Evening star., 1933-09-29
Government Final Plea Sees
Eyes of Nation Watch
ing Verdict.
BATES AND KEENAN,
CONFER ON RANSOM
Unconfrmed Report Says Prisoner
May Change Plea to Avoid Death
on Another Charge.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
OKLAHOMA CITY, September 90
The 'Lindbergh" law. invoked in the
Charles F. Urschel kidnapping conspiracy
trial, moved with orderly speed to its
first test at the hands of jury today.
Herbert K. Hyde, the 32-year-old
Federal district attorney, demanded
conviction Of the 10 defendants in the
Charles F. Urschel kidnapping con-
spiracy trial in the final plea to the
jury.
The dynamic young prosecutor
termed the case as the Federal Gov
ernment's battle gage to the under
world
"Precedents are being set that will
guide the courts and the bar in all
future trials that grow out Of this de-
termined effort of your Government to
stamp out this most damnable Of
crimes" Hyde declared.
Pleads for Five.
Earlier A. NJ Cary Of Minneapolis
and J. B. Dudley of Oklahoma City
pleaded for the acquittal Of the five
defendants from Minneapolis and St.
Paul-Barney Berman, Clifford Skelly,
Sam Kozberg, Isadore Blumenfeld and
Sam Kronick
The case was expected to reach the
jury in midafternoon.
The charge of the judge remained
in the early afternoon Of the eleventh
day of the trial of 10 persons in con-
nection with the abduction July % for
5000. 600 ransom of the Oklahoma oil
millionaire.
Six arguments of counsel were heard
yesterday, beginning with ringing de-
mand of Joseph B. Keenan,. Assistant
United States Attorney General, for
conviction of all on trial.
A. NJ Cary. Minneapolis lawyer.
pleaded for the five twin cities de-
PENDANTS today.
Accused Of being the money
changers" who sought to conceal part
of the $500, 900 ransom paid for the oil
mans release, the f3ve-Barney Berman,
Isadore Blumenfeld. Clifford Skelly, Sam
Kronick and Sam Kozberg-have de-
clared they were unaware the money
was hot"
Evidence Attached.
"Circumstantial evidence warrants
conviction under the law" said Cary,
but when it does not exclude every
other possible hypothesis except one Of
guilt. the law imposes on you the duty
to declare the defendant innocent.
"A chain of circumstantial evidence
is no stronger than its weakest link.
1T is the duty of the Government to
establish beyond a reasonable doubt
that they had knowledge of the agree
ment to kidnap."
The five contended that even had
they been aware they handled the kid
nap money. the conspiracy to kidnap
the Oklahoma City oil man ended with
his release
District Judge Edgar S. Vaught has
held the conspiracy continued until all
the ransom was returned.
Bailey Plea Heard.
Lawyers for the remaining five de-
fendants-Harvey Bailey, Albert Bates,
r. G. (Boss) Shannon, Mrs. Shannon
and 22-year-old Armon Shannon ar
gued yesterday.
Bates and Bailey were allowed to "re-
ceive" news men for the first time last
night in their heavily guarded cell in
the Federal Building tower. Earlier
Bates obtained an audience with Kee-
nan, which the Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral described tersely as concerning
ransom money
Although neither Federal authorities
nor Bates would confirm them, there
were reports that possibly $4,000 in
ransom money might be returned and
that Bates was considering a change in
his plea today in the hope that Federal
authorities would not recommend pros
ecution on a State charge of robbery
with firearms, carrying the death pen
atty. This is contemplated because of
the robbery of Walter Jarrett, Urschels
bridge companion, the night Of the kid
naping.
keenan, Denies Promises.
keenan, said, however, he had made
no promises to Bates
About $80,0 of the ransom money
has turned up: s73,250 of it dug from a
Texas farm Wednesday, where George
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