarreled with Jim Pollock, not once, but many times. It’s true that he didn’t play fair with me. but can't you see that I had ev erything to lose and nothing to gain by his death! It’s meant ruin to me— and ruin to my wife and little girl.” • His voice broke pitifully over the last words. Loaning forward, he buried bis face In Ids shaking hand*, waiting for the next question. But it didii’^ come. That tragic outburst had^ ( 4 ried conviction, not merely to Ln.ii don but to everyone In the room. ni| whatever shadows of suspicion tiu<’ hung, ovef Mr. Daniel* faded liefore the pitiful but Indubitable veracity of his story. The mystery. If mystery It -OTPe-OTf-vHmw* t'elhs'k's’ilt'IHII UfiM SUir as lni|>enptrable. and the etas the law that fut -a-Jime aoiuned to be loo*- pning from about Mary Page, had tightened again. * But to Mary and Eangdon that tes timony of the manager had brought aouiething that for the time at lea*t seemed greater than the law—an un derstanding of Mary's heart, vision of what might yet 1* If freedom could Ikj- won for her. It was« strange moment for a great love to‘find expression, and a strange story wbk’h had wakened It: and. whlla I-augdon felt deep In hla heart that no word* were needed after that glance of Mary’s be could not forlieaf following her to her celt- when court had adjourned. She glum ed dp at him with sudden *hyness when be came In. and her hands went ont warerlngly. but whether to hold him off or to clinic the could not herself have told. I-ang- don bad no doubts, however, and caught them close In his warm grasp and drew her to him In g alienee more eloquent than words Then, stooping till his cheek lay against her hair, he whispered unsteadily: “Mary, when Daniels told of James Pollock’s attempt on my life, your eyes •aid something to me that they have never said before. Did you mean It. dear?” Then, 'as she clung to him mutely, be laughed softly and added “I know you did You can never deny It now. my darling, and when all .this Is over. I aiy going to a*k you n iJ “I—I think you’d better go now, please, Phil!" question—and—and make you put into words what your eyes told me today. May I. Mary?” For an instant she swayed against * him, her head buried in his shoulder, then with a sad little 'sob she drew back. “That’s all such a long, long way in the future, Phil,” she said wearily. " “Oh, let’s not even think of It. There are so many things in between." “Dear!” he cried in sudden pity, and would have taken her in his arms again, but she shook her head and turned away, saying unsteadily: "I—I think you’d better go now. please. Phil! I’m so tired.” “Of courfce.” he answered quickly, contrition In hla voice. “I was a brutal 1 to bother you now. Only. I wantcK^ y°n to know, dear, that whatever ""TreSjBr . Ve. If need be.” Catching up one of her slender little tends, be crushed It against bis tips. Then he was gone • . , [Te te Mwtinwte.]