The Washington herald., 1921-12-02
OEHLERT'SLIFE
TO Be IN HANDS
OF JURY TODAY
Defense Concludes With
Bitter Attack on the
State Witnesses.

fAlRFAA, Va, Dec. 1.-Determl-
nation Of whether or not William
n. Oehlert. of Alexandria. scharged
with Staying Henry E. Briscoe. resi-
dent of Fairfax County. during an
alteration along the Camp Humph-
reys road on the night OF october
Is, is guilty of murder in the first
degree, will be in the hands OF the
trial jury before noon tomorrow.
The second day of the trial,
which has aroused the surrounding
section of the State, ended with the
conclusion of the addresses to the
jury by the attorneys for the de-
fensv-Cdmund Burke and Carl
Budwesky. both of Alexandria.
After the rebuttal argument to-
morrow by the prosecution, repre-
sented by Assistant Commonwealth
Attorney Wilson VI. Farr. which is
expected to last approximately one
hour. the fate OF the accused man
will be placed in the hands Of the
jury.
Veniremen Are Guarded
The veniremen. after being
charged by Circuit Court Judge
Samuel G. Brent to refrain from
conversation with anyone. even the
county officers designated to care
for them. were led to their quar-
ters for the night under a heavy
guard. where they will be carefully
watched over throughout the night
Oehlert. displaying nervousness
for the first time since the open
ing Of the trial yesterday, was
called upon the stand this morning
to testify in his own behalf.
Although apparently composed
while being questioned by his
counsel, he gave evidence of being
Ill at ease. twitching noticeably and
falterinE in voice. when the attor-
ney for the prosecution began TO
hurl terroCations at him during
the CrOss-eNamination.
On several occasions he made
statements to questions asked by
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney
Farr which Farr thought c6nicted
with statements which Oehlert had
previously made In response to his
own lawyers during the direct ex-
animation.
Wife and Daughter Testify.
Prior to his taking the stand,
his wife, a motherly looking woman,
with a kind face which showed
signs Of worry, testified in an ef-
fort to save her husband from the
electric chair. which is the penalty
demanded by the Commonwealth
Conscious Of the nervous strain un-
der which the woman was laboring,
Farr was lenient in his crOss-eX-
animation and permitted her to
leave the stand after asking only
a few questions.
Her eyes Redeemed as the result
Of almost constant weeping after
the oDeniuE Of the secondary ses-
sion. Marion Oehlert. the defend
ants 13-yoar-old daughter. was
called 10 corroborate some of the
testimony given by her mother.
The only other witnesses who were
called before the jury by the at
torneys for the defense today were
Noah Green and William Henry
Craven, both colored, employees at
the pOolroom conducted in Alexan-
dria by Edward E. Waters, who tes-
titled that Briscoe. the slain man,
accompanied by the two men who
were with him at the time Of the
fatal shooting. r. P. Cralle and
II. L. Hibbs. had visited the pool
room on the night of the shooting
and had been shown to the apart
ment Of their employer.
Mrs. OehIert in Tears.
Edward E. Waters, proprietor Of
the poolroom. testified that the
three men had called to see him and
that he had offered them drinks,
but that he was unable to say
whether OF not BrisCoe had accept
ed
Depicting the shooting as pre-
meditated cobb blooded and with
out justification" Attorney Farr
asked the twelve men to return a
verdict for first-degree murder,
while the attorneys for the defense
endeavored to prove that their cli-
ent was attempting to protect his
life and property
During these addresses. the little
family group. composed of the ac-
cused man. his wife and two daugh-
ters, presented a picture of deep
sorrow. When the prosecution men,
toned the death penalty, the wife,
who has been exerting evry effort
in her husbands behalf since the
shooting. burst into tears, as did
the two children. Oehlert spent the
greater part Of the afternoon with
his head bowed and his eyes COW
cred by his hand.
witnesses Are Denounced.
Bitter denunciation Of several Of
the Commonwealth witnesses was
included in the addresses by the
defense attorneys.
Oehlert testified that when he
passed the lane leading to the
homes Of Briscoe and his companions
along the Camp Humphries road
going south he noticed both. the
truck which the three men were
riding N and the automobile owned
by Richard Stuart, of Alexandria,
standing there. and that the occu-
pants Of the two vehicles were ar
guing. However. when the prose-
cution questioned him, Oehlert de-
clared that he was not certain that
the machines awere there when he
went south on the road. but that
he was certain they were there
when he returned over the same
route.
When interrogated on his alleged
attempt to escape from the Fairfax
County Jail. Oehlert hesitated, but
later declared. 4 could have gotten
out il had really wanted to. How
ever. 1 did attempt to escape in a
WaV"