The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-05-08
HAROLD KNUTSON IS
INDICATED BY JURY
JUDGE Apologies TO MINNIE
sofa CONGRESSMAN FOR
STATE OF VIRGINIA
VERDICT WAS EXPECTED
PROSECUTION PROMPTLY DIS
MISSES CASE AGAINST LE-
ROY HULL, COMPANION

Washington, May 1-Representa-
tive Harold Knutson OF, Minnesota
was found not guilty by a jury to-
day in Arlington county, Virginia, of
serious charges filed against him last
March by three Virginia police Off
GERS who arrested him when in an
automobile with Leroy M. Hull, a
Washington government clerk.
The case occupied two days and
the jury on receiving it deliberated
little more than an hour and took
three ballots. Immediately on an
nouncement of the verdict the COM
monwealth attorney entered a mo-
ton dismissing the case against
Hull.
Knutson, commenting on the re-
suit, declared that it was what he
had expected, and that he had been,
confident of the outcome right
along"
Evidence during the trial consist
ed for the prosecution of testimony
by police officers, patrolling the Vir-
ginia roads, of how they had found
the parked automobile, while both
Knutson and Hull denied specifical-
ly the charges.
Representative Knutson's defense
also included the appearance of sew
eral of his colleagues in the House
who testified as character witnesses.
Representative Fish of New York
drew round of applause from the
crowded court room today when he
stated that he was appearing vol
unfairly and that Knutson would
always find welcome in his home.
n
When the verdict of the jury was
announced today, Representative
Knutson shook hands with Judge
Brent. The trial judge told Mr..
Knutson justice had been done him
and asked him, "please not to judge
Virginia by few individuals"
On returning to Washington, Rep
resentatives Newton and Larson of
Minnesota, who helped defend Knut-
son, made the following joint state
! ment:
'tThe days following the arrest we
made a thorough Investigation into
the facts. We were convinced of Mr..
Knutson's. innocence and that the ar
rest was made on mere suspicion and
|
one else under similar circumstances.
The verdict, which was rendered
promptly, was strictly in accord with
the evidence and was what we had
anticipated from the start
In his own behalf Mr.. Knutson
said: 81 knew that when a fair
minded jury would get all the facts
that I would be completely and
promptly indicated. The awful
ordeael through which I have passed
no man can even imagine. I would
not wish my most bitter enemy such
modification.
"My friends and colleagues never
lost confidence in my innocense.
Their loyalty / can never repay. I
am especially grateful to my col
leagues from Minnesota, who stood
so firmly by me.
81 want to thank my constituents
for their manifestation of confidence
in my innocence. They who know me
best could not, and would not believe
me guilty of the crime charged"
o.
The following editorial appearing
in The Chronicle, published of Claren-
don, Va, discloses very clearly the att
titude of the people, Of Virginia rela-
tive to the injustice which has been
heaped upon Mr.. Knutson and Mr..
Hull: q
Late yesterday aiternoon a
jury composed of twelve citi-
zens of Arlington county, hear
ing the evidence in the case of
Commonwealth VS. KnutSO0 and