Evening star., 1918-01-27
T|GHTENS WEB IN
BRANDON MURDER
Prosecution to Produce Two
More Witnesses in Trial
of SnoWden.
CASE ENLIvENED BY TILTS

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE Nd, January 26.-with
the defense planning to attack the
Identification by Mary Perkins Of John
snowden as the negro she saw coming
out OF the murdered woman's homo on
the day Of the crime, and with the
prosecution Tightening the web Of cir
cumstances about the accused, the
Brandon murder trial was again en-
ltvened this afternoon by several spir-
tied tits between opposing counsel.
Four witnesses were offered by the
state during the halliday sitting of
the court. At the conclusion Of their
testimony there remained but two wit
nessss to be offered before the pros
ecution closes its case. This con-
clusion Of the submission of evidence
against the negro will probably be
reached before Monday afternoon.
nesses are Dr. walton II. Hopkins.
county health officer of Anne Arundel
county. and DIR. A. H. Carr, assistant
coroner physician Of Washington.
Both VIII give expert testimony re-
first and second autopsies
Qualified as Experts.
They will also be qualified as ex-
perts in obstetrics and will then be
examined with a view to discountinx
the efforts of the defense to show it
was possible for Mrs. Brandon to have
killed herself during Commissions
brought on by her delicate condition
Opposing this line of testimony the de-
Tense has in reserve Drs. J. ]. Mur-
ply and Louis Henkel.
"a
plates attacking Mary Perkins identi-
hcation Of Snowden was brought to
the attention OF the prosecution this
morning In letter from the metro
politan police headquarters of Wash
ington. This letter told the prosecutors
that 8. e. Williams. negro lawyer of
Washington, who has interested him
self In tbs case and has assisted Messrs
Brady and Grason In its defense, had
come to metropolitan headquarters,
seeking information about James
Davis, q negro arrested in Washington
on housebreaking charge a few days
before snowden's arrest
Negro Claims Resemblance.
After seeing the Bertillon pictures
and looking over the measurements
ana description Of this negro. Williams.
it Is said. declared he saw a resem-
blance to Snowden. Washington head
quarters. however, sent the mans rec
ord to the prosecutors of Snowden.
They did not show much resemblance
between the two negroes. With their
planned coup uncovered ahead Of time
1t is not at all certain that the defense
will nov follow out this line. How
ever. the positive Identification of
snowden by the Perkins woman and
her sister this afternoon proved such a
severe blow to the defense 1t is not
likely any loophole will be overlooked.
Today's whole effort on the part of
the prosecution was devoted to check
ing up the whereabouts Of the body
and showing how it was cared for dur
ing the whole time until the second
autopsy. This was evidently to meet
the efforts Of the defense to discount
the fact that the prosecution will be-
fore closing put in evidence the finger
nails Of the murdered woman, under
which at the second autopsy were found
small fragments Of human skin. which
the physicians say is that of negro.
Hnowden. when arrested, had new
| scratches on his face, which he has not
satisfactorily accounted for.