Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-22
WOMAN'S EVIDENCE
HALTS BUSCH CASE |
Mrs. Gladys Pope Fails to
Identify RevoIvers, as Ex-
pected by Government.

Trial of the four men charged with
the murder of Policeman Leo w. X.
Busch came to an abrupt halt yes
terday afternoon when one of the Gov
eminent witnesses apparently failed to
testify as expected. The Government
expressed surprise when Mrs. Gladys
Pope, 20, who before her marriage
was Miss Gladys James, admitted in
ability to identify two revolvers pro-
duced as ones she saw Nicholas Lee
Eagles, one of the defendants, filing
the numbers from.
Instead of invoking the privilege of
crosS-examining it's own witness,
which had been requested. the Govern
ment decided to pursue it's examina.
ton Monday. Criminal Division 2, in
which the trial is being held, Is not in
session today.
Other Women Questioned.
Mrs. Pope was among several men
and women questioned by police in
connection with the fatal wounding
Of Busch. The purpose of her appear
ance yesterday was to tie the knot OF
circumstantial evidence which the
Government Is trying to wind around
Eagles and Samuel Moreno, another
defendant, in the form of evidence
that two revolvers which they are
alleged to have stolen in two Virginia
hold-ups were in Eagles possession
few days before the murder.
Mrs. Pope was asked If she saw
Eagles doing anything unusual at
his home, 319 c street southwest, on
September 20. and after much delay
In responding, the witness said she
remembered seeing him filing some
numbers off two revolvers. When the
time came for her to identify the two
revolvers held by the Government as
being the ones Eagles was working
on, the witness could give Assistant
United States Attorney George d.
Horning, Jr., little satisfaction.
Announces His Surprise.
He produced two revolvers, each of
which bore an ''x' mark on the butts
and Mrs. Pope was asked If she could
identify them as being the ones Eagles
worked on. Her response was Il
don't know whether l can remember
them or not" Upon receipt of this
answer to his question, Horning
turned to Justice William Hitz and
said:
May it please the court, the Gov
eminent announces surprise and asks
the privilege to cross examine the
witness unoer the provisions of Sec
Defense counsel Immediately object
ed, declaring there was no evidence
that this witness has double-crossed
the Government. Justice Hitz sug-
gested that Horning pursue the ex-
animation little farther before press
ing his request to cross-examine the
witness. Horning then produced a
piece of paper bearing writing in pen
Gil which the witness admitted hav-
Ing written. She read it and when
Horning again asked her if she could
identify the two guns, she replied: II
told all / knew about the guns"
Pleasantly by Court.
BY this time Horning evidenced
complete dissatisfaction with the wit
ness and informed the court that he
probably would have to announce sur
prise more than once. Justice Hitz OBJ
served that some gentlemen are more
surprised by the attitude of the ladies
than Others" which caused the room
to roar with laughter. The justice
then adjourned court and Mrs. Pope
was requested to report Immediately to
the United States attorneys Office.
The witness reponSe to Ques-
tons were slow and almost inaudible.
Frequently the court reporter had to
read her answers to the various de-
tense attorneys. Eagles fastened his
eyes on the woman in the chair and
Mrs. Pope often looked in his direc-
ton. Before her examination began
she was asked if she knew any of
the defendants and she replied in
the affirmative, mentioning Eagles
Moreno and John Proctor. Then at
Mornings request she stepped down
off the stand and placed her hand
on the shoulder OF each man. John
F. McCabe, the fourth. defendant,
was not brought into this phase of
the case.
Prior to her testimony the jury
heard additional stories of the hold
up and robbery near Berwyn, Md, a
few hours before the shooting. Mrs.
Mark H. Reid and Albert Martin,
both of Deepwater, n. j., supple
mented the story of the third mem
Der of the party, Mark H. Reid.