Imperial Valley press., 1929-02-07
kEYES IN
Ff:RVENT
APPEAL
Accused Official Makes
Dramatic Plea For Ac-
quittal.
COURT IN UPROAR
Violent Clashes Between
Defense and Prosecution
Mark Session.
By United Press Leased Wire

LOS ANGELES, Feb. Asa
Kcycs, who served Los Angeles IS
prosecutor of criminals for % years,
today presented the most brilliant
argument of his long legal career
Il dramatic plea for his own acquit-
tai on conspiracy to brioe charges.
Rising to gripping heights he
Ecvcr achieved before. the one-timn
district attorney called upon Il jury
of 10 women and two rieI to free
him of the "odium Of these false
accusations.
The former district attorney 5
flow of words and the bitter OBJ
icctions to his line Of argument
created one of the stormicst sessions
in local court history
Spectators and even members Of
the jury wcpt while crowds in the
courtroom outside became SO large
and unruly that special deputy shcr-
ifs we're sent to keep order.
Keyes final argument was mix.
ture of emotions. At times he plead
cd and cajolcd while a few minutes
later he would be casting bitter ac-
cusations at his accuscrs.
The courtroom was in an uproar
ms he accused the prosecutors of
having especial interest > in the
rasc, of using perjurcd testimony
and unfair tactics.
Flags Prosecution
After one brush with Special
Prosecutor William j. Clark, he
turned to the jury, his face flushed
and his voice iratc.
of you find special prosecutors, y
he said "You viii find special in
tcrcst. Special prosecutors have no
place before a jury demanding the
liberty Of their fellow men, But in
this case they want to get Kcycs'. :.
~ demand that YOU know that is
the truth. They are out to get
Kcycs. Someone paid $4,000 for per
Jurcd testimony to convict KcycS
(throughout his argument he refer
red to himself with the impcrsonal
'Kcyesb.
"Thc very fact that there is Il
special prosecutor in this ease is an
admission of weakness on the part
Of the prosecution and PROOF of
special interests in the back
ground.
Elizabeth Kcycs, daughter of the
former prosecutor, heard her father
make his final plea. Evidence pre-
scnted by the state indicated she
received an automobile as part of
the pay off. She wcpt at times as
Keycs argued for his liberty.
Kcycs was followed by Paul
Schenck, the last of the defense at
torncys, who talked only briefly but
who followed the accusations made
by Kcyes and added another emo
tional outburst to the hectic court
session.
Charges Politics
'This ease against Keycs is moth
ing but a political scrap, pure and
simple,' hc said "And it is a lot
more simple than it is pure.
"Thcrc has not been one single
denial of our terrible accusation
lldl ihlH - - p'illlcdl oCldp ~ St'
Keycs. Ever time the subject came
up the prosecution lodged, ducked
and squirmcd.
'Keycs is closer to me than a
blood brothcr,' he said. "And
am leaving his ease with you witt
no fear of the consequences.
"Thc only reward III get in this
case if you give Kcycs his liberty
will be the honor to place his namC
above mine on the door of my law
office.
"And if you find he must go tC
prison | still will receive him Will
open arms when he is released an(
put his name over mine for this il
the most unjust and unfoundet
criminal charge | ever have con
tacted in my legal career and it ha
been brought against my bes
frinn5 -