The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17
SAVES SON BY PLEA
Acquittal of Chester ThOmp-
son Ends Pathetic Case.
FATHER ACTED AS COUNSEL
VIII II. Thompson, Poet and Lawyer,
Defended Hfs own Flesh and Blood
an Old Friemd-PrOmised to Place
Youth in an Insane Asylum.

Seattle, WASH. teD. Ib.--AIteT GeHDeG-
aung four hours the jury at Tacoma de-
clared Chester Thompson not guilty Of
murder in killing former Judge George
Meade Emory by reason of insanity"
Following the acquittal the court re-
mandcd the defendant to the custody Of
the sheriff and viii decide later what dis
position shall be made Of young Thomp-
son.
The verdict is the result of the nasterfui
plea of VIII II. Thompson for his son.
He begged. with tears in his eyes, Tor
the acquittai of the young man, promis-
ing solemnly to put him In an insane
asylum
The trial lasted nearly two months and
II attracted great interest throughout
the State. VIII H. Thompson. father Of
the defendant, IS a well-knOwn attorney
poet, and exponent of archery. who for
merly lived in Charlottesville, Ind. Maurice
Thompson, the novelist, author Of Alice
of Old Vincennes." &c, was his brother
VIII H. Thompson and Judge Emory
had been close friends and the father Of
the slayer was placed in a predicament
between the love for his son and the
esteem in which he held the judge. How
ever, he defended his son with all his
legal ability. but did not condone the
offense. and at every opportunity he
showed his high regard for the victim
Sympathy for Father.
The State made strong case against
the youth, but the sympathy Of the jury
4f.s %
Of young Thompson, on the ground OF
insanity, the plea of the defense, was
not unexpected.
Taken all in all, the trial was one OF
the hardest fought criminal battles ia the
annals Of the Pacific Northwest bar. In
the eight weeks occupied in the hearing
all the participants, save one, were under
the severest strain. That one exception
was the person whose interest in the out
come by all ordinary reasons should have
been the keenest-the defendant But
strange 70 say. he paid little or no atten-
ton to the proceedings. maintaining
throughout an almost impenetrable in
difference.
The man who. ia reality. was on trial.
and whose hearts blood went most deeply
into every issue of the proceedings. was
the father of the defendant. This grizzled
veteran OF the Confederate army fought
the most trying battle of his long and
honorable career 10 save his own flesh and
blood from an ignominious fate on the gal
- - -. -
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Fet humiliation hceHiy'
The tragic muse Of the Greeks inspired
no more fateful succession of enieodes
rbap those which seen, 10 have consnired
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-.
Jas = "iItt ie"''li'S On eA'ii' lia' '-l7 '''''
any one might Wei strive % emulate.
real poet. for he is the author OF High
Tide at GETTYSBURG" and other graceful
cultured verses, VIII H. Thompson has
felt more keehly than ordinary men
would the tragedy brought as a terrible
climax into what may prove TO be the
last act or his own personal drama
Many sons have tried their fathers
sll'l5' anu l.l''.5 o'll..s 1i'.e $50 e.
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h. ulaced in the Desiti5n that Tboursor
was through the killing of Judge Emory
by his son Chester That Thompson felt
sincere grief because OF his sons act is
uilleSll'iisI' lot as Sl'.1ln' we victim
IN -. ..' -,
sEar9
Chester Thomson who was inst an
preaching his majority. had loved Char
lotte Whittlesey. It was an ELECTION
conceived not wisely. but too we'll The
suit was not favored, and because the
girls uncle Judge Emory, had attempted
90 bring the youth TO an understanding
Of bis diSfavor IN the girls eyes, some
what abruptly, perhaps. young Thompson
shot down his fathers good friend when
the latter attempted TO restrain him from
invading his home as the boy tried to
force his way into the presence Of the one
he loved
Tragedies in Courtroom.
VIII II Tbon,~eon t. oieta5 u,{.5 tho
so,,+-,r,, ,7l.,.,,,,,, -, =, hin, -
-,
ii'a D'I .n' ~ ~eoi5 50, ''.i'os' 49,
ago Inns ne uSeu Nely III All 'lll'eS
during the trial Of his boy, appearing IN
the dual capacity Of counsel and witness,
Ia tbss NAV of ..r-l,o Er,+ber., tho ,aro
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