The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-19
WOMAN MAY KNOW FATE
BEFORE NIGHT; DOUBT AS
To NATURE OF VERDICT
ARGUMENTS COMPLETED AFTERNOON - MUCH SPEC
ULATION AS TO WHAT VERDICT - Ex.
PECT JURY WILL CONDEMN WOMAN HANG.

Mrs. Martina Kvalshaug may
know before night whether free
dom, life Imprisonment or death
ON the gallows is to be her fate.
Prosecuting Attorney J. l.. Nc
Murray began the closing argn-
ment at 2 o'clock this afternoon,
and closed shortly after O'Clock.
when the case went to the jury.
Much doubt is expressed among
those acquainted with the case N
all its details as TO the verdict.
Few voice the opinion that the
woman will hang for the alleged
murder, but the majority believe
that the verdict will find the wom-
an guilty of murder in the second
degree. Others hold out strongly
that they can not find her guilty
of either first or second degree
murder.
Many attorneys who have fol-
lowed the trial closely are of the
opinion that disagreement of the
jury will be the most probable re-
suit. 1t is claimed by them that
there are two men sitting in the
box who will tie the Jury up in
definitely. Should this be the case
it means that a new trial will be
ordered and the whole case gone
through again.
Defense Argues.
Frank II. Kelley, chief counsel
for Mrs. Kvalshaug, began his al.
dress to the jury at o'clock yes
terday afternoon and continued
until after the noon recess today.
His appeal to the twelve men was
in the nature of calm. deliberate.
exhaustive review of the trial.
There was little emotion shown "
him and very little impassioned
Language until the very last when
he made an eloquent appeal on
behalf of the woman.
In defending the hypnotism ex-
cuse produced to refute the con-
Ifession offered by the state, Kel-
ley said:
1--WE do not attempt to. make
you believe that this woman was
in hypnotic trance. and we have
not tried to show that. We con-
tend that because of the terrible
strain which she had undergone
from the early morning of the day
before the alleged confession was
made. she was in such condition
of absolute exhaustion, physically
and mentally, and that her intel
lect was only in the twilight of its
ability. So dimmed was her mind
that her reason would not tell her
that a charge made by the detec-
Itives was not true. She was in
such a weakened condition that
her mind was unable to combat
the untrue charges and she as
Isented to them"
Rap Detectives.
The attorney gave much time
to discussing the testimony of City
Detectives Fackler and Fitzgerald.
In dealing with hardened and
habitual criminals" he said,
I"Fitzgerald is an expert and there
is not an aIbler man in the North
west. But when he comes to
dealing with offenders of a less
hardened nature. with women or
children, I must say that he is un-
just and his methods are not
right. He can deal with Grimm
ais. and get the best of them, too.
because he has dealt with hun
dreds of them. but when he comes
to dealing with a woman, he is
out of his element and not respou-
sfble."
Mrs. Kvalshaug IS charged with
being an accomplice with Charles
F. Newcomb in the murder of her
husband, Martin Kvalshaug, May
IA of this year. The state has
ATTEMPTED to show that she AMI
iNewcomb deliberately planned the
murder for many weeks before 1t
was executed.
Kvalshaug was shot four times
| by Newcomb while he was return
ling to his home near Twelfth and
Puget Sound avenue with his wife
Hate in the night of May IA. 1t
| is declared by the states attorneys
that the woman led her husband
to the spot where Newcomb~ lay
in wait.
i