Evening star., 1924-03-18
KNUTSON AND HULL
TRIAL BRINGS CLASH
Prosecutors Tactics Are Declared
Unfair-Gloth Resents
Charge.
ARREST Is DETAILED
Bribe Was Offered, Policeman
Testifes.

Testifes.
ARLINGTON COURT HOUSE, Va,
March 1S.-With q professional ste
nographer taking a detailed report of
all testimony, Representative Harold
Knutson OF Minnesota and Leroy M.
Hull. twenty-nine years old, a gov
ernment worker, living in Washing
ton, went on trial here today before
Justice Harry r.. Thomas. in. police
court, accused Of statutory offense.
Policeman John Wise was the only
witness called by Common W ealth's
Attorney William G. Cloth, and he
testified that, together with Police
man John r. Burke, he arrested Rep
resentative Knutson and Mr.. Hull on
the evening OF March 8, while they
were occupying small closed car,
parked on an unfrequented roau N
Arlington county, some distance on
Of the Mount Vernon highway. Wise
declared that he and Burke had been
detailed to tour that vicinity.
Tells Of Arrest.
The policeman asserted that a
third man, Charles Zimmerman, was
driving a touring car for them. When
they spied the closed car they drew
up beside it. threw a fiashlight in
the window and found Knutson and
machine, they arrested both and
started with them toward the Ar
iington county Jail =. -.
Both at the scene and during the
ride to the jail, Wise testified. Knut-
son offered him a hundred dollars for
the Officer. II would never have been
caught like this IL I had not been
drinking" When Wise refused the
offer. he said, Knutson appealed to
Burke. who likewise declined and the
pair were locked up.
Even after reaching the prison,
Wise testified, the congressman plead
ed with the officers to let him go.
saying, You have us with our
thumbs down. ! am q poor man. and
500, but IL you will let me go, 1 will
leave my car as security. borrow the
amount in Washington. and give 1t
to you." the witness ampiified.
Denies Knowing Identity.
In reply to direct questioning, Wise
swore that he did not know Knutson
Was a congressman, or whether "he
was a democrat or a republican"
statement was made by Thomas G.
Bradley Of Washington, of counsel for
the defense, and a heated tilt ensued
between the prosecutor and the de-
Tending attorneys. Finally Mr.. Cloth
ed to infer that Mr.. Knutson had been
arrested as the result Of a political
frame-up, and Justice Thomas, agree
ing with the statement of the prose-
eusor, permitted it to remain in the
Representative Knutson and Hull
were represented at the hearing by
Representative Oscar Larson OF Mime
sofa, Representative Walter Newton Of
Ball of Virginia and Mr.. Bradley. For
two hours the defense grilled Wise
under cross-examination, but failed
to shake his testimony. and were
finally told by the court that they
same questions two or three times.
Call Prosecutor Unfair.
Commonwealth Attorney Cloth
rested his case at the conclusion Of
wise's testimony, pointing out that.
the hearing today was only prelim-.
mary affair, and adding that prima
facie case had been made out against
ask the court to hold them for the
grand jury.
Immediately the counsel for the de-
fense accused the prosecutor Of being
unfair, and demanded that Policeman
Burke also be permitted to testify at
sIn view Of the gravity Of this charge"
declared Representative Larson. Mr..
Knutson's colleague, "a charge lodged
against a member Of this nations high.
the honor Of the congress Of the
United States is involved-it Is the
ethical obligation of the prosecuting at
torney to call every witness that may
shed some light in this matter. This
that we may know the full detail with
out fear Or favor"
Larson Anglers GlotA.
Angered by what he termed an in-'
situation against his fairness, Mr.:
Cloth leaped to his seat and accused
Mr.. Lazson Of attempting to revo-:
lutionixe the criminal practice OF the
state Of Virginia, because q prisoner
at the bar happened to be member
of Congress" ;.
mo such request would ever be made,
for some poor negro" the prosecu-.
to learn in advance of the grand jury,
hearing what our case is. 1t is
smoke screen and q play to the
galleries, and I will not grant these
accord the lowest negro in the state,
When the court overruled counsel
for tho defense and pointed out that
it did not believe 1t would be neces-
sary to call any moro Witnesses
REPRESENTATIVE Newton declared that
he would call Mr.. Burke as q Wit
ness for the defense.
Burke Cofrosorxtes Wise.
After being on the stand for more
than half an hour. Burke had. MP to
that time. coroborated the tasti-
mony OF Wise almost in full.
Tho courtroom WAS packed with
mon. Many times Justice Thomas was
obliged to rap for order when the
crowd, which filed every seat and
oveF1owed into the halls, burst into
laughter.
Among the throng could be seen
several members OF Congress, the
resident commissioner Of the Philip
pine Islands and his assistant ,