New Britain herald., 1928-05-08
KNAPP JURY HEARS
 FINAL ARGUMENTS
 IN. '. Woman to Know Her Fate Shortly CHARACTER IS PRAISED
Justice Warns Crowd There Must Re No Demonstration in Court During summaions at EA-Secre- tary Of states Larceny Trial.

During summations at EN-Srr.- tary of states Larceny Trial,
 Court Room. Albany, N. Y.,
 May (CP)-A jury Of 1a men,
 selected from anon, the cleo
 torate which elevated Mrs. Flor
 ence k. $. Knapp to the highest
 office every held by a woman in
 New York state. began deliber-
 atlng at l2:51 D. m. today on
 whether she had betrayed her
 trust.
 It was so late when the case
 finally reached the jury that Judge Cailaghan ordered them
 out to lunch and said that they
 could start consideration of the
 case at 2S0 D. m.
 Meanwhile the court stood in
 recess.
 Court Room, Albany, May s (UP) contrasting pictures of Mrs. Flor ence E.. knapp's actions in conduct ing the 1925 census as secretary of state were presented today to the jury which will weigh the charge of theft against her.
 Patrick C. Dugan, Mrs. Knapp's defense council, and George z. Me dalie. special prosecutor, made their summations before Supreme Court Justice Callaghan charged the jury.
 Dugan reviewed her actions. con- tended that she was justified in hir- ing her own relatives as census en- ployes. and told the jury that she was guiltless Of wrong doing unless the state proved that her relatives did not work. which it had not done.
 Medale. his voice hoarse with q cold, called Dugan's summation "a smoke screen put up in despair" He insisted that the evidence show ed Mrs. Knapp diverted to herself funds supposed to have been paid to relatives for work they did not do.
 Honor at Stake.
 Medalie said:
 "The honor of the Empire State is at stake in this proceeding. Shall it be said that'the residents of this county are prejudiced because the counsel comes from some other part Of the state? I rely on you not to yield to subtle insinuations.
 Another suggestion is that you will say whether this defendant shall so to prison. That isn't true. It's true We charge grand larceny a prison offense. but 1t is also true that this court has discretion to sus- pend sentence and not send her to Jair or prison for even five minutes.
 Historic Trial.
 You all know that this is an his- toric trial--the most important since the state was colony. It will go down in the annals of history as an attempt on the part of the chief law officer 10 present facts honestly and fearlessly, without regard to poli- tics.''
 "The verdict will also do down in history as to whether it was in ac- cord with the facts. I call on you in accordance with your oaths to render a verdict that will uphold the honor and traditions of the Empir. State.'
 After going into the details of tht. charge and saying larceny simply was stealing, Medalie said:
 How can you steal money from the state of New York without put ting names on the payroll? How pOulI D1op.v he Sfn1.op ,,,;tlo,,t a.,,; flying names to the comptroller and civil service commission?
 "of course that had to be done.''
 Referring to the chart showing about se5.o00 credited to relatives of Mrs. Knapp he said:
 "Gentlemen, il wasn't possible to steal much more than that. She only had a handful of relatives. She be- gan by placing Julia on the list. Then she thought she'd take care of her invalid sister. Mary Bodkin.
 "She couldn't have stolen a great deal because all the others. 1000 enumerators and supervisors had to be paid"
 Mentions Letter.
 Metallic mentioned the letter Of Secretary Hitchcock of the civil service commission approving Julia smiths appointment.
 Mrs Knapp oyerruled her coun- sei and forced them to put this let ter in evidence" he said.
 "1f they had their own way, it would never have been introduced. These letters were in the bundles shipped to her home in Syracuse. By them she has helped us prove that she unlawfully removed records from the secretary of states office and destroyed them.
 With nothing but honor and good name. small equity in a homo in Syracuse and $s.ooo in debt-ai- though don't misunderstand me, that's not wrong-she came to AL bany and opened a. $e.5oo a year home.
 What becomes of that house !? Where does everybody work-at 'Aiibi House. a17 State street, AL bany. N. Y.
 Did they suggest to Herbert Sis son that he worked at 317 State street? Did they ask Florence Squyer. a friend of Mrs. Knapp, if she worked there?
 "1f you have been in the capitol you know the secretary of state oc- cupies one of the most sumptuous suites in the building. where all kinds of work could have been done.
 There was room there for all kinds of work and the 'Alibi Castle did not need to be used for any thing"
 He described the "Alibi Castle" as one needing a large entourase.
 Dugan. defense counsel. opened final arguments in the trial.
 Justice Callaehan warned tho