Miss Mary Pirk, Sworn In as the 62nd Witness for the Defense

MISS MARY PIRK, sworn for the Defendant.

I am one of the foreladies working at the National Pencil Co. I am at the head of the polishing department. I have been there about five years. I talked with Jim Conley Monday morning after the murder. I accused him of the murder. He took his broom and walked right out of the office and I have never seen him since. His character for truth and for veracity is bad. I would not believe him on oath.

CROSS EXAMINATION.

I suspected Jim as early as Monday April 28th. I did not report it to Mr. Frank then. I don't know why I didn't. I knew that Gantt and Newt Lee and Mr. Frank had been arrested. Yes, I have never said anything about it to anybody. I suspected Jim because he looked and acted so different. I told Mr. Arnold and Mr. Rosser about it when they asked me about it. That was after Jim was arrested. Jim acted very peculiar but I thought best not to say anything about it. I knew the company was anxious to get the murderer but I just didn't mention it. I don't know why. I mentioned it to several of the girls standing around, Miss Denham, Miss Mc Cord, Mrs. Johns and several others. I accused Jim before I saw the blood at the ladies' dressing room. It was all smeared over with some kind of white stuff. It covered about two feet in area. I mentioned it to the girls before Jim was arrested. I am not sure whether it was before or after. It was after the coroner's inquest. I have seen several spots in the factory that looked like that spot many times. All kinds of spots. I have seen spots before that looked like that. I don't exactly know when. My opinion is that Mr. Frank is a perfect gentleman. I always found him to be one in my dealings with him. I have never heard any of the girls say anything about him. I have never heard of a single thing immoral that he did do in those five years. I have never heard of his going in the girls' dressing room. I have never heard of his slapping them as he would go by. I have never heard Mr. Frank talk to Mary. I have never heard of the time Mr. Frank had her off in the corner there when she was trying to go back to work.