Sensation followed sensation. At no time during the long trial, which cost the state of Illinois nearly $100,000, did the interest lapse. It was for the jurors to decide the truth of this complication of alleged happenings and as to the guilt of the little foreigner, charged by her alleged persecutor with theft. The important points on which Madame Barrett based her charges against Ella Gingles were: That Ella Gingles signed a confession December 6, 1908, admitting she was a department store thief. That she stole valuable lace from her and used the lace in the new dress. That the lace-maker's injuries were self-inflicted. Combatting this, the little defendant and her stanch friends swore: That she was a victim of a conspiracy on the part of her accusers. That her enemies attempted to make her a white slave. That she was urged by Madame Barrett to accept money offered her by her tempter. That she was seized, bound and horribly mistreated in the Wellington hotel, as the result of her refusal to accede to Madame Barrett's demands. That the Barrett woman forced open, or caused to be forced open, her trunk and took therefrom laces and valuable keepsakes and personal properties belonging to her. It was charge met by charge. During the long hearing Madame Barrett sat alone. She seemed to have been shunned. At no time did she lose her self-control. The most violent charges seemed to affect her but little. The girl would make some terrible charge from the witness stand. The prosecuting witness would sit immovable. Her face did not blanch. It did not color to a crimson red. Her eyes did not wander. Forever they were gazing directly in front of her, yet without looking at any one and anything. It was the gaze and composure of a woman of the world--a woman who has passed through horrors before and who has become immune. After the jury had been selected Miss Gingles was released on bond. Previous to this time she had been confined in the county jail at her own request, as she charged her enemies were still following her and she feared they would do her injury. At the opening of the first session of court First Assistant State's Attorney Benedict J. Short made a short address. "Miss Gingles, and not Miss Barrett, is on trial here. You must try this case on the evidence alone," said Mr. Short. Attorney O'Donnell declared he would show that Miss Gingles was the victim of a plot instigated by an alleged agent representing an influential Indiana Democratic politician. Here are a few samples of questions asked veniremen by Attorney O'Donnell of the defense: "Are you married?" "Have you any sisters?" "Have you read about this case?" "Miss Gingles is Irish--does that make any difference?" "Would it make any difference if Miss Gingles belongs to a different religion than you do?" Assistant State's Attorneys Short and Furthman questioned prospective jurors along these lines: "Do you know anything about the Irish lace store?"