The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-12
POLLARD FACES
COURT CALMLY
IN STAYING
Jury Expected Bodybuilding
of Girl Accident, Is Defense
Of the Accused.
Continued from First 1oage)

Continued from First Page)
front of his home at 251S Grove
avenue.
In the event the venire of forty
men summoned for service this week
were exhausted before the necessary
PANEL was procured, it was planned
to summon a special venire of thirty
additional men. When the panel of
necessary twenty is obtained, four
names will be stricken off by the
Commonwealth and fuor by the de.
tense. reducing it to the number re-
quired under the law to try all
felony cases.
Despite the gravity of the charge
confronting him, Pollard seemed
calm and unperturbed as he took his
seat at the bar of Justice. Besides
his two attorneys. Harry M. Smith,
jr., and the latter's son. Hiram M.
Smith. Close by sat his brother,
Robert N. Pollard. the law partner
of his junior counsel
Although the widely known and
popular young real estate agent
was indicted for first degree MUIR
der, which calls for the death pen
atty or life Imprisonment or a penal
term of not less than years, the
jury may find him guilty of lesser
offense If 1t sees fit to do so.
II convicted of second degree
murder, Pollard may be given not
less than five years in the peni-
tertiary nor more than twenty
years. For voluntary manslaughter,
the penalty ranges from one to five
years in the penitentiary. If he
is convicted of involuntary man.
slaughter he may be given from one
to five years, in the case of volun-
tary manslaughter, or within the
discretion Of the jury he may be
fined not more than 81 1000 or be
confined in Jail for not more than
twelve months, or he may be fined
and sent to Jail, too.
With Rihcard Evelyn Byrd, rated
ase one Of the leading criminal law
yers in Virginia, assisting States At
torney Dave e. Satterfield, the Com
monwealth claimed that it was pre-
pared to establish that Pollard de-
liberately killed his former typiSt be-
cause she persisted In seeking an
understanding with him as to why
he had thrown her overheard for an
other affinity, said to be Mrs. Bertha
Louise Beck, pretty choir singer of
South Richmond, after he had been
on intimate terms with herself for
five years.
The defense, on the other hand,
was prepared to seek the acquittal
Of Pollard on the ground that Mrs,
Richardson was accidentally shot in
scuffle with him. The Common
wealth, it was understood, intended
to proceed on the theory that the
old-fashioned reVolverd, alleged TO
have figured in the shooting, was
the property Of Pollard, although it
has not been ascertained where he
obtained it.
The defense will insist that the
weapon belonged to Mrs. Richard
son and was carried by her to Pol
lard's home the night of the tragedy.
1t will also endeavor to establish
that she had threatened Pollard s
life on several occasions previously.
An unusual circumstance in con-
nection with the case is that every
commonwealth witness is also on
the list Of defense witnesses.
Pollard's wife, former Richmond
society girl, who left him and re-
turned to the home of her parents
several weeks prior to the tragedy,
is not listed as a witness for either
side and is not expected to figure
directly in the case.