HENRIETTA SLOANE was called next.
"Your name?"
"Henrietta Sloane."
"Are you married?"
"A widow."
"When and where were you born?"
"Isle of Man, December 11 1872."
"How long have you lived in the United States?"
"Since I was two."
"Your position on the yacht Ella?"
"Stewardess."
"Before that?"
"On the Baltic, between Liverpool and New York. That was how I met
Mrs. Turner."
"Where was your room on the yacht Ella?"
"Off the chartroom."
"Will you indicate it on this diagram?"
"It was there." (Pointing.) The diagram was shown to the jury.
"There are two bunks in this room. Which was yours?"
"The one at the side--the one opposite the door was Karen's."
"Tell what happened on the night of August 11 and morning of the
12th."
"I went to bed early. Karen Hansen had not come down by midnight.
When I opened the door, I saw why. Mr. Turner and Mr. Singleton
were there, drinking."
The defense objected to this but was overruled by the court.
"Mr. Vail was trying to persuade the mate to go on deck, before
the captain came down."
"Did they go?"
"No."
"What comment did Mr. Singleton make?"
"He said he hoped the captain would come. He wanted a chance to
get at him."
"What happened after that?"
"The captain came down and ordered the mate on deck. Mr. Vail
and the captain got Mr. Turner to his room."
"How do you know that?"
"I opened my door."
"What then?"
"Karen came down at 12.30. We went to bed. At ten minutes to
three the bell rang for Karen. She got up and put on a wrapper
and slippers. She was grumbling and I told her to put out the
light and let me sleep. As she opened the door she screamed and
fell back on the floor. Something struck me on the shoulder, and
I fainted. I learned later it was the axe."
"Did you hear any sound outside, before you opened the door?"
"A curious chopping sound. I spoke of it to her. It came from
the chart-room."
"When the girl fell back into the room, did you see any one beyond
her?"
"I saw something--I couldn't say just what."
"Was what you saw a figure?"
"I--I am not certain. It was light--almost white."
"Can you not describe it?"
"I am afraid not--except that it seemed white."
"How tall was it?"
"I couldn't say."
"As tall as the girl?"
"Just about, perhaps."
"Think of something that it resembled. This is important, Mrs.
Sloane. You must make an effort."
"I think it looked most like a fountain."
Even the jury laughed at this, and yet, after all, Mrs. Sloane
was right--or nearly so!
"That is curious. How did it resemble a fountain?"