The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-01
APPL AUDS.
WITNESS
LAtJD|VG
HIM
Congressman Fish Asserts He
Believes In Accused Col
league, at Trial.

An open expression Of sentiment
for Congressman Harold Knutson
of Minnesota broke out in the
Arlington county (Va.) court
house today and for. q few seconds.
threw the courtroom in disorder.
Handclapping, cheering, stamp
ing Of feet, and shrill whistIing
greeted Congressman Hamilton
Fish Of Nsw York as he told the
jury Knutson was still his friend
and he hoped he would come 10 his
house again.
Judge SamaelsG, Brent warned
the spectators that If there was
any similar demonstration he
would clear the courtroom.
Knutson on Stand.
The defense swiftly brought its
case to a close this morning with
Congressman Knutson occupying
the stand from 10 o'clock to Ills
o'clock. He was followed by four
character witnesses.
knutson made emphatic and
vigorous denial of all the charges
against him, branding them as
malicious lies.
The Congressman was particu.
larly heated in calling out loudly,
Its an absolute lie," when Com
monwealth Attorney William G.
Cloth asked him about an alleged
affair between him and an actress
In a hotel in Foley, Mimi, in 1916.
Cloth asked KnutsOn whether he
mad ever stopped at a hotel in
rOiey' entered the room of au
actress, and few minutes later APP
peared at the clerks desk with q
girl pointing q gun into his ribs and
saying: Here is your future Cor.
gresham. If you don't fake care
Of him / will"
The defense objected to this ques-
Let me answer it," I<nutson In.
terjected. II was living in Foley
at that time. l never stopped ~ 4
hotel there. It's an absolute
damnable, and malicious falsehood
entered into by my political OBJ.
Knutson banged his fist on the
court room railing to emphasize his
Direct examination of Knutaon
was concluded at 1890 and than
followed a grilling forty-five.minute
cross-examination.
Admits Offering Money.
Commonwealth Attorney Cloth
brought out from Knutson that he
tried to bride the officers who
placed him under arrest after thew
found Leroy M. Hull, Government
clerk, and him in a small car
parked in a road in Oak Crest sub.
division, near the Mt. Vernon boule.
ward.
eyes, I offered them the money. /"
he said. II did not want Tn he ar.
rested for anything. / wanted 70
avoid the publicity Of INV arrest he.
cause I knew that regardless Of the.
charge against me, the neWsnapers
would play 1t up with headlines
saying congressman arrested
IL also wanted to prevent my
arrest because Of my poor mother.
/ WAuM WmANo AACG 10 KNOW ABOUT
her son being put into a JAIL"
Attorney Cloth continually re.
ferred in ross-examination to Knut-
sons failure to compel Officers John
Wise and John Burke, who arrested
him, and Sheriff H. B. Fields to
listen to his explanation of the
situation at the time of the arrest.
Says Officers Lied.
Knutson said that he tried to ex-
plain when he was first taken into
custody, but the officers wouldn't
let him. He said that he was so
dazed when he reached the court
house and his mind was so muddled
because of the horrible charge
placed against him that he hardr
knew what to do and therefore o
not take the stand. He also
that he really didn't know W.
didn't try to tell the sheriF
Ipoint of view of the case.
Charges Of Officers BaH
Wise that Knutson, when arr
said: "Oh, my God. this woua
have happened ii hadn't Dee
drinkinn" and Boys. you have gol