The times., 1898-06-11
PLEADING FOR HIS LIFE
Canty'S Attorney Makes an ElO-
quent Argument.
AN ATTACK ON THE POLICE
MIR. WOrthinEton Charges That Mr..
Davis Has Suppressed Testimony
Favorable to the Defendant-The
Dead Mans Coat Introduced iR
Evidence.

Mr.. Worthington, the leading counsel
for Dennis J. Canty. who is on trial in
criminal court No. l. charged with the
murder of George NJ. Rye. on March Is
last, at the corner Of + and Fourteenth
Streets, made the opening argument for
the defense yesterday. It was a splendid
effort, forceful and logical, and was heard
with closest attention by the jurors and
the spectators. who crowded the court
room. This IS especially true Of the de-
fendant and his relatives, who, during
the four hours and twenty-six minutes
Mr.. Worthington spoke, seemed to drink
in every word which fell from his lips
It was the first time since the trial be-
gan that any effort was made 10 justify or
excuse the killing, and its effect was
plainly visible on the defendant and his
relatives.
During the closing minutes Of his ad-
dress Mr.. Worthington. in commenting
on the actions OF everybody connected
with District Attorney Davis's Office and
the police, said with much emphasis 10
the jury: mo matter what your verdict
may be. whether il send the defendant TO
the galiows or set him free, the police
department viii have to answer for its
suppression Of evidence which would
tend 10 prove the innocence Of Canty."
This accusation OF bad faith on the
part of Mr.. Davis and the police and
the Introduction as material evidence of
the coat worn by Rye when he was killed.
were the only sensations Of the day.
II was during the latter part of his
argument that Mr.. Worthington asI1ad
that the coat worn by Rye when he was
Killed be produced. This being done he
asked Balm John Saunders TO put it on.
which he did. Then, leading Saunders in
front OF the jury and turning the bailif's
back 10 them, he said: II the Govern
ment wants convincing testimony that the
knife shown here was found under Rye's
body il viii have it" Mr. Worthingtou
then called the attention Of the Jury TO a
narrow stripe across the right shoulder
OF the coat and explained that il was the
result Of the knife being under the body
ana not allowing that particular part Of
the coat 10 be covered with the dust in
the roadway
In discussing the testimony Of the wit
ness. Mr. WOTthington dwelled at length
on that Of Heating, the deaf witness. of
which 50 much has been said; but
passed Miss SOmerville by with a brief
mention, stating that the discrepancies in
her story were due to fright on account
OF her age and the suddenness with which
she was brought into the case and The
TO the witness stand
When Mr. Worthington, in his review Of
the testimony for the defense, reached
the witness Craig. he said, though the
government did not introduce him as a
witness, he thought Mr.. Davis would have
a hard time in explaining away the fact
that he was there and saw the knife pick
ed up from under Rye's body. The sound
Of Mr.. Worthingtons voice had hardly
died away when Mr.. Davis retorted
sharply:
mo ] won't. for he Cmeaning Craig
was not there to see il picked up
DO you mean TO say" Mr.. Worthing-
ton asked that Craig did not see the