Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-05
HOLMES CASE NEAR REACHING JURY

The Holmes trial in the superior court at New London promises to reach the jury early this (Thursday) afternoon.
 The defense closed up its testimony In the first 15 minutes of court We'd nesday morning. the state finished it's rebuttal shortly after the noon recess. and the rest of the court session up to adjournment at 4.3e o'clock was oc- cupied by Attorney Warren Burrows in the opening argument for the state and Attorney Arthur M. Brown in the
 first argument for the defense. At
 torney Burrows occupied 5 minutes in his argument, Attorney Brown a full hour. When court opens Thurs day morning Attorney John C. Geary
 Tin make the closing argument for the defense and will be followed by States Attorney HadIai A. Hull in the final argument for the prosecution By agreement with Judge William $. Case. who is presiding at the trial, each will he limited to an hour Mayor J. I. Desmond who Is also one of counsel for the defense, Is not to make an ar gument. Judge Cases charge, which probably will be lengthy. will be made when the attorneys have finished and
 VIII p1pDdDiy put lHe Case III IilG flGHuS
 of the jury early in the afternoon. It was a sweltering hot day, in court Wednesday, particularly in tho after
 noon. when the attorneys were mal- ing their arguments, and both showed the effects yisiqbly in the beads of precipitation that stood on their faces. Attorney Brown especially showed the
 intensity of his effort. as little rivulets r Of perspiration trickled down his
 cheeks and had to be wiped away ire
 euentfy.
 Judge Case spotted one man in the spectators seats who was trying to take comfort by sitting with coat off and with a cigar in his hand. He promptly directed one of the sheriffs to have that man put on his coat and leave his cigar outside. One of the jurors. a New London man. apparently dozed off for a minute while Attorney Burrows was speaking but woke up promptly when the judge addressed the jury. urging them to give their best attention to the case Judge Case allowed the dignity oi court to relax for a moment when the state called for one Of it's witnesses whose name was given as Witshy. The man was not there. Isn't there a substitute for Witsky?" queried the judge. while the court laughed over
 the joke.
 Later, when the man arrived, it ap- peared that his name was Vodka, "W.hat's that, the Russian drink: 2 1 Judge Case asked. Pretty close tC Witsky isn't it?" Again the court re- 1 faxed in hearty laughter.
 The jury before whom Royal G I Holmes of Norwich is being tried or 1 the charge of assault with intent tt kill and murder Capt. James Lenner on Dec. , last at 40 Boswell avenue ! this city, is: Robert J. Henderson Ledyard, Reginald M. Rowland New ! London; eCourtland C. Potter. Mystic John s. Hall. Lyme: Fred W. Harvey 1 East Lyme: Byron J. Peckham, Ston- 1 ington; Richard J. Beach, Mantle Elisha J. Ashley, Blackhall; Dan D Home, Montville; James Bond. Eas l Lyme; John II. Champion, Old Lyme
 A. R. DeWolf, Mantle. Defense Testimony Ends. P. Leroy Harwood, secretary ant l trea surer of the Mariners Saving' bank of New London, whose duties | consist partly of the examination O
 signatures, was the first witness in troduced by the defense in continuin: | their case when court opened in tn 1 morning. He testified that he -consid cred all the signatures produced. a
 exhibits in the case identical an' written by the same hand. His .ex
 animation was conducted by Attorne, John c. Geary.
 He was briefly cross examined b, States Attorney Hull.
 Attorney Arthur NJ. Brown read
 transcript of a portion of the testi mony under cross examination of Joh1 Donovan to show that Donovan con tradicted in answers in this trial wha he said in the previous trial in conVer
 sation with John Sullivan about see