The Washington times., 1920-06-24
MHENRY CASE
TOJURY TObAY
Mother Breaks Down in Court
Under Bitter 0enunciation
of Slayer.

Breaking down under the bitter at
tacks on her son. who has been term
cd an arch criminal and youth OF
vicious tendencies, who robbed ana
killed without regard for conse-
quences. Mrs. Marie Canal Rice, wife
of Austin Rice, former pugilist, and
mother of John McHenry on trial In
Criminal Court for the slaying OF De-
tective Sergeant James Y. Armstrong.
hysterically wept In the court room
this morning.
In their closing arguments to the
jury. Assistant United States District
Attorneys vigorously denounced NC
Henry as a crafty criminal. who with
deliberation and premeditation shot
and killed Detective Armstrong, after
he had slain Wallace W. Mulcare. the
automobile accessories dealer. on De-
cembff IA last, when the OFFICER at
tempted to Illustrate his escape at
Union Station.
MeHENRY SITS UNMOvED.
During the denunciation. McHenry
showed no emotion. He sat stoically
near his mother. his face partly COW
cred most of the time with one or the
other. OF bis hands. Two or three
times sinister smile spread over his
face when the prosecuting attorneys
branded him as a daring thief, and
one who had feigned insanity to es-
cape the gallows.
McHenry will probably know his
fate by tonight. 1t Is expected that
the prosecution will close its argu-
ments to the jury BY $3.50 o'clock this
afternoon.
McHenry manifests no concern in
his fate. He seems not in the least
detected over the likelihood of the
jury reaching a verdict of first degree
murder, which will mean no other
alternative than hanging on the Dis
trfct gallows Should the youth be
found guilty Of second degree murder
he will be given a sentence of life
imprisonment or one of not less than
twenty years.
STICK TO INSANITY DEFENSE.
In defense Of McHenry, Samuel Nc
Comas Hawkins and George s. Havell,
who were appointed by the court to
defend the youthful slayer, argued
that the evidence ana testimony in
troduced on behalf tof the defendant
indicated that he was insane, that he
had been abnormay since childhood.
Attorney Havell attacked the death
claring that Society can accomplish
nothing by in6licting the death pen
;nsy,,ss.s s,ty ss the 0y' who is of abnormal
THE prosecution" declared Mr..
Havell. "ha6 asked for this boys life
blood; it wants to see his neck broken
on the District gallows. This would
not be FOR the public good"
AfteY telling the jury 1t must base
its vNYdict on the evidence surround
ing etective Armstrong; death, and
thafYit should be convinced beyond
DOUBT that McHenry planned and pre-
mDditated the staying of Armstrong,
hGfore bringing in a first degree ver-
\ Qict, Attorney Hawkins said:
"It would be judicial murder should
the jury convict McHenry on evidence
introduced by the prosecution other
than the killing Of Armstrong"
PAST CRIMES DON'T COUNT.
He pointed out that McHenry's past
career of crime the Staying of Null
care and his other escapades. should
not be considered by the jury in
bringing in its verdict He contended
that McHenry did not plan the slay-
ing of Armstrong, that he shot the
officer to protect himself from an at
tack.
He denied McHenry shot Armstrong
because of his fear OF arrest
The lawyer went over the details
of testimony given by the medical
experts, who differed as to McHenrys
mentality and sanity. He told of the
circumstances Of McHenry's birth, of
the loneliness and fear of the boys
mother at night because of the abb
sence of the father from home prior
to the boys birth.
"This condition of the mother in it.
self was sufficient to have resulted in
the birth of an abnormal child" said
Attorney Hawken. His antics and
pranks as q child indicate his abnor-
mality."
McHenrys father, who years ago
was prominent in the pugilistic arena,
has not been in Washington during
the trial of his son. McHenry Is one
Of the many assumed names used by
the youth during his alleged career
of crime. His right name is George
Rice.
6cHenry has been on trial nearly
Efree weeks. The jury consists most
ly of business men VINO have intently
listened to the testimony. Just what
weight they will give to the insanity
plea and the divers testimony of the
alienists is q matter of speculation.
A verdict of frst or second degree is
expected before night.
-~.a,s-N ss~srN-