The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-05-09
ATTORNEYS
DO NOT ASK
HERLIbERTY
Plead That Ruth Garrison
Be Sent to Asylum In
stead OF Prison
JURY DECIDES TONIGHT

"She belongs In an asylum.
and not within prison as a
criminal"
So declared Defense Attor-
ney A. X. Hilen at noon FRI
day. in addressing the jury
which is to determine the
fate of ls-year-old Ruth Gar
rison. slayer Of Mrs. Grace
Storrs.
Prior 10 the opening of
court this morning. Attorney
Thomas Askren. also of coun-
sci for defense. gave the first
intimation that the defense
would not ask for absolute
liberty for the girl.
While confendinx for a verdict Of
mot guilty by reascn OF mental ire.
sponsibsiity at tho time of the com
mission cf ths crime" the attorneys
point out that II do~w not mean she
should ic turned loose altogether.
Under the Instructions os the court.
the jury can find her not guilty and
at the same time also determine that
she is not safe TO he at large. In
other words. the jury may find that
at the time she poisoned Mrs. storr-
she was mentally irresponsible. and
therefore not guilty OF murder. but
that this irre-ponssbfIity stiii con.
tinues. In that event. Ruth CARR
son would be- committed to some
state institution until such time as
she can prove TO jury that she has
recovered her sanity.
Tho case viii go to the jury late
today. In all probability.
With n simple dirccincss. height.
cned by flashes OF pungent wit and
singing sarcasm. Deputy Prosecut.
ing Attorney Charles r. Ciaypooi
flaycd the defense OF mental irrc.
sponsibility." as advanced In behalf
OF Ruth Garrison. when he made
the opening address to the jury
Friday morning before Superior
Judge John =. Jurey. The court
room. packed to the doors. listened
without sound. except when Judge
Claypooi injected telling anecdote.
Illustrative OF HIS argument
Claypool confined his argument
almost entirely to an attack on the
aiienists who appeared in Ruths de
fense.
We, OF the state. are not here
today to ask retributive Justice" the
prosecutor said. after n mastery ex.
ordium on the philosophy OF crime.
"A human souls deserts may well be
left to Higher Power. The scope
OF society IL to punish merely as
deterrent Under the genius OF John
Carmody. the defense was made TO
accept one OF two pleas-guilty. or
go crazy"
We have not said one unkind
word TO this defendant. nor will we.
All we ask is justice. Ruth Garri.
son has made no effort at self-de-
fense. no excuse. Her sole defense
is epilepsy. but OF all tho two dozen
or more OF relatives who. according
to the defense. have been victims OF
epilepsy and so have left the taInt
in this defendant and rendered her
mentally irresponsible. not one of
them, the evidence discloses that not
one OF them ever fell In an epileptic
fit.
Fell on Own Test
"Dr. Williamson, the main alien.
lst for the defense. In n scholarly old
man. but his scientific attninments
are far from commendable. Rcmem.
Der how Mr.. Carmodv trapped him
In his picture Of Ruth's epileptic
state: remember how Dr. Gulick fell
before his own test Of mental re-
sponsibility. Dr. Gulick talked un.
I'll he ran down"
In contrast with the alienists for
the defense. Claypool dwelt upon the
simple testimony OF DIR. Donald r.
Nicholson. the alienist summoned by
the state--one whom the attorneys
for the defense dared not cross.
examine to any great extent"
"And So" concluded Claypooi. Gin
the name OF decency, in opposition
20 the adulterous bed which leads TO
murder. I ask you to return a yer.
dict Of guilty"
Hilen began o mastery address In
behalf OF the defendant at II o'clock
and for an hour held the close at.
tention OF jury and spectators. AZ
he drew a pathetic picture Of the
young defendant. tears sprang 10
the eyes OF Mrs. Garrison and. after
vain attempt to stay the flood.
broke down and wept openly.
Mrs. John II. Rice. sister of the
defendant. sobbed hysterically.
| Hiien numerically scored Doug.
La storrs- thD aaAa " ~ oDse.