Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-13
LIFE bRYSON LED
KNOWN TO MOTHER
Pleaded With Son to Mend
Ways, Says Sister of Al
legged Slayer.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispa tch to The Star.
HUNTINGDON Pa. April 1S.-..My
mother knew that my brother was
living with a woman in Huntingdon
county. and she did everything in her
power to induce him to give her up
and come back to Washington"
Mrs. Laura Randall. sister of DR..
Herbert Rryson, who is held here on
the charge OF numbering his alleged
common-law wife. made this frank
declaration here in the first interview
she has granted since she came here
with the physicians aged mother.
My brother could not have been in
his right mind OF he would never
have fired the shot, if he did fire it,
which killed that woman" she con-
tinued. Mrs. Randall is a woman Of
refinement. with the same dignity Of
manner and quiet purpose which has
characterized the accused doctors
!; mother.
Declared Abnormal.
DIR. Charles r. Luce of Washing
ton. close friend of my brother. who
was with him in France. and who
gave him medical attention for HIS
shell-shocked condition after the
war. has declared that he has not
came home from the war.
DR. Luce has communicated with
my brother, and has declared that he
will do everything humanity possible
for him at the trial
Scores of the Doctors friends in
Washington. both in the army and in
civil life, have sent him kilograms
declaring their belief that he could
not have killed that woman except
in a moment of mental alteration
nlvxyo We
his calm, even temper. elf-control
was one of his chief characteristics"
Mrs. Randall told incidents of her
brothers earlier life, and spoke of his
letters to his mother during the time
he was living in the remote village
of Cassville as the supposed husband
Of the woman for whose murder he
IL held.
I'VE knew at home that the doctor
was not himself. His letters indi-
Gated that he worried night and day
about his patients, and there were
hints that he was troubled with re-
currences of the shell shock condi-
ton.
Breaks Down ut Funeral.
Some weeks ago. one Of his pa
tients died in the hospital at Hunt
ingdons This affected him 10 u marked
degree. He attended the patients
funeral. and it was there that he
broke down completely.
something happened to my right
side. he said in his letters later.
.Feeling seemed to leave my right
arm and limb. and my face twitched
and was without feeling Cor time
Il do not believe DR.. Bryson re-
covered from that attack. Something
must have happened in his brain
when he fired the shot which Killed
that woman, If he really tired that
shot"
The night that the shooting took
place was the anniversary Of the
death of DR.. Bryson's father, who was
a shipbuilder.
Dr.. Bryson, reduced to a na-ra-d
hulk by the shock of the shelllre Of
the Argonne and the terrific strain
which ne has been under the last few
days, now appears to have passed
his zero hour" and with mis- mother
sister and war buddies rallying his
oe1ense. he appears to have taken
new hope.
Chum to BE Attorney.
BY a strange turn of fate DR.. Her.
bert j. Bryson will be defended At
his trial for the murder of his al
legged common law wife by a former
ciassmate of his at Central High
School. in Washington. William Wsi-
lace Chisolm, one of the two ATTORNEYS
retained for DR.. Bryson, recognized
his old school chum when he saw
him in his cell at the county iaii.
Mr. Chisolm and Harry NJ. Petriken'
the other attorney retained. gave out
statement today. in which they de-
clared that DR.. Rryson will be ac-
quilted.
I'VE have no doubt as to the inno-
cence OF DR.. Bryson and we expect
his acqulttal," they said in a Joint
statement.
I'VE believe not only that the COM
monwealth cannot establish his guilt
beyond reasonable doubt, but we
believe also that we shall establish
his innocence to moral certainty"
nNAnYr M rr1Jn rra-