New Britain herald., 1925-03-12
STOKES CASE GOES
 ID THE JURY SOON
Defense and Prosecution Finish
 Their Arguments

rHlthbp, MdICU Is'-- A ' S Sull'hta lO the Jury in the triai Ot W. l.. D. Stokes, New York millionaire, Tor conspiracy 10 detamc his Wife, pru- ceeded today with prospects hat the casc would go tO the jury late today or carly tomorrow
 Milton D. Smith, assistant states attorney who has led the prosrcu. ton Of Mr. Stokes and Robert r. Lee. Chicago negro. continued his 0rraignment Oi the aged defendant, begun yesterday when he talked two and one-half hours hG assaileI Stokes as dollar marked octopus. with long arms that reached inlo the dives of Chicago. and over the country seeking aflidavts against Mrs, Stokes"
 smith asserted that evidence in the trial bore out each step in.con- spiracy as cited by the Illinois su- prcme court, as essentials of such an unlawful compact.
 C, r. Rathbun, counsel for Mir. Stokes, will follow smith, and w. w. Smith, assistant states attorney will close for the state,
 Eathbun interrupted Smiths talk several times insisting that the court coniinc the prosecutor 10 discussions Of evidence, and was upheld by Judge Gcmmil,
 Whatever publicity this case got, Stokes was responsible for" asserted Smith assaiIing the defense's plea that while Stokes did investigate Mrs. Stokes life prior to their mar riagc he did not publish the infor- nation he obtained, and that it was announced by Mrs. Stokes.
 Assails Testimony
 The prosecutor, speaking in a voice that reverberated far down the county building, assailed the tosti- mony of two sleeping car conductors, who testified that Mrs. Stokes had travelled with young men twice dur ing 1922.
 That man Burke swore that Mrs. Stokes occupied a berth with her cousin, Hal Billig, and he did not see her get in or get out of the berth" said Smith. He did not know who was there. He heard voices, he said, but he did not know whose they were. Yet he swore in an affidavit it was Mrs Stokes and Hal Billig. And Mir. Stokes took that affidavit, but he did not use it in his divorce suit. He knew it was not true, and that it would not stand up in court.
 And that man Hanson I contend came into this court and voluntarily committed perjury. He came into this court and swore he recognized Mrs. Stokes from a picture taken 20 years before"
 In insisting that Hanson "sworc Mrs. Stokes reputation away for money" Smith ran into an objection by Rathbun and rebuke by Judge Gemmin.
 There is no such evidence" Judge Gemmill asserted.
 Smith maintained Hanson was be- ing paid for his time lost from work, while waiting to testify.
 That does not constitute payment for testifying," said Judge Gcmlniu. Lets be fair about it. Leave that out"
 Smith referred to the parag graph in q letter Stokes wrote to E. W. Altz, a Chicago detective, informing him to see Stanley Joyce, then bus band of Peggy Hopkins Joyce.
 Offered Information
 'He said See Joyce and find out what he knows, and if he wants any information about his wife I can get it for him." said Smith.
 'Is that his mania 9" roared Smith. What made him want to break up another mans ramily?'
 Smith turned his attention to Lee.
 "I maintain Lee was in this con spiracy to get altidavits right or wrong said Smith. Yet he says he never was there when affidavitS were taken. He was there when the money was being passed out"
 Concluding his three hour and 45 minute address, Smith said:
 Passed The Buck
 If they were innocent why did every man connected with the af- fair try to shift responsibility to some other person."
 As the jury was fling out for a recess before Eathbnn talked for the defense, Judge Gcmmi.l stood up at the bench and pointing at a man, shouted: Put that man out Of here; this is no reception room"
 Why, judge, that is my unclc." said NJ. h. Smith, he wants 10 See