New Britain herald., 1927-12-03
BEACH, ACCUSED IN LILLIENpAHL CASE,
 TES7IFYING TODAY
(Continued from First Page)


 
 first defense session of the trial of Willis Beach, 5S year old chicken fancier, and Mrs. Margaret T. Lil- liendahl, the doctors widow. who are charged with plotting the phy- sician's death, and bringing their plans to fulGlllmcnt last September I15.
 Cunningham said that he and not Beach tied the rag 10 a bush at the entrance of the lonely lane where the body of Dr. Lilliendahl was found with three bullets in the head.
 state Says It Was Signal
 The state charged that the rag ] had been meant as a signal for Mrs Lilliendahl, while driving with her - year old husband to turn off the main road and drive into the sandy lane, where lay in wait her alleged lover Beach, prepared to do his part in killing Dr. Lillicndahl.
 Hurried to Spot Cunningham said that as soon as he was informed of the murder he hurried 10 the spot where he found st@te troopers Investigating, and himself found the rag close to the spot where the doctor had been killed.
 He said he picked the rag up and handed 1t 10 q trooper as possible evidence The trooper however, tossed it back 10 the ground Cum Aingham picked it mp again, he said, and hung it on a bush at the entrance 10 the lane where other Investigators could find it if it was wanted.
 When Prosecutor Hinllle, whose investigators had attached SO much significance 10 the rag that they had it photographed and the photo- graphs submitted as evidence against the defendants, arose to cross examine Cunningham. He dis played anger for the frs time ln court since the opening Of the trial on Monday.
 Why did you not go to the ou- thorities?' he beloved, with that information when this crime was being investigated and you heard the discovery of that rag on the bush was part of our casc?"
 T did fell some one about it." answered Cunningham.
 T told Charles Phillips, Mrs. , Lilliendahl's attorney"
 Hinl,lc in Attack
 Hinl'lc criticized another defense 1 witness for alleged tardincss in coming forward with information that was desired by the authorities. i This witness was Martin Lashley of OceanviIlc, whose testimony was intended to corroborate Mrs. Lillicn- i dahl's story of an attack by two . negroes, who forced the L.illicndahI i car into the lane, robbed her and . the doctor, killed him and fled.
 Saw Negro Year Scene | Lashley said that on September | l', while driving near the spot . where the killing was done he saw . 1n automobile coming towards him. 1 with a negro on orc running board i and another man on the other. This | ear hc said, swcrved into the sandy lane q few moments before he pass ed. lie was sure ono of the two men on the running boards was a negro but he could not tell about ! -he other, since he was on the far side of the car.
 Lash!ey said, under cross examin- ltlon, that he had told his story for he first time last Tuesday night, to Phillips. He had not done so be- ore, he said, because he did not want to get into this thing and be- sides it might mean some time off rom work 10 come 10 the trial and estily.'
 Another of the dcfcnso's 27 wit lesscs yesterday gave testimony in ended to carry out the story of the lttack He said he had discovered he footprints of persons with large hocs, in a charcoal pit not far from he spot where the shooting occur Su. -NcAt, d NOIilHll NIID Sttlu SUc | lad seen two negroes emerge from he lane, identified q photograph az 'oing the likeness Of one of the pair, / whose name vas not revealed.
 Several witnesses gave testimony Bcach'S assertion that le could not have killed Dr. Lil- iendahl because he was in his own lomc 20 miles away when the shoot ng occurred.