Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06
DOCTOR HOLDS OWN
IN BATTLE OF WITS
Wendenburg Fails to Trap Cham
berlin in Cross-Ex-
animation.
ON STAND FOR SIX HOURS
First Doubt That Physician May
Be Guiltless of Murder
Creeps Out at Trial.
cBy a STAFF correspondent.)

CiOOCHLAND COURTHOUSE. VA.
January 5.-The ii-s: doubt that Or.
Asa w. Chambcrlin may he guilticss
Of the murder OF his brother. Judge
Albert =. Chambcrln. crcpt into the
minds of court spectators here to-day.
when. for six hours tho accused more
than held his own against the terrific
effort of l.. o. Wendcnburg TO break
down the testimony he had given in
his own defense yesterday.
The knowledge that he has done we'll
by himself in ,c-day's proceedings.
supplemented by tho fact that his
daughter. Mrs. Clara AFFORD. pretty
and youthful matron OF Wheatland.
wyo., has arrived TO comfort and de-
fend him. leaves him in the most
cheerful frame OF mind evidenced since
his trial began last Tuesday morn
ing.
The doctor showed himself more
than a match for the fertile mind Of
wendenbure. the Richmond lawyer
who has been terror TO defendants
for many years. Mr.. Wcndenburg at
tackled the doctors direct testimony
from every angle. but in no instance
did he get the best OF the man ac-
cused of the most horrible murie- in
the history OF the Commonwealth.
Time and again he tried to trap the
doctor into making some statement
contradictory to his original testi-
mony Always he failed. but each
time he returned moro vigorously tc
the attack. Often the doctor smiled
frequently he go. laugh from the
crowd by twists OF grim humor that
left the LAWYERS blood red.
UNABLE TO TRAP PRISONER
IN REVIEW OF EVIDENCE
A dramatic moment was when after
Mr.. Wendenburs had slowly traced
tho evidence to tho point of DR.. Whit
fields expert testimony relative to the
presence Of a tiny "beggar louise"
covered with blood and flesh on the
Doctors jumper jacket. the accused
grabbed the little seed. sprang in front
of the jury box. his slightly palSied
hands trembling with fervor. and de-
clared: Gentlemen OF tho jury. isn't
that fine thing upon which to sentence
man to death?" He was then ad-
monished by Judge rutherford to
leave argument of the evidence to
counsel. but his evident sincerity had
it's effect.
The lawyer was not able to trap
the accused in his review of the evil
dence relative to whence came the
money alleged to have been paid the
murdered brother for the surrender
OF the note. which plays SO large a
part in the doctors prosecution. I'm
der the circumstances the physician
showed remarkable resourcefulness in
accounting for the money. but often
baf1ed the lawyer by his convenient
faculty OF forgetting. When some
times it seemed that he had stepped
into deadfalls he remembered that all
OF his papers had been seized by the
State. Then he reminded the lawyer
that he could not be expected to an
swer when the only records he had
kept were in the hands OF the prosecu-
tion.
WENDENBuRG ENDS
EXAMINATION IN DESPAIR
DR.. Chamberlin corroboratcd states
witnesses in the essential points OF
their testimony relative to his move
ments Immediately before and after
| the alleged time OF the killing. lie
stoutly maintained, however. tina. he
| left his brother when he last saw him
with the most cordial feelings exist.
ing between them. lie admitted say
ing to Funder Britt that Judge Cham
berlin had gone to Cheyenne. Wyo.,
where the whitened bones of many
men had been found in dark and dis
NAL places. hut IL was evident that he
was trying to impress the jury that
he was making play upon negro
superstition and credulity with the
mulatto. he stated, by way of ex.
planation. that the Wyoming town was
once one OF the toughest in the West.
lie also admitted telling Louisa Boat
right not to trip over the dark oh
Ject' left near her homeward path
when she left his home on tho fate
ful night or his return from his broth
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