The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-18
KIDD CASE CONES
TO SUDDEN END
Defense Closes Without Putting
On More Than Half of
Its Witnesses.
GOES TO THE JURY TO-DAY
Argument May Be Concluded by
Noon-Attaek Story
of Girls.

| Attorney L. -. W ehoenDurg sprang q
surprise last night in the Leo Kidd
case. when. at 6:15 o'clock, he an
nounced that the defense was through
and would put on no more witnesses.
Hardly more than a dozen Of the two
score witnesses who had been sum
moned by the defense were put on
the stand.
| 1t had been freely predicted during
! the day that the examination OF wit
nesses would continue until far into
| to-day. with the probability that the
case would not go to the jury until
some time saturday The sadden eur
surprise to all who had watched the
progress of the case.
| At $50 o'clock Judge Scott adjourn
ed court and discharged all witnesses
for the prosecution and defense went
at once into consultation about in
structions. and the matter was argued
: before Judge Scott for an hour. At
structions remained yet undecided. and
the attorneys were ordered by the
court to appear at 9:30 o'clock this
, morning for the purpose OF adjusting
them.
Goes to Jury To-Day.
Both sides agreed last night that
! the instructions would be ready by
the time court convenes at 10 o'clock.
and that argument Will begin at once.
! The prosecution will open the argu-
ment and viii be followed by the de-
| Tense. The speeches will probably
not consume more than two hours. The
Commonwealth will close the argu-
ment to the jury. and the outlook now
is that the talesmen will get the case
early in the afternoon
From the trend of the evidence In
PRODUCED yesterday it was clear that
the main object of the defense was to
\ rxln H1l
by Lenora Austen and Grace Williams
by impugning their general reputation
for truthfulness No attempt has been
| made to shake the evidence tending
to esta bltsh the fact that the girls
We're under the statutory age limit
when the offenses against them are
alleged to have been committed.
The weight Of the evidence present
ed yesterday was to the effect that
the specific offense charged by the
and that their reputation for veracity
was such as to make any OF their
statements unworthy Of belief.
Question Of who Lied.
Reduced to its lowest terms, the
the jury to-day will be. Which of the
principals shall be believed-the two
girls or Arthur H. Anthony and Leo
Kidd? All other questions are merely
at 10 O'Clock. and the Commonwealth
rested it's case after introducing
Deputy Sheriff w W. sydnor. who re-
rest. and Charles X. Taylor. who told
Of his departure with Kidd to Pitts
burgh Another witness testified to
the age of the Austen girl.
The defense put on in rapid success
sion number Of witnesses. who tes-
titled uniformly that the reputation OF
the two girls for truthfulness and gen.
eral moral character was bad Com
monwealth's Attorney Frank 7. sutton
| him. entered strong objection to the
| admission Of most Of this testimony.
on the ground that the character OF
the girls was not pertinent to the In :
dictment. and was a Wholly colaterai
matter. Their objections were over
ruled.
The list OF character witnesses thus
! examined included Charles Taylor. w.
H. Boze. Ollie Bastine; Arthur East
Louise Carter and Leonie Frazer.
| story Denied BY Kidd.
Leo Kidd. the defendant. was the
last witness put on the stand He
admitted taking an automobile ride
TENDER Il. the day upon which the
Icrirne is said to have been committed,
accompanied by A. H. Anthony. but
denied in toto the charge Of improper
Anthony. who gave q like version OF
! the incidents surrounding the ride.
! Asked by he Commonwealth TO ex-
plain his innocent patronage towards
1.-TWO girls who were comparative
strangers to him, Kidd replied that he
| felt under obligations to Lenora Aus
item because earlier IN the year he had
j accidentally injured her little sister
! while out riding in his machine Has
solicitude for the child, he sara caused
/ hin, 10 call at her home. and the ac-
quaintance with Lenora followed as q
/. matter OF course.