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Newspaper Page Text
The people of Logansport were with Mrs. Lang. Theyjcnew her pitiful story, ' 'The husband for whose sake she had committed-murder stood by her stoutly. "She isn't guilty of murder," he said, over and over again. "She was crazy when she did it. The way people talked about her was enough to drive anyone crazy." But Prosecutor M. L. Fansler and Police Chief Mowissaw only in the story a good case, and rush ed Mrs. Lang to prosecution. At first Fansler was going to prosecute her for first degree murder, with its penalty of th gallows or life imprisonment. But he seemed to realize he never could convict her on that charge, and.'sd'thanged it to man slaughter. When the trial opened today, the court rtfom was crowded with fashionably 'dressed women, all curious to see their "Ugly Duck ling" sister in her trouble. Near the front sat Joe Lang, smiling hope and encouragement to his ugly wife. Near him sat James Clark, the father. Beside a big policeman sat lit tle five-year-old Julia Copple, (laughter of the murdered woman, star witness for the state. The trial was short. Little Julia was put on the stand. She was white with fear, and she shook with sobs. Brokenly, she lisped out the story of how Mrs. Lang had come to see .her mother; how she had gone with her mother to the door; 1 how "mother had said some thing;" arttf then "bang! and her mother fell down all bloody." The child broke .down com pletely every few minutes. Judge Lairy and Prosecutor Fansler would speak kindly to her and lead her on with tne story that was to send a woman to the pen itentiary. It was pitiful. It did not seem right that this babe should be led in to swear away a woman's lib erty. The prosecution rested. " Mrs. Lang was convicted. The trial judge made a speech. At the end of the speech he pro nounced sentence. "I'll wait for you, Liz," said Lang. "I'll be near the prison all the time. I'll be at the door when you come out." ' "Forgive me, Liz, for all I've done," sobbed 1Clark. "Forgive me, daughter." Little Julia Copple suddenly be came hysterical. Her shrill, frightened scream rang, through the coijrt room. i "I want mamma !" she wailed. "I want mamma !" Nearly Bad Enough. Clerk I'm afraid I can't let you havethat drug, sir. Customer Why not? Do I look like a man who would kill himself? Clerk Well, I wouldn't say that, sir; but if I looked like. you I should be tempted. o o A healthy sheep eats six times its weight in food in a year.