The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-03
Accused Pleads 'Not Cuiltya
and Makes Statement Avow-
ing His Innocence
TWO WITNESSES ON
STAND YESTERDAY
Testimony of Squire Houchens
and Coroner Whitfield Very
Dam, ying to Accused. Who,
How ver. 10 Calm

Especial to The Richmond virginian)
GQochiand Courthouse. Va. Jan. 2.
DIR. Asa w. Chamberlain, charged
with the murder of his brother, Judge
ALERT p. Chamberlain was placed
on trial here, this afternoon. little diff
ficulty having been experienced in the
securing OF jury.
Shortly before Judge John Ruther-
ford ascended the bench the prisoner
IN n statement TO the newspaper men
reiterated his innocence. DECLARING
that he knew nothing of his brother q
death until after he was taken to
Richmond. He declared that he had
xnany opportunities to escape which.
had he been guilty, he would have
awaited himself of.
DIR. r. II. Whitfield. city coroner OF
Richmond. proved one of the star
witnesses for the commonwealth In
the closing hours OF the day
DIR. Whitfield testified to the results
Of his examinations Of certain articles
found on the premises OF the accused.
He was shown a saw which had
been Identified by Justice J. A. Houch-
ems. OF Goochiand, as one found in
an clubhouse on DIR. Chamberlaine' s
place.
He declared the spots on the saw
we're those made by human olcod. He
kaG found on one OF the buttons OF
coat found on the DOCTORS premises
a hair to which was attached a piece
ct muscular tissue and on a tiny seed
clsrging to the garment ne had found
4 blood
He had examined splinters OF wood
given him which contained blood
j Al hIrh had the character of human
blood. On the wood was q human
hair. Another rh'si containing wood
Rpiiulers soaked in blood was handed
him By r. Gray Haddon associated
With attorney WendenhurE In re-
spouse TO questions by Attorney Page.
he said that he could not say positive
III that II wah human blood he had
founded on the articles brought TO him
because the blood OF certain animals
js identical in characteristics with
human blood.
All through recitais regarded al
& highly banging 10 his side of the
case the accused physician main
fasned a calm that was remarkable.
Even when In the opening statement
OF Attornev Walter Leake the latter
was scathlnriv denuneiatory OF him.
he gave, no evidence OF mental dis
tress
wife BY HIS side.
Throughout the dav his young wife
~ssuained by his side in the court
room appearing at all tines to take
IN intense interest In the proceedings.
Present i'm the courtroom also was A.
Lee Cham ocrlnine. son OF the muir
dered man, who has come from Des
.doines to see that everything posi-
hle IL done TO avenge the murder of
Ills father.
Swea ring In of the fury occupied
fysrv nf hn
This was accomplished with remark
able facility considering the care that
the defense took to see to IL that
no Juror who gave any indication OF
prejudice was allowed in the panel.
Members of Jury.
The following were hnaIlv selected
Tor the jury: Charles p. Mosbv lanes
Il II. Bowles, j Floyd Nicholas, Herbert
Cr0wder. A. s. Mosby, Thomas Fl.
Perkins, N. c. rAppy. A. s. Shepherd.
James r. Martin. Edward s. Lacy,
Er1a w. Isbell, George L. Payne.
The defense sought in the outset
"a obtain a continuance on the ground
that one Of its most material witness
~ Fra Clara AFFORD. OF whea tland:
wyoming. who viii testify in behalf
~ her father. had NOT yet arrived.
The court overruied the motion, how
when arraigned Dr. Chamberlain
III calm. steady voice pleaded mot
guilty.
Two Witnesses Examined.
Two witnesses had been examined
,rhan court adjourned for the dav.
Testimony given, while entirely cir
aarYnetantial, was of the strongest ma
flsra and the statements made by the
1 Richmond coroner may prove the
nemesis OF the accused physician.
Justicc Houchcris on Stand.
squire Al. J. Houchens VINO was the
q Aref Witness called, a2S who was the
III 1ander OF the party which searched
u the premises OF DR.. Chamberlatne
after his arrest. was on the stand Tor
nearly two hours. Witness said he
"a fudge Chamberlaine. He said II
II Waa reported to him October 24th
q That Judge Chamberlain had dtsap-
SCARED. He went to the home OF
Jyfdee Chamharlaine that day about
o'clock and fnund DR.. Chamberlain
n there. He said he told DIR, Chamber
n aatne. that judge Chamberlain vas
3. rnieaing The doctor told him the
III 1u69e had gone to rsevenne, Wvom-
" m. Witness said the doctor told him
ebe 1ndee left for wyoming October
a Itnd, at night DR. Chamberlaine haS
l. ia ~ came here and paid the Judge
oYAry cent owed him and asked him
q keep my pig for me"
asked him how Il Vas that he
Nn9W Judge ChamberiairN had left
2 III Gheyenne X he had as he said,
II zk hAfcre ths Judge did," said the
1lne s.this appeared to confuse
= nqte wAs then ehoved the witness
|5s!! Nh a lAenfinsd - the p.pss thieas