The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-10-17
ARGUMENTS CONCLUDED.
CASE OF STATE VS. MUNSON TO
 GO TO THE JURY TODAY.

Attorneys Wheeler and ThOms Review
 Evidenee-AttOrney O'NeiI Wants
 Jury to Find Munson Guilty of FOrni-
 cation Instead of seductiOn-His
 Opinion of the Virtue of "shOp Girls''
 States Attorney Williams Scores
 Munson-TaIzes Exception to O'Neil's
 Comments on "ShOp Girls"-Calls
 Jury's Attention to MunsOn's HGrin."
 At 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the criminal side of the superior court, with Judge Gager on the bench, convened for the purpose of hearing the argu- ments in the case of the state vs. Nun son, the evidence in which was con- cluded last Saturday.
 Assistant State Attorney Wheeler de- livered the opening argument on be- half of the state, commencing at 1 o'clock, and finishing at 1:3O. He was followed by Attorney Thoms for the de- fendant, who spoke about the same length of time as Attorney Wheeler. Both counsel gave a general review Of the evidence in condensed form and quoted several legal authorities.
 Attorney O'Neil gave the closing ar gument for the defense. He contend ed that the case bore more signs of fornication than of seduction, and talk ing this view of the situation he said there was a feature presented as to whether the superior court had juris- diction in the matter.
 Attorney O'Neil also laid considerable stress on the fallibility of the human race and said that to his mind the &C., cused and the accuser were equally guilty and then only of fornication. He said that Miss Thorndyke was not as unsophisticated as her appearance and words might imply, He said that she had attended public schools for several years and had then taken up the milli- nery business. The speaker said that it was highly improbable that during all this time she had not acquired enough wisdom to protect her virtue had she so desired.
 Attorney O'NeiT said that wisdom" was speedily acquired in millinery and dress making establishments, and inti- mated that Miss Thorndyke had shown no signs of dullness in that respect.
 The speaker, occupied considerable time in attempting to show that tile girl had been notified by her mother and others that Munson was a married man, but that despite this she had per sisted in associating with Munson. He then quoted several legal authorities ito show the importance of a ''notifica- tion," and how, when once given, the respons'bilit rested on the party noti- fled. Z.
 He concluded his argument at 8 o'clock, and a recess of ten minutes was then taken, and at it's conclusion State Attorney Williams gave the clos ing argument for the state. It was one of the attorneys sual strong addresses and during it's recital the speaker most bitterly reproached the accused. He said that Munson's attitude all through the affair had been one of deceit and that by the basest of false representa- tions he had robbed an innocent girl, sixteen years his junior, of her virtue.
 Attorney Williams secuted the idea that Miss Thorndyke knew that Nun son was a married man. The speaker said that the fact that the girl had con- fided in her. parents showed her disposi- tion and intentions in the matter.
 He drew a vivid picture of "a bright and prosperous dentist offering to mar ny poor young girl which really meant, should she accept, social posi- tion and a life of ease, removed from a shop, as she supposed. Displaying his card as a credential and writing letters to her in sealed envelopes such as shop girls are not accustomed to receive. Through these means and the promise of common law marriage at last gain. ing her consent to surrender herself to him body and soul.
 Attorney Williams said that gross injustice had been done by one of the counsel for the accused by casting a slur on shop girls in general. Said MT. Williams: Gentlemen of the jury, you and I know that such a statement is a gross injustice and a burning shame. Is there no virtue in our shop girls Do not you and I know just as good and honest innocent girls who work in factories who are as virtuous and wor- thy of respect as any of their sex in the drawing room or the mansion? I pro- test against any such gross statement. ''
 Attorney Williams said that the fa- ther of the girl was an honest man who believed that men were as they appeared to be, and had not therefore looked behind the screen, which belied the base nature of the accused. The