The Washington times., 1920-09-28
SUBMITS ZINC
LATEAS AL|B|
C. ]. Adams, Alleged Sandy
Spring Slayer, Aided BY j
SaIeSman's Testimony.

FREDERICK, Md, Sept. 2o.-
Upon certain finger-prints and a
name, written with a lead pencil on
the back Of a piece of zine, may rest
the fate of Clarence j. Adams, on
trial here for his life, along with
"Gunman Joe" Penderghast, and
John w. Mitchell, for the Staying of
Francis M. Hallowell, director Of the
Sandy Spring Bank, April rs, and
the theft of more than $4,000 in
cash and security.
ZINC IS ALIBI LINK.
The piece of zinc, which was intro
duced as an exhibit. and which was
said to have been purchased by
Adams in Camden, n. j., on April rs,
just two hours before the holding up
of the Sandy Spring Bank, probably
will form one of the strongest links
in the alibi which attorneys for Adams
say they will establish.
John A. Hesser, who for seventeen
years has been employed by the A. j.
Holly Company, Philadelphia, tinpiate
manufacturers. and who now is sales
manager at the Camden store, testi-
fed this morning that at l o'clock on
the afternoon OF April rs Adams came
into his store and bought piece or
zinc. about 8 by IL inches.
CUT PLATE IN STORE.
Adams, he said, wanted the piece OF
zinc cut into smaller pieces. He was
allowed the use Of the cutting ma
chine in the store, according to the
witness. and cut a strip from the zinc.
This strip he took with him. Mr.. Hes
ser said, leaving the remainder, and
saying that he probably would call
for 1t later. D
Upon suggestion of Mr.. Hesser, he
wrote his name-"Clarence j. Adams
on the back Of the zinc with lead
pencil.
The defense claims that Adams.
having purchased this zinc in Cam
den, just two hours before the rob-
berry and murder at Sandy Spring
could not possibly have been con-
nected with the crime.
The finger prints On the piece of
zinc and the handwriting thereon will
be submitted to expert examination
to determine IL they are the prints
and the writing of Clarence J. Adams,
the man on trial.
Adams, according to the defense,
claims that he bought the zinc to
CONST tnt VI du
which he had stolen. He is, accord
ing to his counsel. willing to plead
guilty to the automobile theft, but
claims his innocence of the crime Tor
which he is being tried.
One of the witnesses to be intro
duced by the defense will be hotel
keeper in Beverly, n. j., to whom
Adams Is supposed to have sold the
stolen car.
Evidence that credence is being
given by officials to rumors of pro-
posed Jail delivery was shown this
morning in the addition Of three
former deputies of Montgomery conn-
ty to the guard which formerly had
been in charge of the prisoners.
They are w. 4. Gather, b. Peyton
Whelen. and w. l.. Aud.
STIRRING SCENE ENACTED.
A stirring scene was enatced this
morning when the prisoners were
brought to the-eeurthouse. In the
automobile with the prisoners were
the regular guards ana special guards,
with high-powered rifles, sat on the
running board, with hands on hip
pockets. ready to shoot should any
trouble be started.
A regular patrol Of motorcycle Of
ficers has been established, ana is
being kept up outside the courthouse
where the men are being tried.
The prosecution closed this morn
ing, following the introduction Of
many witnesses who Identified Adams
as one of the men who looted the
bank at Sandy Springs and killed the
director.
Sammy Mitchell, of Highland, iden-
titled Adams As a man he had seen
at Sandy Spring on tho day Of the
robbery. The Rev. Lawrence Propst
pastor OF the Meth odist Church at
Fulton, near Sandy Spring, also iden-
titled Adams. as having been in the
Sandy Spring vicinity the day the
murder and robbery took place.
When william II. Burras, OF RoI-
bury Mills, was called upon to iden-
tify Adams and the men who are on
trial with him, he was so affected
with stage fright" that he could not
speak.
Judge Glen II. Worthington. who
with Judge Edward c. Peter and Chief
Justice Hammond Urner Ia presiding
at the trial, told the witness to go
down and touch the men in order to
Identify them.
When Burras approached "Gunman
joe Penderghast, he dared him to
touch him. Don't you touch me. you
-" Here he used a vile name. IN
knock your block off"