Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-23
TROUT ON STAND
!. I'm MILLS Staying
States Star Witness Against
]. Robertson Center of
{ Lawyers WrangIe.
s,an corre,nondsnc. Of m, star.

FREDERICK, Md, october 23.-Wit
defense lawyers on their feet objectin
70 nearly every question by the prosecu
ton, the State was able to make bu
little progress today in It's prosecution
of Samuel T. Robertson, on trial here il
Circuit Court for first degree. murdeI
The State is trying TO prove tina
Robertson, Bethesda building contractor
slipped out Of the woods on the mornin
of July Z, 1927, and shot his friend
Edward L. Mills, TO death on the latter
farm at Hunting Hill.
With the preliminary stages out o
the way, interest in the trial has con
siderably increased. The courtroom
here was crowded this morning, with a
least 80, persons who we're unable e
obtain seats, standing in the aiSles
Mrs. Bertha Mae Mills, widow of the
dead man, was recalled to the stanc
this morning, but was not permitted tt
testify. Mrs. Mills was the last witness
called yesterday, and before leaving the
stand declared that she thought Rob.
ertSon's actions we're suspicious" ano
added that she had not told the jury
all she knew"
Washington Men Testify.
Attorneys for both sides this morning
expressed the belief that Mrs. Mills
suspicion was based on hearsay and
asked that her testimony In this re-
spect be stricken out Of the record. Two
Washington sporting goods dealers, D.
Chester Walford and Max. zweis, were
the next witnesses called. Walford tes-
ftAaH that IA had anfA 4 raNriHar IN
Robertson, while zweig, said he had
made q similar sale to a man known
to him as George Bodkin of 3102
Twentieth street northeast. The prose.
cutor attempted to have zweig describe
the man identified as Bodkin, but the
defense objected and zweig was re-
stricted to the reading of his sales rec
ord.
Andrew ]. Baughman, neiehbor of
Mills, told the jury that he saw Rob-
ertsous on the Mills farm on the after
noon Of the shooting.
The wrangle between opposing at
torneys reached its height when Will
son Trout was called to the witness
stand. The State Is resting It's case
largely on the story Of Trout, who had
previously testified that Robertson had
d .32-caliber revolver in his possession
when he came to his house last March.
The two men engaged In q scufhe,
during which the gun was fred once,
and on the following day Robertson
walked into the police station at Be-
thesdG and surrendered himself He
turned the revolver over to police, but
claimed ne had taken 1T away from
Trout In the fight.
Although Trout was kept on the
stand for half an hour this morning,
he was permitted to answer only three
questions, the. court sustaining obiec-
tons by the defense to the rest Of his
testimony. Trout said he saw the gun
in Robertson's hand when the latter
came to his house, and that he thought
Robertson took the gun with him when
he left. Trout said he did not have
the gun IN his possession at any time.
The next witness, Asbury Case Of the
Montgomery County police, said that
the gun which Robertson gave to him
was In good condition and had one
empty shell in the chamber.
Widow Testifles.
Interest OF the spectators crowdinr
the Courtroom for the afternoon session
yesterday which had been quickened by
the testimony Of Clarence II. Miles and
Paul Mills, eldest son OF the slain man,
rose to high pitch as the widow
stepped into the witness box.
Mrs. Mills wore dark blue. hat with
white trim, dark dress, black coat and
black shoes. Her shoulders drooped as
she walked slowly across the room and
took the stand after Q moments hesi~
tation. The heavy circles below her
eyes and the deep lines crossing each
others in her face gave mute evidence
OF the strain she has been undergoing,
Nov, Mrs. Mills" said q States at
torney, "just describe In your own words
the scene Is you saw 1t on the morning
of July z, 1927"
After pause, in which she seemed
70 be cropping for words, she begun,
speaking In low voice.
II got up at 4:30 that morning and
called my husband. It was threshine
time and we had to get an early start.
70 got out Of bed and put on his
Her eyes dropped down for moment
and she stopped talking abruptly and
clenched her hands. There on the
table In front Of her were the blood
stained garments her husband wore the
morning he was shot. They had been
offered IN evidence q few. minutes be-
fore by the State and were lying In q
large open box. Mrs. Mills took q drink
Of water and continued:
II heard Ed calling the COWS, He
called three or four times, I think. Then
I heard the shots. A moment later
Paul screamed.
Hastily putting on q few clothes, I
ran downstairs. My small boy asked
me what the trouble was and told him
thought horse had been shot. Out.
side, however, met Clarence Miles and
he told me some one had shot my huS-
band. He said he was going for a doc
tor.
II ran down to the gate, Just In time
to see strange man disappearing over
the crest Of the hill. I met Mr.. Bach
man, who had also heard the shots, and
we ran 10 the pasture.
There was my husband--killed. He
was lying on his face.
Found Note on Body.
For moment 1t appeared she would
break down completely, but the widow
pressed pocket handkerchief hard
against her trembling lips ana contin-
ued with her testimony
Mrs. Mills told also Of taking the note
left by the slayer from her husbands
body and putting 1t In her pocket.
States Attorney Peter told the court
this note from Of such an obscene ma
ture that he wanted women barred from
the courtroom when 1t was read into
the record.
Defense attorneys began their cross
examination Of Mrs. Mills and she was
asked if she had told all she knew.
II have told all saw that morning,
but I have not told all know" she
said. Mrs. Mills started to explain her
startling statement but defense attor-
neys objected, insisting that the State
must ask specific questions. Mr.. Peter,
protesting he did not know the nature
of the testimony she had withheld, In
sisted that she be permitted to tell
the jury all she knew" making himself
heard above the objections Of defense
lawyers. At this point, Judge Ham,
mond Urner declared court adjourned.
Clarence Mills. farmland employed