Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-01
ET DRAWS TIGHT
ABOUT PHYSICIAN
rcumstantial Evidence Points
to DR.. Chamberlain as
Brothers Slayer.
ElTERATES I'M ENCE
Fiminologists Puzzled by De-
tails of Hideous Murder
Case in Goochland.
.ITERATEs INNOCENCE

DIR. ASA w. Chamberlain. accused OF
|rutally numbering Judge Albert p.
chamberlain. his brother. in the modest
little homo of the latter in the hills
Z Goochland County on the night of
Ionday, October %, sits quietly in
Ienrico Jail, while fate rapidly weavcs
bout him n net Of circumstantial evil
enc &c appalling that few will listen
o his protestation of innocence and
ignorance Of the murder. Trcmulously
he pleads: God knows ! am inno-
ent." while Goochland officials con-
inue to uncover further evidence which
hey allese point unmistakably to his
fuilt.
Questioned yesterday morning. the
bid man humbly, pitifully. with the
|eyes Of a child, denied any knowledge
or tho crime, reiterating his carlic:
declaration that he thought his brother
had gone West when he left him Oh
he fateful night of his supposed mur-
her. No statement Of the prisoner.
ther than that he continued to plead
innocence, was made public. and no
ne except his counsel has been allowed
o talk 10 him.
Sheriff Sydnor, Of Hcnrico. stated last
light that under consideration
would newspaper men be allowed to
zee the prisoner. He was acting under
orders from Goochiand officials and
ounsel for DIR. Chamberlain.
jRIMINOLoGIsTs PUZZLED
n BY HyDEOUS CRIME
Crtminologists are OF the opinion that
( the doctor really is guilty Of the
;rime. he is either insane or that. in
he last stages OF it's commission. be-
anne panicky and displayed singular
ack of the cool Judgment attributed
o him in the earlier stages when he Is
,lleged to have planned the murder.
They point out that it Is alleged the
accused man planned for days the
killing and the disposition of the dead
body. Post-holcs on the doctors prem
ises are said 10 have been deepened
and holes in the yard dug to receive
remnants Of the body.
with these alleged preparations SO
complete and furnishing an ideal foun-
dation for the structure OF diabolcal
crime. ingcniously and thoroughly
blanned so as to hide all trace OF
murder, criminologists cannot under
stand why the accused man should
have picked SO unpropitious a time for
Its enactinG.
The doctor is alleged to have gone
o his brothers home thoroughly pre-
pared and intending to Kill. He had
his heavy cane. he was more powerful
han his brother, his wagon awaited
in the roadway. Back in his own
sard holes to receive the dismembered
body were ready. But the hour was
carly The judges dumb servant was
Ia M III
10 the door. The doctors cook was
waiting for his return home. Still.
Dr. Chamberlain is alleged to have
killed his brother a few minutes after
kho departure of the dumb servant. put
the body his wagon, driven home
with 1t. and dismissed his cook, who
was obliged to pass the wagon. said
10 have contained the body, on her way
iome
However, the doctor appears to be
Skhe only person who had the semblance
II a motive for such crime. He and
lis brother had quarreled bitterly over
Tan account, which the brother was
obliged to ask the courts to help him
collect. 1t was to pay this account
that the doctor admits he went to the
Judges home on the night the murder
is believed to have been committed.
The doctor said at the time Of his ar
rest that his brother had packed his
baggage and, dressed in a gray suit,
was on his way To the railroad sta
tion when he left him. Subsequently.
It was discovered that the judges gray
suit was hanging in a closet, and that
he was dressed In overalls when killed.
40. addition to this. papers and a watch
belonging to the judge have been found
In the doctors home, and a diary kept
by the judge intimates that he feared
violence from the doctor.
There is some suspicion that more
han one person was engaged in the
commission of the crime. No clue
bubstantiating this suspicion has been
Uncovered, however.
1t Is not known at what time DR..
chamberlain will be taken back to
Foochland for a preliminary hearing.
he countryside surrounding the scene
the tragedy has quieted consider
since Sunday, and 1t is not be-
ed that there would be any danger
b2 prisoner in taking him back for
ute trial. Officials. though, will
e safest course. and probably
the hearing for several days.
Rnd County people deny that
Yas ever any danger Of lynch
ting that the doctor was re-
rom Jail there because it was
pat he might escape. The Jail
old and insecure.