Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-24
Lawyers for Joseph Forrest
Outline Their Plan
FAMILY BIBLE IN COURT
Spectators at Leonardtown Trial
Less Numerous.
STATE RESTS CASE TODAY
Defense Has Summoned DR.. Charles
G. Hill, Who Was in
Thaw Case.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
LEONARDTOWN,M Md, September 2i.-
That Joseph Forrest was insane and of
unsound mind when he killed his mother
and father is the defense of the prison
er's counsel outlined this morning during
arguments over admission of testimony
in the trial Of Joseph Forrest on the
charge of killing his father, William
Plowden Forrest.
This proved to be the real sensation of
the second days sessions. The crowd
was not nearly as large as yesterday,
which is due to the heavy storm that
passed over the county last night and
continued today.
The torn and tattered pages Of the
Morgan family Bible was brought into
the courtroom this morning. 1t had been
held together in the old Virginia home of
the Morgans before being brought here.
The book became an exhibit in the trial
to prove the prisoners name and age and
was introduced by the defense. Its rec
ord showed that Joseph Plowden Morgan
Forrest was born August 80, 1880. Other
exhibits of the morning session were the
shot taken out of the courthouse wall and
portions Of the skull of the murdered
man.
The defense has summoned DR.. Charles
g. Hill of the Mount Hope Sanitarium. DR..
Hill is one of the most widely known au-
thorities in the United States on brain and
mental diseases. He was used in both the
Thaw and Haines cases by the defense.
DR.. Hill, with DR.. w. p. E. Wise of Pixies
Vile, made an examination of the prisoner
in his cell last Sunday. DR.. Hill will be
the last witness for the defense and
reached here late this afternoon.
The state rested it's case shortly after II
O'Clock and Forests counsel called wit
nesses Immediately, but made no opening
statement to the Jury.
Much of the time was consumed by
wransles by opposing counsel. States At
tOrney Combs gained signal point when
the court ruled that the defense could not
ask their witnesses for opinions as to
whether they believe it possible for the
man to have been murdered in certain
place, but would have to show the facts
with their witnesses. Messrs. Locker and
Dorsey of counsel for the defense repeat
eddy objected on small technicalitles.
Forrest More Composed.
1t was 1905 o'clock when Judge Briscoe
raped for order, announced that the
court was in session and ordered Forrest
to be brought in. The prisoner, little
nervous as he entered the room. grew
more composed as the trial progressed.
He spoke a word with States Attorney
Combs and then talked with his counsel
Throughout the morning he paid little
attention to the proceedings.
Five minutes after the court convened
Judge Br1scoe, who, with Judges CANA
lier and Van Claggett, are sitting in the
case ordered the jury brought in. John
Davis, who testified yesterday, was re-
called by the state. His testimony only
showed that small pieces Of shot were
found in the courthouse. Thomas Adams
was then called to the stand.
The state showed by this witness that
Immediately after the murder had been
committed that the door and windows of
the Forrest house had been barred and
hung with blankets and other articles to
hide the crime as long as possible.
The state called George P. Hutchins.
who was not on hand, and States At
torney Coombs announced he was ready
for the defense to proceed. If they would
permit him to put Hutchins on the stand
when he arrived. Court ruled on the point
and defense opened by calling DR.. j.
c. King, the prisoners uncle, by mar
riage. DR.. King yesterday testified for
the state. He carried with him the old
Morgan family Bible and there was a
craning of necks to look at the old relic
as he read from it's birth record.
DR.. King on Stand.
DR.. King was asked on what side of
the corn Mouse the blood spots were
found and in reply said On the right side.
States Attorney Combs asked the purpose
of witness and brought forth heated re-
ply from Attorney Locker:
I'VE mean to show by this Witness" he
exclaimed. that the testimony of the
witness Gray was besmirched and I'M
clean. or that the prisoner is Of unsound
mind. Gray testified that Forrest told
him the killing of his mother occurred on
the left side Of the corn house. Either
Gray told an untruth, or Forrest did not
know what had occurred. We will show
that the prisoner is of unsound mind and
was insane at the time of the killing