The Washington times., 1915-05-27
DRAMATIC EPISODE
OPENS POLAND TRIAL
Mothers Of Slain Girl and Of Her
Alleged Murderer Face Each
Other in Court.

The mothers Of Mrs. Mary l.. Naylor
and of her alleged slayer. William A.
Poland on trial before Chief Justice
Covington in Criminal Court. No. l.
charged with murder. faced each other
sympa etically In a dramatic scene In
court today.
Poland and Walter Mitchell. the
youthful brother of the slain woman,
also confronted each other with sig
nigicant glanccs-their first meeting
since last June yhen the youth tcsti,
the accused man about his relations
with his sister
Mrs. Minnie Mitchell, mother Of Mrs.
Naylor, broke down Just as she left
she passed the large brass bed before
the Jury box on which her daughter
was shot odeath. Her grief and deep
mourning made her pathetic figure in
court
Her eyes almost constantly fixed on
her son. Mrs. Clara Poland was like
wise visibly moved by the situation,
frequently wiping away tears.
Throughout the trying ordeal Of the
morning session, Poland showed no emo
tion except trace of nervousness.
"Wages of Sin Is Death"
The wages of sin is death" Poland
quoted on the way to Casualty Hospi-
tai in the ambulance after the tragedy
Oh the morning OF July TO- last. accord
ing to Dr.. Fay Y. Field The surgeon
rebutting testimony to the effect that
the accused was unconscious until he
reached the hospital, further testified
that the defendant smoked a cigarette
while in the ambulance.
Harry w. Fleischmann, the ambula nco
driver, supported the testimony of DR..
Field by saving that Poland was con-
scions and talked coherrently as he
Cross-cxamined by Attorney George p.
Hoover, counsel for the defendant. DR..
Field said that Poland profcssed his
love for Mrs. Naylor. and inquired
stated that Poland said that there had
been no discord between them.
Police Sergeant Weber and Officer
Holmes identified written statement
alleged to have been signed by Pola nd
a few hours after the homicide. which
occurred at the home of William E
Wilkins. in Randle Highlands. or Twin
City, although Poland rcpudiated parts
Mrs. Poland Testifies.
The mother of Poland testified merely
TO the effect that his lameness was due
to an ailment Of the hip twenty years
ago. She denied that he had ever been
shot in the leg. Witnesses had testi-
fed that Poland had stated that he had
once been shot, although he denied that
he had made any such statement.
Mrs. Mitchell told of her efforts to
persuade her daughter to keep away
from Poland. She testified that she
even complained to the Eleventh pre-
cinct police station.
II was hysterIcal for three weeks,
| she sobbed when crossed-eXamined with
respect to her attacking her daughter
when the latter returned home for some
clothes.
Walter Mitchell said that he pleaded
with Poland to give up his sister. tell.
ing him that ''home with her mother
| was the place for her"
Both sides rested at the noon reccs!
and closing arguments began at tn,
| opening of court this afternoon. 1t il
expected that a verdict will be returnc>
| before night.
s. McComas Hawken. assistant Unitet
States attorney, represents the GCv
ernment. while Attorney George u
Hoover and p. j. Scantling appear 70
| the defendant