Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-27
County Attorney Willard Hanson's
Address to the Jury Yes
terday Afternoon.
MowHlRTER FAlNTs IN COURT
rs IN Door and Collapses In Hall
,ov While Judge Thurman Thun-
de,s Against the Two scotchmen.

county Attorney Hanson's address to
~, iurv in the Sheets case yesterday
voted by his friends as one OF
oh,os. arguments of his career and
Wv .o1vded courtroom followed him
~, word. From n prosecutors
W.. ro;nt he traced the McWhirter
@ai. from, the time the boys met Larry
a,prjor until the last bit of evidence
,ho case Just ended was in. He
ns,,r ut o'clock and in an hour had
a,,aad. During that time host
,onine points had been made and
tho impression made upon his auditors,
La from the jurymen. was shown
aas',ds and significant shakings of the
head. ss,,.,,., l., r,,a,,o
rs 70 rhurrnan. during whose merciless
arraicnrnent of the state, its case and
~ Alexander McWhirter faint
aJ Mr. Mcwhirter, who was the VIC
tim of the hokey-pokey game and at
tandant robbery was sitting with oth-
or auditors on long pencIi lust 20 Ine
voor M the press table. While Judge
rhnrnnan was laundering against the
Nv srotchmen who wouldn't and
,ouIdnt he fair" MIR. McWhirter arose
t ~ he feet with face deathly white.
10 staggered to the door, and upon
rsaching tine hall outside collapsed.
Needless to say, this created n mild
sensation to say the least.
Attorney Soren X. Christensen fol-
lowed Judge Thurman, and was the
sneaker this morning for the defense.
r Atty Wedgwood will not talk, so Atty.
christensen will be followed by Dis
trict Attorney Loofbourow who closes
the states argument. This will cover
The forenoon and half the afternoon.
The court will then read its charge to
the Jury. and that body will retire to
agree upon verdict.
Upon its return 1t VIII report one Oh
three decisions:
That it cannot agree; .. Convic-
Non. 3. ,Acouittal. The verdict must
be brought in upon charge of bribe-
ny.
THAT OFT TOLD STORY.
Atty. Hanson began in a low voice.
He stood directly in front of the jury
box and faced the eight men in whose
hands George Sheets fate Will be placed
some time today. He told first about
the meeting of the McWhirters, two
innocent, unsuspecting Scotchmen on
their first visit to America" and Larry
U BrleIl. WHO UItltIutd W VIC ~ SAiehhh
er or tourist himself "O'Brlen was
smooth and oily; he showed the two
scotchmen around town and made
them obligated in dozen different
ways. They appreciated his kindness
In showing them points of interest in
the city and when he suggested that
they meet an uncle, Col. Rice" they
felt it would be showing ingratitude to
refuse They We're gradually led into
the game as only grafters of the oily
type can lead men--the smartest of men
who are strangers in strange land and
with time on their hands. Not until
5000 was grabbed without any evident
cause did they realize they were caught
in a trap and then set up the cry that
they had been robbed An officer was
suggested. One of the party. the oily
Larry o'Brien who kept up the play
Of being IL friend and fellow-tourist.
vent out and brought In two more
nafters posing as police officers (Par-
rent and BelD. Without question the
McWhirters accepted the guardianship
Of the two men they presumed to be
officers.
PROOF OF INNOCENCE.
They obeyed every instruction even
TO the one that they turn over $4,000
which had been discovered ON them.
What more proof of their innocence can
you ask than this? The bluff had to be
kept up. One man marched out some
Of the players and the two McWhirters
were left to Bell, an auxiliary officer
Bell was 10 take them to the police
station and there they would get their
money back Bell led them around
town In an effort TO shake them. Fin
ally from the sun drug store Bell calls
the chief by telephone: what happens
after that? Is there any more wan
dering around town? No! Bell
marches directly to the station and
boldly into the office. He had found the
chief in when he called, and knowing
there was man sitting in the chiefs
chair whom he could handle; knowing
the coast was clear and the time for
The final play was at hand he took Me-
Whirter to the station.
WEAK DEFENSE.
The chief and Hempel told us they
asked the Scotchmen to stay over. I
am penniless and l know no one here