Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-06-29
JURY MAY |NFL|CT
DEATH PENALTY
ON HENWOOD
SENSATIONAL MURDER
TRIAL NEARS FINISH
Judges Instructions Provide
That Verdict of First Degree
or Second Degree Murder or
ACquittal May Be Returned.
rBy Morning. journal Special Ie.sd wire,


tBy Morning journal Special Leased wirel
Denver. June 2s.-Dlstiict Iudy.
Greeley w. Whitford, after the open
ing arguments OF counsel for the
prosecution and a portion of the de-
lenses argument had been cnmplet-
ed, announced that he would hold a
night session for compieuci Ot the
case of Harold +. HenwooG. charged
with the murder of George f.. ,,ope-
land. Copeland was fatally shot
when Henwood quarrelei with Syl-
vester l.. Won Phll the u. Luuis
amateur halloonist who also was hit
by three bullets froin the effect If
which he died later.
Assistant District Attorney Chiles
this morning called Henwuod a
"'home destroyer" and said that he
had detied the home of his friend
John w. Springer, the Mealthy Den-
yer banker.
Attorney John r. Bottom for the
defense, denied that this accusation
was true and said hat ilenwood was
true friend of the Sprilgers. MIR
Bottom, throughout his argument
which was broken oy an evening i'd
journment, dwelt upcl the clani OF
the defense that HenwuJd was yustl-
fled in shooting at Won phu,, be-
cause Won Phul appeared 30 be draw
ing gun from his hip pocket, after
having knocked Henwood down IN
the Brown Palace hotel bar room on
the night OF May "a
The bloody clothes of Won Phul
were examined by Mr.. Eohom for
the benefit OF the jury.
Assistant District Attorney John
Horne Chiles opened the argument
for the prosecution with scathing
denunciation Of Henwood as thG.''de-
stroyer" of the home of .Inhn w.
Springer. wealthy Denver banker.
He deprecated the maudIin puhlic
sentiment that would turn mur,lerers
loose to prey upon the public aud ap
pealed TO the jury to enforce the law,
particularly in this instance and
render verdict of murder in the
first degree.
He pictured Henwood as se'f.con-
stituted hero and protector" who
was taken into the bosom OF the
family of John Springer. introduced
to his wife, took advantage OF his
kindly courtesies and then destroyed
the Springer home"
Mr.. Chiles asserted that the firing
upon Won Phul, which resulted In
Won Phul and Copelands death, was
the work of a man fired by jealousy
a man with "damnable he'll fire In
his heart"
There was no justification, no self
defense, said the assistant istrict at
torney. Henwood, he said, was act
ing under spirit of revenge.
HE had Illicit relations with the
woman" said Mr. Chiles, "and he
was afraid Won Phul stood high in
the affections of that fair creature.
Therefore, he declared. Henwood
wanted Won Phul out of the wa-.
Mr.. Chiles welt upon that phase of
the law which requires a man to en-
deavor to avoid danger before he
strikes a mortal blow.
He charged Won Phul, after strik.
ing Henwood down in the bar room
of the Brown Palace hotel, turned his
back upon him and that then Hen
wood began shooting. He argued that
llenwood was in no immediate dan
ger Of his life, and therefore the
plea Of self-defensc could not stand.
Attorney Bottom. for the defense,
followed Chiles, and after he had
spoken four hours and twenty min
utes.. the court ordered recess until
s o'clock tonight
Mr.. Bottom announced that he
would want considerable time TO ap-
ply the courts instructions to the evil
denee. task he had just entered up
on when Judge Whitford announced
the recess.
District Attorney Willis V. Elliott |
" @ho was to close for the prosecution,
require one hour.
MIR. Bottom went minutely into the |
evidence, dwelling particularly upon |
what he viewed as convincing evil |
lence that Henwood was justified In |
his life was in danger when |
he shot Won Phul. He spread out be-
'ore the jury the clothing worn by .
Won Phul and traced what he con-
'eived to be the course of the first
bullet fired from Henwood's gun, that
truck Won Phul.
The blood clotted right sleeve of |
fon Phul's shirt was held before the
jurors eyes and the bullet hole In the
'uff was pointed out Then the
light hip pocket OF the trousers was
urned out, displaying blood spots
hereon.
Mr.. Bottom argued that this PROV
ID beyond possibility of doubt that
ION phul had his right hand In his
nip pocket when he was shot In the
wrist The bullets In the right
houlder and In the back, mute evil
Ience of which we're shown In the
roles penetrating Won Phul's coat
ferc pointed out, but MIR. Bottom
allied the iurys attention to the tes-
imony of medical scientists TO the
act that the first wound doadened
II sense of pain to other wounds, as
vas evidenced, he said by the fact
hat Won Phul did not know that he
ad been hit elsewhere than in the
light wrist until friends had examln-
d his body as he sat In n chair.
Mr.. Bottom proclaimed the virtue