Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-02
QUINN TRIAL NEARS
Jury HANDS TODAY
Testimony in Alleged Staying
Is Closed, With Defense
Resting on AIibi.
nv the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
NEWKIRK, Okla. October 2.-Testi-
rnony in the trial OF Earl Quinn, 80, &C
cuSed of the Staying Of Jessie and ZeXla
Grifith, Blackwell, Okla, sisters. had
closed today with the defense resting on
an alibi.
witnesses testified yesterday in sup
port of Quinn'S assertion that he was
In Wichita, Kans., 90 miles away, with
in an hour after the girls, school teach
ers were shot to death on highway
south Of Tonkawa, Okla, the morning
Of last December 20.
Floyd Faux, former Wichita police
man, was one. He said he stopped
Quinn in Wichita at s 80 am, that day.
because Quinn's car was muddy and had
no tail light.
Alibi Witnesses Testify.
John Davis, cafe employe at yelling
ton. Kans.. said Quinn drank coffee
there between $50 and 900 am,
December %, approximately the time
the State asserts the murders occurred
Mr.. and Mrs. frankie Fox, Wichita,
said Quinn was there at 1880 am.
Roy Bunny, Tonkawa. testified that
Quinn was in TonkaWa between 8 and
10 pm the night before the shootings
and was not intoxicated as the State
claimed. He said James McElwell
drove Quinn's automobile early that
night.
Case Shaped for Jury Today.
Neither Quinn, whom James II. Math-
ers of defense counsel identified as
whisky peddler, nor his young wife, Mrs.
Jean Quinn, we're called to the witness
stand. Only arguments OF attorneys
were to precede the placing Of the case
in the hands OF the Jury today.
Judge John S. Burger instructed the
jurors that If they believed Quinn'S alibi
had been proved they, should acquit him
promptly, but that IL they found him
guilty they should fix his punishment
at death or life Imprisonment.
Quinn was on trial only for the
murder Of Jessie Griffith, the younger
of the sisters who was assaulted be-
fore she was slain.
Say Suspect PatrOIled Road.
The teachers met death while driv-
ing back to their schools after a Christ
mas visit with their parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. j. F. Griffith in Blackwell Zexia
taught at an agricultural school. Jessie
was a public school music teacher in
Norman.
Their blood-stained motor car was
abandoned about II miles from the
place where their bodies were found
the State based It's case on clrcum-
stantial evidence Witnesses testified
Quinn. drunk. armed with a pistol and
impersonating Federal officer. was pa
trolling the Tonkawa Highway a few
hours before the girls were slain.
Mrs. M. M Patton of MuSkogee.
Okla, pointed out Quinn in the court
room as the man who stopped and at
tackled her while she was driving alone
on the highway last Thanksgiving day.
Il swear that is the man." she said
Defense Denies "Clues"
The defense was brief Criminal ex-
perts testified fingerprints found in the
sisters car were not those of Quinn
A vest button, also found in the car,
was identified as the property of Will
liam Smith, a voice pupil Of Jessie
Griffith in Norman. The State had
commended 1t was Quinns
Defense efforts to direct attention of
the jury to Amos Griffith. absent
brother Of the girls. and Jim Coleman,
sought at. one time for questioning.
failed when Judge Burger sustained
State objections.