Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-04-30
KNUTSON Is ON TRIAL
IN ARLINGTON COURT
Officer as Witness Tells Jury of
Arrest of Minnesota Repre-
sentative March 8. ~
DEFENSE CHARGES MISTAKE
Record of Accused Man Declared
Highly Praiseworthy.

BY STAN Core spondent:
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, April 3o.-Before a
packed courthouse here today Rep
resentative Harold knutson of Min
nesota was placed on trial for a
statutory -offense for which he was
arrested and placed in Jail the night
of March Q.
Representative Knutson was ac-
companied by Representatives Lar
son and Newton of Minnesota, the
latter of his counsel, and State SEN
ator Frank L. Ball of Virginia. also
counsel for the defense.
At the outset Judge Samuel G..
Brent cleared the courtroom of per
sons under eighteen years of age.
jury was selected within the first
half hour of the proceedings. These
twelve men will sit in the case: +. Il.
Hopkins, p. ]. Conlon, jr.; j. Fl. Bal
lenger, c. ]. Gilbert, N. G. Byrnes,
II E, Biliingsly, John Duterman; F.
j. II. Brewer and w. A Mattingiy.
Prosecutor Outlines Case.
The defense waived reading of the
indictment. Commonwealth Attorney
.
l'eciting the events of Representative
Knutson's arrest. March 9. on a road
at Oak Crest, Va, midway between
Washington and Alexandria, in d
small sedan. in which Mr.. Knutson
and Leroy Hull were passengers: He
said the prosecution would seek to
show that upon discovery Knutson
exclaimed: "Oh. my Lord, if we
hadn't been drinking this would
never have happened" Similarly, he
10 CT 81
snow that Hull. getting out, asked
II there wasn't some way I'VE can fix
this up" and that the officers replied
emphatically in the negative.
Frank Ball, attorney for the de-
Tense, next addressed the jury. ex-
man must stand charged with a most
disgraceful crime"
Summarizing the outline of the de-
Tense, he announced that he expected
to show what manner of man the
defendant is" He eulogized Repre-
sentative Knutson and spoke of his
record. which he said had never a
mark against IL prior to the arrest on
the night of March 8. He told them
OF his battle from childhood up to a
point where he is today occupying
the position Sin one of the most hon
rable, If not the most honorable, body
In the world" He said that in seven
congressional campaigns not a word
against his personal honor had been
uttered.
Astounded Mt Charge.
Without chance for them to ex-
plain" Senator Ball said, I'VE will
snow that Wise told these men You
are under arrest They went to Jail
believing they were charged with a
violation of parking regulations
When the charge was mentioned to
the defendants, the defense will show
Mr.. knutson was astounded and his
mind was paralyZed. / presume he
did say, is there some way to fix
things up" and in the frame Of mind
| ne was in at the time he would have
offered anything to prevent such 4
charge being placed against him be-
cause he knew that whether he were
draw conclusions entirely out of ac-
cordance with the facts"
John Wise, special officer, was the
first witness called. -
He testified regarding the discovery
of the automobile in which Mr. Knut-
son and Mr.. Hull were alleged to have
been on March 9. He said that
knutson said: Boys. you all have me
with my thumbs down. Can't we fix
this up? have an old mother waiting
for me back in town and I want to
get back to her within an hour. ]
have only IS with me. but I'll give you
500 and leave my car as collateral
until / pay it" The answer to that,
Wise said, was Nothing doing"
Just before entering the Jail. Wise
declared, Knutson again said: This
is an awful predicament to be caught
in. Can't we fix things up some way?
National Bank and name your own
amount"