Rock Island Argus., 1913-06-18
ARGUMENTS MADE
TO The JURY IN
STRATTON CASE
Defense Furnishes Surprise by
Not Introducing Any Evi-
dence in Case.
STATE SPRINGS TRUMP
Benjamin J. Stewart, Farmer Living
East of Davenport Identifies
the Defendant.
STATE SPRINGS TRUMP

The Strat-on murder trial came to /
a sudden termination this morning /
when the defense refused to place any /
witnesses On the stand. There had /
been continued runners that there
would be an attempt to prove an
alibi by a married Chicago woman who
would swear that Stratton spent the
night with her On the evening OF De.
Cember Z, 1912, when the bank OF J.
Lee Cruwder Of SLyis was robbed
and he given fatal injuries.
MAKE NO DEFENSE.
When the state rested this morning
at 1915 IL was presumed the defense
would put their Witnesses on the
stand bu. Attorney Nowlan announc
cd that this would not be done and as
a result the arguments otCounsel were
started end the alibi theory vanished
into thin air from which is sprang,
leaving the damaging testimony OF
Thomas jefferson, VINO turned state-a
evidence, undisputed
SPRING TRU1TP CARD.
The prosecution sprung d trump
card this morning in the person of
Benjamin F. Stewart, an electrician en-
gineer who is managing his fathers
farm east OF Davenport. lie testified
that Stratton and Smi,hy were found
in his barn on the night Of Sunday,
December s, the night following the
assault. He said he heard a commO-
tion in his barn and went out 10 find
these two men there. They had been
asleep in he hay loft He had Ian
tern with him and threw the rays full
On the face OF Stratton and clearly
Identified him IN court this morning.
The witness said when he asked the
men what they were doing there they
said they had been on a big drunk and
had been sleeping and were trying
TO get away before he discovered
them. They said they had been in
the barn ali day and asked the way
TO Clinton. He told them and they
left. The testimony corroborated The
story of Jefferson who said the plan
was TO cross the river to the Iowa
side and then hike for Chicago His
own arrest in Moline, however. pro.
hibited him from following the rest
and he did not know what became of
his pals.
When Mr.. Stewart was csked if he
had seen Strattcn before he asked
the court If the defendant would not
stand up. StrattCn Immediately
jumped TO his feet Attorney Nowlau
for The defense strongly objected
claiming the defendant was givinl
testimony against himself However
the witness had an opportunity to get
good look at the defendant and he
positively Identified him as one of tn,
pair he found in his barn the DAY
after the murder He said he was not
more than four feet away from STRAIT
ton in his barl and could not be mis-
taken in the man
OVERRULs MOTION.
Thomas jefferson was recalled u
the stand this morning for a shor
while, for the purpose OF identifying
picture OF Smithy who is also know
as Hampton. The picture was intro
duced in eyideaCe. At the conclu
sion OF the s.ate's evidence the Gus
tonary motion to nave the court in
struct the jury to bring In a verdic
for the defendau. was made by Al
torney Henry Nowlan on the grount
that the allegations IN the indictmeh
had net been proven. The court in
mediately oyerruled the motion an
then the defense rested.
OPENING ARGUMENT.
The opening argumen. TO the jur
was made by William McEniry who i
assisting States Attorney F. /
Thompson. He Gained that ever
material allegation in the indictmen
hid been proven and that Jefferson
story Of the assault was uncontr;
diced. He said that Jefferson e7
perienced the happiest day in mis- lif
when he confessed 70 the crime q
Silvis and relieved his conscience
The fact that Strattcn and a pal frs
entered the Crowder bank and tied u
the victim, and later beat him wa
dwelt upon.
Said Attorney McEniry when NJ
Crowder begged. For Gods saE
don't kill me-, Stratton's reply wa
Tell us where your money is and hi
refusal resulted in his death Their
has not been a similar case in II
criminal history OF Rock Island cou,
~ for brutality with a single exec
ton. 1914 Col. Dayenpor. was mu
dered because he would not revei
where his money was and almo:
20 years later the crime is repeats
Make an example of this man so th;
Il may be 20 years more before S
E---------