1933-02-07-sr-p1-willine-padley-aquittal-mcnamera

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February 07, 1933 Spokesman-Review Page 1:

1933-02-07-sr-p1-willine-padley-aquittal-mcnamera.jpg

Willine Padley Wins Aquittal for McNamara.


Miss Willine Padley, the first woman attorney to defend a person facing the penitentiary here, won an acquittal for Hugh McNamara, accused of burglary, yesterday in Judge Witt's court.

Miss Padley, a graduate of the University of Washington, began her practice recently in Spokane. She has appeared in court and recently asked Presiding Judge Leavy to put her on the list of attorneys to defend persons accused of crime who have not funds with which to employ attorneys.

McNamara, under the name of James Collins, had been arrested on a charge of robbing the J. C. Penny story at N 1818 Monroe. December 27. He was told that it was the first criminal case for Miss Padley, but after he looked at her he told Judge Leavy that he was willing to have her conduct his defense.

Deputy Prosecutor Funkhouser tried to show that McNamara was found in the store by police after the window was broken. Officers said that McNamara had been hit and must have been thrown into the store. He admitted he was once in prison.

Questioned by Miss Padley, McNamara testified that he went into the store to investigate when he heard a noise. He said the window was broken when he came along. His witnesses said that they saw two men running away.