Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-03-30
ATTORNEY, CALLED
AWAY FROM TRIAL
DELAYS ASHER CASE
DEFENSE CONTINUES EXAMlNA
TloN THIS MORNING AFTER UN
EXPECTED INTERRUPTION -
DEFENDANT DENIES GUILT ON
CHARGE MADE BY GIRL.

The testimony OF Perry Asher, or
trial on a charge Of having attacked
a fourteen year old girl, was inter
rupted yesterday afternoon at
o'clock when Attorney Arthur Shay
one OF his lawyers was called from
the court on another business matter
and was forced to ask for an adjourn
ment When court was convened
again this morning, the defendant re.
sumed the stand, and told his story
| He alleged that he was not guilty
Of the charge which Burdella Worrells
| preferred against him both on direct
and cross examination. His story
was sustained in part yesterday by
Mrs A. +. Mumper, of this city, a
sister Of the complainant and by Mrs
/ Wehber, her mother
Denies Any FamiIiarities.
Asher on cross examination denied
| that he was intimate with BurdClla
| Worrells, as charged in the indict
ment The defendant denied that he
at any time had made or fulfilled
dates with the Worrells girl He
stated that he was % years of age
and that he did not consider Bur
della any more than a mere girl
He said that he did not attack her
nor did he intend to do so.
Asher added that as he was on
his way home to the Kerrington
boarding house on the night he is al.
legged to have attacked Burdella he
met her out in front of the Worrell's
home. but after talking to her for a
minute or so proceeded on his way
He also said that he met her for the
first time at Streator at the Creighton
boarding house on Sterling street, in
1919. He also added that he left for
South Bend, Ind, in the month o.
August, 1920, and was there for con
siderable time before he returned tC
Streator
Kin Corroborate Asher.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. and Mrs
Albert Mumper. of this city, the lat
ter sister of Burdella Worrels, and
viz tIii - lilctIi'l, WI .. IItIII w tDbI II.
Of Streator, were called to take the
stand. Each one testified that Bur
della at one time told them that when
the time came she would say that
the charge against Perry Asher was
an untruth and that it was false.
j. p. on Stand
J. n. st, Clair, Streator justice Of
the peace, who presided at the pre-
liminary court hearing of Asher, was
the first witness called this morning
in rebuttal. Mr. st. Clair testified
that at the preliminary hearing Ash
er said that he met the girl in the
rear of the WOrrell home and not
in the house. He further added that
there were no shorthand notes taken
of Asher'S testimony at the prelimin.
airy hearing.
Chief Of Police John L. Hopkins OF
the Streator police department, who
served the warrant for Asher's arrest.
was next called He testified that
Asher did not demand a physical ex.
animation of the girl after he was ar
rested as was previously testified to
by the defendant. Mr.. Hopkins also
stated that he did not read the war.
rant to Asher when he was arrested
because it is usually embarrassing
to prisoner to have a warrant read
to him before his friends.
Arthur Mason, Streator police off
cor, who accompanied Chief Of Police
Hopkins and B. Osborne of Streator
were also called for rebuttal testi.
mOny, after which court was ad.
iourned until 1870 o'clock this after
noon, when the attorneys for both
the prosecution and the defense start
ed their closing arguments.
Make Closing Arguments.
The closing arguments were made
this afternoon, and the case given
into the hands of the jury. Attorney
Harry F. Kelly spoke for the prosecu.
ton: