The Washington times., 1923-08-16
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Kepner did not kill his wife, and
then lifted the body from the floor
to the bed.
The noise Of the chair falling 10
the floor reverberated through the
still court room with a startling
sound.
''Mr. Weinberg. I don't think It
lent" the judge demolished him.
Weinberg apologized. The de-
lenses attorney Is dowery
speaker; his adjectives are numerous
and flow with ease, and his repUtar
ton as an orator is Statewide. He
did himself proud today. The attor-
ney employed Shakespeare writ
ings, particularly Hamlet"
"OtheIlo," and Macbeth" to lay
emphasis or clarity certain state
ments.
Cautious Kepner'a Attorney.
At times his arguments over.
stepped the BOUNDS and the court
cautioned him.
1.-THE Houck family. Of which the
late Mrs. Kepner was q member.
wants this man hanged to clear
their family name Of the stigma OF
suicide" Weinberg shouted at the
ton Of his voice. Judge Urner Ia.
terrupted, reminding the attorney
that no such evidence had been
given during the taking OF the
weinberg replied that It was
common knowledge about Frederick.
Another time Weinberg declared
that Frederick was shocked at KEEP
ner's associations with Miss Lulu
sis there any wonder about
that?'' Judge Urner Queried.
mo, none at. AL" replied Vein
berg. "I merely want to emphasize
the fact that my client 10 betns
tried for murder and not Tor his
association with this woman.
Weinberg reviewed the evidence
Of the State. He attempted to offer
logic reasons for Kepner's suspi'
cious movements on the days pre-
ceding and following his wife's
death. In concluding the review CT
the evidence, which he declared was
flimsy and most incomplete, Vein.
berg shouted ut the top Of his voice.
Suicide, He Declares.
IF that be murder. make the most
Of Il. You cannot hang this man on
the fliunsy evidence presented. The
State is CHARGED with the RESPONSE
bility. proving beyond the shadow
Of q doubt that suicide was tmpossi-
Bile and that Mrs. Kepner was muir
dered. The State has failed to do 50.
There was no murder. This wom-
an took her own life. Our evidence
shows clearly and conclusively that
Mrs. Kepner was melancholy, had
twice before threatened suicide and
was subject to fits Of depression. 1t
was while she was depressed that she
took her own life.
my client may have been o con-
tributinR factor TO that suicide. ]
believe that his wife had some init
nation Of his secret associations with
Miss Ricketts,. and that this was one
Of the reasons that she killed her.
self"
actions preceding and following his
Wtfe's death were additional proof
Of his innocence. He said that IL his
client was guilty he would never
have gone to the store Of his friends
three days before his wife's death
and asked to be shown how to oper-
ate the automatic pistol with which
the woman met her death.
In closing his argument Attorney
Weinberg said:
Mr.. Kepner IL disgraced and
ruined. He has suffered more than
any man in this courtroom can ever
imagine. He has paid dear for his
association with the Frederick
waitress.
I'm q little while Judges. your
honor. you viii announce q verdict.
I hope ana pray that you will tell
this innocent man to 90 free and ad- |
monish him to lead q better life"
Anders pictured Kepner a. q /
Doctor Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde.
mr.. Kepner showed great emo.
ton when he told the jury his
story on the stand the other day."
Anders declared. He broke down
and cried, but he was only acting. |
It was just as easy for him to cry
as to laugh on the stand"
Anders then reviewed Kepner's
action on the night before his wife's |