Machinal Scene 8

Question 1

judge: defense ready to proceed?

Answer 1

me: we’re ready your honor

Question 2

judge: proceed

Answer 2

me: helen jones

Question 3

me: helen jones (rachel rises)

Answer 3

me: mrs. jones, will you take the stand?

Question 4

rachel: in prison

Answer 4

me: mrs jones, you are the widow of the late george h jones, are you not?

Question 5

rachel: yes (#1)

Answer 5

me: how long were you married to the late goerge h jones before his demise?

Question 6

rachel: six years

Answer 6

me: six years! and it was a happy marriage, was it not? did you quarrel?

Question 7

rachel: no sir

Answer 7

me: then it was a happy marriage, was it not?

Question 8

rachel: yes sir (#1)

Answer 8

me: six years without one quarrel! six years! gentleman of the jury, i ask you to consider this fact!

Question 9

judge: proceed with your witness

Answer 9

me: you have one child have you not mrs jones?

Question 10

rachel: yes, sir (#2)

Answer 10

me: a little girl, is it not?

Question 11

rachel: yes sir (#4)

Answer 11

me: before your marriage to the late mr jones, you worked and supported your mother, did you not?

Question 12

rachel: yes sir (#3)

Answer 12

me: a little girl. since the demise of the late mr jones you are the only parent she has living, are you not?

Question 13

rachel: yes sir (#5)

Answer 13

me: what did you do?

Question 14

rachel: i was a stenographer

Answer 14

me: and since your marriage you have continued as her sole support, have you not?

Question 15

rachel: yes sir (#6)

Answer 15

me: a devoted daughter, gentlemen of the jury! as well as a devoted wife and a devoted mother!

Question 16

alex: your honor!

Answer 16

me: and now, mrs jones, i will ask you-the law expects me to ask you-did you-or did you not- on the night of june 2nd or the morning of june 3rd-kill your husband, the late george h jones- did you or did you not?

Question 17

rachel: i did not (#1)

Answer 17

me: now mrs jones, you have heard the witnesses for the state-there were not many and they did not have much to say

Question 18

judge: sustained

Answer 18

me: you have heard some police and you have heard some doctors. none of whom was present! the prosecution could not furnish and witness to the crime- not one witness!

Question 19

alex: your honor!

Answer 19

me: nor one motive

Question 20

judge: sustained

Answer 20

me: but such as these witnesses are, you have heard them try to accuse you of deliberately murdering your own husband, this husband with whom, by your own statement, you have never had a quarrel in six years of married life, murdering him, i say, or rather- they say, while he slept, by brutally hitting him over the head with a bottle filled with small stones. did you, or did you not?

Question 21

rachel: i did not. (#2)

Answer 21

me: you did not! of course you did not! now mrs jones, will you tell the jury in your own words exactly what happened on the night of june 2nd or the morning of junes 3rd, at the time your husband was killed

Question 22

rachel: i heard a noise and i awoke and saw two men standing beside my husbands side of the bed

Answer 22

me: two men?

Question 23

rachel: yes (#2)

Answer 23

me: can you describe them?

Question 24

rachel: not very well- i couldn’t see them very well

Answer 24

me: could you say whether they were big or small-light or dark-thin or-

Question 25

rachel: they were big looking men

Answer 25

me: and what did you do, mrs jones, when you suddenly awoke and saw two big looking men standing beside your bed?

Question 26

rachel: i didn’t do anything

Answer 26

me: you didnt have time to do anything- did you?

Question 27

rachel: no. before i could do anything- one of them raise- something in his hand and struck mr jones over the head with it

Answer 27

me: and what did mr jones do?

Question 28

rachel: he gave a sort of groan and tried to raise up

Answer 28

me: and then what happened

Question 29

rachel: the man struck him again and he fell back

Answer 29

me: what did the men do then?

Question 30

rachel: they turned and ran out of the room

Answer 30

me: i see. what did you do then, mrs jones?

Question 31

rachel: and i realized he had-passed away.

Answer 31

me: i see. what did you do then?

Question 32

rachel: so i went to the telephone and called the police

Answer 32

me: and that is all you know concerning the death of your husband in the late hours of june 2nd or the early hours of june 3rd, isnt it?

Question 33

alex: mrs jones, why did you try so desperately to wash the blood away- before you called the police?

Answer 33

me: i object!

Question 34

alex: its an affidavit taken in the state of guanajuato, mexico

Answer 34

me: i object! u object to the introduction of this evidence at this time as irrelevant, immaterial, illegal, biased, prejudicial, and-

Question 35

rachel: yes i did it!

Answer 35

me: i object your honor.