The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-18

For four hours without a moments
rest, Attorney w. II. Morris yesterday
poured hot shot of oratory into the prose-
cution in the argument of the case of
Charles w. Shomo, accused of the MUIR
der of Charles ]. Mohrpacher on East
Roy street January 26 Every discrep-
ancy in the testimony of the little chill
dren who We're the principal witnesses
was picked out and placed with cold an
alysis before the jury. Never before has
the Importance of that strange man who
was seen by the states witness Hedges
after he passed Mohrbacher, and Just be-
fore the fatal shot was fired. been brought
out so clearly.
The lawyer showed that this man was
going directly toward the spot where
Hedges had seen Mohrbacher. and yet the
state had failed to produce him. Did
this man do the killing?" was the start
ling question Mr. Morris put to the Jury
He declared that If the state had taken
the trouble to demand a description of
Hedges it would have been found that
this man tailed with the one seen by
Witnesses Woolery and Holden. for Tie
defense.
Mr.. Morris accused Assistant Prosecut-
Ing Attorney Hart and Detective Meredith
of building up case ont of ridiculous
and fiimsy evidence. What has become
of the japanese who was in Shomo's
asked Mr.. Norris He was taken to no
lice headquarters and subjected, l doubt
not, to an inquisition he will remember
10 his dying day. If those things which
the state says occurred don't you sup
pose that Jap would have told It? rhe
Jap was there. He was in the yard, and
1t was the Jap whom the children saw.
VIII the state tell me on what evidence
they ask verdict?"
Mr.. Morris analysed the testimony CT
the children, whom he said had been drill
ed, and that of Williams, who said he saw
a man in Shomos yard with gun, and
cloud of smoke six feet in front of Kim.
He argued that il was impossible to see
the smoke from a $3.50 smokeless cart
ridge at 200 feet distance under the con-
ditions Williams named.
Fair play is a foreign thing to Mr..
Hart and Detective Meredith in this case,
declared the lawyer. I'VE offered to tgke
twelve Winchester $3.50 cartridges, go to
the ground fire a gun from where 1t is
alleged Shomo was let the jury stand
where Williams stood, for the purpose OF
demonstrating that 1t was impossible to
see smoke. Did they accept the ofer9
No.
"If woolery is perjurer,'' declared
Shomo's lawyer. violently. there Is
way to prove 1t, and unless that is proven
you have no right to consider the slight
ing remarks of the assistant prosecuting
attorney. 1t Ia not right to take advan-
tage of reputable citizens in such cow
ardly way 1t happened because Woolcry
didn't run 10 Mr.. Hart and say, Please
may tell?' Why didn't the defense tell
what II knew? No one knows better than
Shomois counsel what Jobs he was liable
TO run against. II IL a burning shame that
Iverson was called to attempt to blacken
Shcmo's reputation. why didn't the stale
call Chief Reed, Capt. Willard and De-
tective Powers. men OF reputation?
The state Of Washington has charged
this defendant with murder in the first
Is murder in the first degree. While the
crime of murder as laid against him IN
cludes within II that OF the second degrco
and manslaughter, sun II ne IS guilty az
to the law, and you have no right under
your oath TO render a compromise verdict
or a verdict OF any less degree, because
the law does not sanction IT.
There Is no question but that Mohr-
bacher was on East Roy street, some two
miles from his home, which was near the
Madison street bridge. to keep an appoint
ment There Is no question In this case
but that the witness Hedges offered by
the state. passed a man between where
no passed Mohrbacher on Bellevue ave-
nue.. who was going directly toward wnere
Mohrbacher was Who was this MANI He
has never been accounted for Was Mohr-
bacher shot before this man reached him?
Did this man shoot Mohrbacher2 Did the
state attempt TO prove by Hedges the de-
scription Of this man? Gentlemen OF the
fury. IL they had proved his description by
their own witness you would have seen
that the description tailed with that Civ
en- by woolery and Holden"
In closing. Mr.. Morris more than limited
that he believed that Mohrbacher was In
the neighborhood OF the Shomo house for
no good purpose and that there was a wo-
man in the case whose honor had been
avenged by the man who hred the fatal
shot.
Attorney Ronald. for the defense Will
speak this morning and then Prosecuting
Attorney McEroy will close for the state
ia. CAGE will go N tho furry this "A