The Washington times., 1919-04-04

Ralph Turner Bowling, the eighteen
year-old murderer, sits patiently wait
ing for the return of the jury which Is
now deciding his case.
The case went into their hands at
li:45 today. Although an immediate
verdict was expected, II soon became
apparent that the jurymen were going
to take some time to deliberate and
that they are divided in their opinion.
Young Bowling. under guard. Is be-
ing kept I'm the court room awaiting
the arrival of the jury. Judges Peter
and Worthington are in chamber,
waiting to be called at a moments
notice.
Expect Verdict Of Insanity.
The general expectation is a YER
diet Of guilty because insane. with
recommendation that he be confined
for life.
The final plea for the boy was made
by Attorney c. w. Prettyman, a Rock
willie lawyer known to most Of the
jury.
His associate, Attorney GaIen L.
TAFT, had already argued the case
before the jury. The senior counsel
for the defense. Attorney z. ]. Col
Is-NoI' "ei'0o ms iAShN ~ SPSeA W.
fore the jury.
States Attorney Bouic asked for a
conviction without the frst-degree
penalty.
1t was evident when the last wit
ness had been examined that there
was no question on either side as to
the boys abnormality OF mind. All
that Is left is to. decide the degree OF
punishment. Even DR.. William A.
White, superintendent OF St Eliza
beth's and a noted authority, called
by the State, agreed with the four
defense aIienists that Bowling sis q
constitutional inferior and ought not
to be at large"
Not Necessarily Insane.
He did say, however. that a eonsti-
tutionally inferior person may react
in a situation similar to which Bowl
ing was placed. with all the symp-
toms Of insanity. and yet not be in
sane.
Toward the close Of the evidence
States Attorney Bouic began to in
terject two questions which showed
that he had practically given up all
thought OF sending Bowling to the
Eallows.
Both in cross-sxamination and In
iirect questioning. he asked II the
BOY was a safe person to be at large,
n II he could recover from his men
tal offliction. 1t was the consensus
VI opinion among those who testi-
led that Bowling should be con-
hned. DR.. d. Percy Hickllng, the
District alienist, was the only one
who held out any hope OF recovery
for Bowling. and he said it was in
probable.
Big Aid to Defense.
Dr. Hickling, who qualified as an
expert, stating that he had been a
3ecialist for fifteen years, Is now
physician in charge of the psyco-
~ thic ward at Washington Asylum
Hospital and Is assistant professor
Of nervous and mental diseases in the
medical school OF Georgetown Uni
versity. was a most valuable witness
for the defense. He had examined the
young prisoner two years ago In
Juvenile Court. He brought out that
ar that time Bowling was able to pass
4 hfteen-year-old test OF mentality.
DR.. John E. Lind had already testi-
fed that his examination. made just
after the murder, showed that Bowl
ing had the mentality OF the average
eight-year-old child.
BY this. Attorney 2. J. ColIoday. for
the defense, hoped to show rapid
progress OF insanity in the boy in
the year previous to the murder. This
IL the first time that the Binet-Simon
test has been admitted in testing in
telfigence In an insanity defense. in