The New York herald., 1921-01-28
ITS BULLET IDENTIFIED
State Ends Presentation of
Evidence and Defence
Asks for Dismissal.
ARGUMENTS FOR TO-DAY
Letter Offered Urged as Lure
to Bring Murdered Man
to Philadelphia.

SPECIAL Despatch to TIE NEW YORK HERALD.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 27.-On the jury's
attitude toward a bit of rust in a
pistol barrel and dozen lines scrawle0
ON two sheets of paper hangs the fate
OF William p. Brines, on trial for the
murder of Elmer {. Drewes.
Four days of weaving a net of cir
cumstantial evidence about the pris-
oner ended tonight when James G.
Gordon, Assistant District Attorney,
rested his case. Immediately William
A. Gray, counsel for the defendant,
moved that the case be taken from
the jury because of insufficient proof
brought forth by the commonwealth.
Judge Ferguson deferred argument on
the motion until tomorrow morning.
Granting the motion would be equiva-
lent to acquittal of Brines.
May Reach Jury Monday.
Mr.. Gray said that if Judge Ferguson
rules against him he will finish his case
before Saturday night. Arguments then
viii be made by Mr.. Gordon and Mr..
Gray. and Judge Ferguson will charge
the jury. From the situation tonight it
did not seem that the case could reach
the jury before late Monday afternoon
unless Judge Ferguson grants the mo-
tion OF Mr.. Gray.
Without Il ace Of emotion Brines gazed
to-day upon the bullet that had caused
the death OF his former chum while 1t
was held aloft by DR.. William s. Wads-
worth. Coroner's Physician. Brnes
showed no more interest in the bullet
than he had in the examination papers
brought forth by the prosecution as
specimens of his handwriting.
my conclusions upon examining this
bullet and this Colt automatic pistol
said Dr. Wadsworth, 'is that the bullet
was fired from this pistol
The pistol was the one the Common
wcalth's witnesses had testified to find
ing in Briness automobile several days
after the murder. DR.. Wadsworth
brought out the information that the
bullet that caused Drewes's death was
OF the soft nosed type, commonly known
as 'dum -dum.'
Carlos ArrolGson y Serpa, Cniver-
sity OF Pennsylvania student, testified
that last August he went with Brines TO
OF Market, where Brines bought a pis-
tol similar to the one shown TO him to-
day by Mr.. Gordon, but could not iden-
tify the one shown as the one purchased
last August.
Handwriting Experts Heard.
Eldridge w. stein. T. H. McCool and
Webster Melcher, handwriting experts,
testified that the same person who wrote
the specimens admitted as standards OF
Erines's handwriting wrote a letter sent
from Reading 20 Drewes Oh October Q,
1920. The letter was signed Samuel
Magee" and offered an automobile for
sale. The Commonwealth is contending
the letter was used as a lure 10 bring
Drewes to Philadelphia and that while
IN this city to buy the automobile Of
fored in the "Magce" letter he was MUIR
dered
1t is upon testimony as to the "Magee"
letter and the testimony as TO the bullet
given by DR.. Wadsworth that the Com
monwealth depends largely for the con-
Vetion OF Brines.
Or. William c. Robinson. city chemist,
and Or. John 4. I<omer. pathOlogist and
bio ogs from the University of Penn
sylVnnia. testified as to the blood
smudgcs On the side OF the car Br nes
is alleged TO have used on the night OF
the murder. Or. Robinson said that his
tests showed il was the blood Of a
mammal. but lac could rot say whether
Il was human blood. Dr. Kolner was
positive that it was human blood
other witnesses testified to seeing
Briness car standing in front Of the
Germantown home OF Thomas H. Wig
gins. uncle OF the accused. several days
after the murder. and Of his presence
f1src with his raofher