One of the most dramatic murder cases in recent years came to a starting close last evening when Mary Dugan, follies beauty, was acquitted of the killing of her millionaire lover, Edgar Rice. The jury was out only a very short time in forming its decision. The acquittal came as a fitting climax to the brilliant uphill battle staged by attorney for the defense James Dugan, brother of the accused, and was enthusiastically acclaimed by a crowded court house.

Never mind; lucky for all lovers of justice and entertainment, the trial will be held again tonight and probably for a good many nights to come at the Wilbur Theatre. Go and serve on the jury, sit in judgement upon this woman and find out that jury duty is the pleasantest task imaginable.

Aside from your public obligation to serve on this jury, you owe it to yourself to see one of the best productions that Boston has harbored for a long time. "The Trial of Mary Dugan" is originally and cleverly conceived, ably written, and excellently staged and acted. More can rarely be said for a play in these days of dramatic vicissitudes when it takes more than a ladder to mount the heights of popular success.

Mary Dugan isn't what one would call a nice girl, but there's reason in her badness, and despite a shady reputation in matters pertaining to sex, she's not half so wicked as the district attorney would like to make the jury believe. She has no witnesses, however, and her case begins to look extremely dark when her impetuous young brother, an embryonic lawyer, messes things up worse by objecting to the methods of her counsel. From this point on the story resolves itself into a series of detective masterpieces manoeuvered by this young brother which gradually bring the doubtful jury around from a position of cold hostility to warm and enthusiastic support. It is in this power to away the feelings of the audience from one side to the other that the author displays his true dramatic mastery.

The performances of the individual members of the cast are uniformly of a high standard. Genevieve Tobin acquits herself well as Mary Dugan, a role which requires more skill than work. But even she is outshone by Arthur Hohl as District Attorney Galway. His is a magnificent rendering, packed with difficult situations and humorous touches. He fights a losing battle, but retains throughout a liberal amount of sympathy from friends and foes alike. Robert Williams, as the younger brother Jimmy, makes the most of a popular part.

If midyears are bothering you; here is the cure. You now have an excellent excuse for slipping away for a few hours. If midyears aren't bothering you, you have no excuse for not seeing and judging Mary Dugan and her troubles before something starts troubling you.