Court Adjourns to Give District Attorney Time to Find Missing Witness
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C. J. BELL STILL NERVOUS
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Banker Insists Upon Mrs. Gage Being Returned to the Asylum for Fear of a Tragedy
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Special to The New York Times
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WASHINGTON, April 12---Mrs. Mary E. Gage, a wealthy widow, recently arrested for threatening to kill Banker Charles J. Bell, took the stand to-day at the hearing in the District Supreme Court, and after admitting that she had made a mistake in placing too much credence in the statements made to her by Mrs. Gracie, was recommitted to the Government Hospital for the Insane, to give the alienists additional time to observe her mental traits and to give the District Attorney another chance to hale Mrs. Gracie into court.
Upon Mrs. Gracie's testimony depends largely the outcome of the case. When Mr. Bell on March 11 had Mrs. Gage arrested for threatening his life, Mrs. Gage said that the banker and his friends had built a barrier about her which prevented her daughter and herself from entering Washington society. Mrs. Gracie, she said, was one of those who had told her this.
"Mrs. Gage, it's a crime and a shame for you to keep that girl---your daughter---in Washington, as she will have an awful time, a terrible time, ever doing anything, socially or otherwise; and you should take her back to New York," is the statement attributed to Mrs. Gracie by Mrs. Gage. Mr. Bell was the stumbling stone in her path mentioned by Mrs. Gracie, according to Mrs. Gage.
Miss Margaret C. Gage, the daughter, also has stated that Mrs. Gracie was responsible for the feelings which her mother entertained toward Mr. Bell. Last December Mrs. Gracie said, according to Miss Gage, that Mr. Bell never would let the couple get into Washington society.
On the theory that Mrs. Gracie will deny this testimony, she was subpoenaed by the Government attorneys, but she has failed to put in an appearance at the hearings. Now, that Mrs. Gage has placed the whole responsibility upon her, it is deemed imperative that Mrs. Gracie testify. An attorney representing Col. and Mrs. Gracie was in court to-day looking after the latter's interests, a writ of attachment for her having been threatened. The hearing was adjourned this afternoon until next Wednesday. A rumor was current this afternoon that Mrs. Gracie will voluntarily appear next Wednesday, and will at least modify the statement attributed to her.
Mr. Bell, whose appearance indicates him to be a typical financier of the upper social world, was at the trial to-day and occupied a front seat.
"This is a serious matter for Mr. Bell," A. S. Worthington, the latter's private attorney, told the court, "and it is natural that he should be the most interested party here."
This declaration was made when Mr. Worthington, as attorney for the banker, wanted to cross-question witnesses. The Judge announced that Mr. Worthington was appearing as "a friend of the court," and as such had a perfect right to question witnesses.
Mrs. Gage, when she took the stand, admitted that she had put too much credence in the statements of Mrs. Gracie. "I know now that I was mistaken about Mr. Bell using his influence against me," she continued.
She said that Mrs. Gracie had asked her, in "a most insinuating manner," whether or not her daughter was engaged to marry a Japanese. This question worried her very much, she said, and later she found that it had been circulated largely, and later found its way into the pages of a Washington society magazine. Mr. Bell was responsible for this, Mrs. Gracie is said to have told Mrs. Gage.
Referring to the threats which she is charged with having made against Mr. Bell, Mrs. Gage admitted she had told her friends she would horsewhip the banker. She denied emphatically, however, that she ever said she would kill him. She also said she modified her threat to horsewhip Mr. Bell by saying that she would do it if he did not stop persecuting her family.
Unfairness in her arrest was charged by Mrs. Gage, who said she was not given an opportunity to get bond before she was hurried away in a taxicab to St. Elizabeth's, the Government hospital for the insane. She was returned to the asylum to-day, an application for her release on bond being denied by the court, at the urgent request of counsel for Mr. Bell, who said he feared a tragedy might result.
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C. J. BELL STILL NERVOUS
---
Banker Insists Upon Mrs. Gage Being Returned to the Asylum for Fear of a Tragedy
---
Special to The New York Times
---
WASHINGTON, April 12---Mrs. Mary E. Gage, a wealthy widow, recently arrested for threatening to kill Banker Charles J. Bell, took the stand to-day at the hearing in the District Supreme Court, and after admitting that she had made a mistake in placing too much credence in the statements made to her by Mrs. Gracie, was recommitted to the Government Hospital for the Insane, to give the alienists additional time to observe her mental traits and to give the District Attorney another chance to hale Mrs. Gracie into court.
Upon Mrs. Gracie's testimony depends largely the outcome of the case. When Mr. Bell on March 11 had Mrs. Gage arrested for threatening his life, Mrs. Gage said that the banker and his friends had built a barrier about her which prevented her daughter and herself from entering Washington society. Mrs. Gracie, she said, was one of those who had told her this.
"Mrs. Gage, it's a crime and a shame for you to keep that girl---your daughter---in Washington, as she will have an awful time, a terrible time, ever doing anything, socially or otherwise; and you should take her back to New York," is the statement attributed to Mrs. Gracie by Mrs. Gage. Mr. Bell was the stumbling stone in her path mentioned by Mrs. Gracie, according to Mrs. Gage.
Miss Margaret C. Gage, the daughter, also has stated that Mrs. Gracie was responsible for the feelings which her mother entertained toward Mr. Bell. Last December Mrs. Gracie said, according to Miss Gage, that Mr. Bell never would let the couple get into Washington society.
On the theory that Mrs. Gracie will deny this testimony, she was subpoenaed by the Government attorneys, but she has failed to put in an appearance at the hearings. Now, that Mrs. Gage has placed the whole responsibility upon her, it is deemed imperative that Mrs. Gracie testify. An attorney representing Col. and Mrs. Gracie was in court to-day looking after the latter's interests, a writ of attachment for her having been threatened. The hearing was adjourned this afternoon until next Wednesday. A rumor was current this afternoon that Mrs. Gracie will voluntarily appear next Wednesday, and will at least modify the statement attributed to her.
Mr. Bell, whose appearance indicates him to be a typical financier of the upper social world, was at the trial to-day and occupied a front seat.
"This is a serious matter for Mr. Bell," A. S. Worthington, the latter's private attorney, told the court, "and it is natural that he should be the most interested party here."
This declaration was made when Mr. Worthington, as attorney for the banker, wanted to cross-question witnesses. The Judge announced that Mr. Worthington was appearing as "a friend of the court," and as such had a perfect right to question witnesses.
Mrs. Gage, when she took the stand, admitted that she had put too much credence in the statements of Mrs. Gracie. "I know now that I was mistaken about Mr. Bell using his influence against me," she continued.
She said that Mrs. Gracie had asked her, in "a most insinuating manner," whether or not her daughter was engaged to marry a Japanese. This question worried her very much, she said, and later she found that it had been circulated largely, and later found its way into the pages of a Washington society magazine. Mr. Bell was responsible for this, Mrs. Gracie is said to have told Mrs. Gage.
Referring to the threats which she is charged with having made against Mr. Bell, Mrs. Gage admitted she had told her friends she would horsewhip the banker. She denied emphatically, however, that she ever said she would kill him. She also said she modified her threat to horsewhip Mr. Bell by saying that she would do it if he did not stop persecuting her family.
Unfairness in her arrest was charged by Mrs. Gage, who said she was not given an opportunity to get bond before she was hurried away in a taxicab to St. Elizabeth's, the Government hospital for the insane. She was returned to the asylum to-day, an application for her release on bond being denied by the court, at the urgent request of counsel for Mr. Bell, who said he feared a tragedy might result.
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