The New York herald., 1922-01-26
MADDENED BY FEAR,
DEFENSE OF BODDY
Negro Slayer's Counsel
Opens Way for Plea
of Insanity.
'CRAZED AS HE SHOT
Felt Certain Detective Cap
tors Were Taking Him to
Third Degree
HE MAY TESTIFY TO-DAY
Police Tell of His Capture and
of Conversations With the
Murderer.
HE MAY TESTIFY TO-DAY

some SUSLL encouragement came
Yesterday afternoon for the first time
to the defense in the trial in the crini-
nal branch OF the Supreme Court OF
Luther Boldly, negro who shot and
lilled two detectives as they were
bringing him to the West 135th street
polis2e station.
District Attorney Banton has piled
evidence on the negro. and will rest
after an inconsequential detail is pre-
sented tomorrow. In the mass Of tes-
tiinony adducel yesterday not an ex-
cnse, but reason for the killing came
out.
That was the fear in Boddy's mind.
e fear Norris Koenig, his counsel, will
endcayor to prove drove him TO mad
ness, that although not under arrest,
lie was to be kicked and beaten for
several hours In the back room Of the
police station in a "thrd degree exami-
was TO be beaten and that he had been
beaten and kicked in that same station
house four times before.
In a long questioning of Boldly after
his arrest in Philadelphia, Boldly in
ristcd to John r. Hennis, Assistant
District Attorney attached TO the homi-
eide bureau. that lis fear of rough
Treatment had caused him to shoot De-
tcctives Buckley and Miller.
Pick on Paroled Men.
when anything happens they tdetec-
tives) go after men on parole" he said.
according TO testimony introduced by
.rr. Koenig. "Any one they see they
take to the station house and kick
around and say, Go horne and get
we'll That's happened to me several
fines"
house. They take you into the back
room and kick you around for couple
OF hours and IL you can walk home you
walk home
He told Mr.. Hennis the two detectives
ware holding him as they walked toward
the police station while he kept a re-
solvcr up his right sleeve Almost to
th police station he shot both men
down. He insisted in his statement to
yfennis ard in a signed confession given
90 Alfred J. Souder. chief of detectives
OF Philadelphia, he was in n daze as he
arsd and dint know what he was doing.
Testimony given earlier in the day
by Detective Henry f. Butts, police
expert on firearms, established that
Buckley. second to be hit, was shot just
ss he swept open his overcoat and coat
and had a hand on his revolver siung
on his left hip.
IN conversation with Assistant Dig
.flc. Attorney Hennis ii was shown
Goddy's brother. John. had once been
keat 70 the psychopathic ward in Belle
vre for examination. This was consid-
cred favorable TO the defence. as an
$nsanity plea is undoubtedly to be made.
Joined Negro Regiment.
Mr.. Hennis examination developed
.hat Boldly Joined Col. Hayward's negro
regiment the Fifteenth, in September.
1918. but his mother got him out a year
Nater. while the regiment was in Camp
Merritt, by claiming he was under age.
Boldly at that time was almost IS. In
e-ead Of lighting overseas the negro be-
came bootlack in Harlem.
In the course OF the lang examination
BY Mr. Hennis Boldly told Of all his
movements from the morning Of the
night Of the shooting until his arrest In
Philadelphia. Ho declared the taxicab
chauffeur. Adam Aduboto. vino. at the
point OF q revolver. drove him to the
Pennsylvania line before the gasoline
gave out. did not escape by jumping on
the running board OF a passing car bu,
was ordered TO leave him by that
method.
During the day Charles r.. Bonner, q
Philadelphia detective, in testifying az
TO the negro slayer's arrest, demolished
the story he had waited down stairs
while a negro ma gistrate. Amos Scott,
went TO Boddy's room in negro lodging
house and arrested him. Bonner, who
IS supported by Boddy's story, entered
Boddy's room after the slayer had been
disarmed by q trick worked by Negro
resident OF the house whom he trusted.
Bonner denied emphatically an attempt
was made to get Boldly to talk by refus-
ing him food.
Chief Souder testified Boldly voIur-
teered to make p statement in his office
and that he was never threa tened in any
way.
In this statement Boldly said OF the
moment OF the killing:
Then I guess my temper Gared up
Why should ] always be beaten up for
nothing. II seemed everything was n, n
dase. and ] don't remember even how
many shots were fred and ran"
Last night Judge ffoenig said he
thought IL probable he would place
Boldly on the stand in his own behalf
Mr.. Banton expectH 60 close after intro
dgcing ia evidence letters written By
and found on Boddy this morning. ana
the defense believes It will require only
about day and a half to present It's