THE CRIMSON AND WHITE

Senior Class Prophecy

CASE OF THE ENAICHESS

The occupants of the courtroom rise as the judge (You guessed it - L. D. Schoengarth), pompous in his glory, enters. This is his first case; he is determined to set a precedent in dignity and justice. Thus it is rather disconnecting when he trips on the hem of his robe. A suppressed giggle transverses the room. The judge at first dons an embarrassed grin, but discards it in favor of the withering scowl, at which the giggle stops.

The case, it is announced by Erma Anding, court clerk, is to be that of the state versus Hugh Horswill, for murder. The first witness for the prosecution, headed by state's attorney Donald Dixon, is Marie Bracken Eare, widow of A. Fynants Eare, boasting bifocals and an aristocratic bearing. Sobbing, the distraught woman tells her story:

"We - some old friends of Mr. Schwellenbach, the automotive manufacturer - were, after a short stop at a small isle where Dr. Stockwell had insisted on disembarking to secure for his university specimens of the abundant tropical life, returning with Mr. Schwellenbach from a cruise in his yacht, the Enaichess. Throughout the voyage Mr. Horswill had shown a vicious dislike for my companion, Harriette. More than once I had caught him depositing insects on her food. On her part, Harriette seemed to like her tormentor, and she would hang on his arm as he walked about the ship. This evidently only added to his anger. The climax of his animosity was reached on a moonlit night when she approached him where he was standing along at the rail. I had just come around a corner of the cabin, but Mr. Horswill was apparently unaware of my presence. When Harriette - quite accidently, I'm sure - stepped on his foot, he looked down on her, and muttering something about "d _ _ _ _ d lacertilia," picked her up and (oh-h-h-h, sob, sob) threw her over the rail and into the black waters. For a moment I was so horror-stricken that I was rendered speechless, but when I recovered I managed to emit a weak scream. Then I slumped to the deck and lost consciousness."

At this point the story is supplemented by various passengers. Neil Warren, who was in his stateroom at the other end of the vessel with "the missus" (guess who), says that immediately upon hearing Mrs. Eare's "weak scream" he ran to the prow, where a group from the nearer parts of the yacht had already gathered about the unconscious form and were attempting to revive it. Through their united efforts she soon recovered sufficiently to tell her story. Captain Andy Turczyn, who was himself piloting at the time, testifies that he gave Carl Gassen, chief engineer, orders to reverse the engines as soon as he learned of the mishap. The search had been futile, however, for by the time Mrs. Eare's story was told, the body, having been left far in the wake, had evidently perished and gone to "Davy Jone's locker."

Irma Mott, the next to take the stand, throws a light on the cause of the accused's ill humor when she reveals that Dorothy Gault had refused him her hand earlier the fateful evening. Misses Rennak, Berrett, and Brunzell, members of the group that gathered on the deck, give their versions, but, since the testimony is of little interest, merely certifying the previous, we take the opportunity to gaze around the room.

High up in a corner is a small brass plaque, proclaiming; "This Structure Designed by Flynn and Feirn, Architects." The jury box catches our eye; there's Bill Noel, starting violently from his western story as Helen Pagenkopf raps his ribs to call his attention to the trial. Behind them Neoma Kuhl is whispering to Dorothy Richmond. Court reporters Rosaly Stelter and Irma Wahlen are taking a record of the trial. A calendar on the all at our left, advertising "Bardell Air Flivvers," which claim to be "safest on earth" (subject to your own interpretation), shows the season to be August, 1951. The calendar is adorned by a pretty-girl painting bearing the signature "Roessler" and the subscription "Posed for by Miss Mary Janet Nesbitt." A continued buzzing draws our attention to a group of matrons a few rows behind. Just now Leila Gluck, Alma Vogel, and Henrietta Poppe, with all respect due a judge's wife, are listening to Leona Walk recount the antics to Junior. A number of professional persons are also among the spectators. There is Ruth Hanchman, super-historian, getting material for her new book. Christine Jepsen and Polly Wittke of Broadway, out here for a vacation, are sitting with Dorothy Armitage and Rose Rosandich. Hank Frantz (pronounced Frahnts), star reporter for the Announcer, is busy covering the trial for his paper.

As the dull testimonies are still continuing when our attention comes back to the stand, we resignedly leaf through our copy of Cosmopolitan. Our eyes come to rest on a story by Jane Weeks illustrated by Vahla Klopf. On the literary page Marcia Potter reviews Jean Kleckner's new book, "The Ideal Lady." We have to look twice to assure ourselves that it isn't "The Idle Lady." Coach Ole Olson enlightens us on "How Champions are Made." On another page we find that "Messrs. Donald Braatz and Irvin Wedekind are possessors of two of the largest farms in the state of Wisconsin, yet they use our twenty-five cent rouge."

Hey! we almost forgot the trial! Max Pullen, council for the defense, is questioning his client.

"You were standing on the deck of the Enaichess at about eleven o'clock that night of July 12?"

"I was."

"And you were approached by his 'Harriette'?"

"Yes; she came along the deck and stepped on my feet."

"This of course angered your already upset mind."

"Yes."

"And now let us get to the point. You picked her up and threw her bodily over the rail?"

"I did!"

The courtroom hums with surprise. "Why," says Opal Thomas to Anita Wedekind, "who would've through it of Hugh?" The judge raps loudly for order. Mr. Pullen continues:

"Now will you please describe the deceased for the court?"

"Well, she was a very pretty green lizard, given Mrs. Eare by her old teacher, now Mrs. J. Hoesly, and named for her, and _ _ _ _"

The tumult makes it impossible for him to continue. Dr. Edith Housley hurries over to Jean Preston, who has fainted.

Vermillion rises up the judges neck and colors his ears.

"Case is dismissed!" he roars.

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