Evening star., 1928-05-04
CALL ARMS EXPERT
AT MILLS HEARING
State Continues Its Evidence
Seeking Remaining Of s. 7.
Robertson to Grand Jury.
By San Correspondent Of Ths s,ar.

BY a SIAN Correspondent of Ths star.
ROCKVILLE. May An its efforts
to convince Judge Samuel Riggs Of The
Police Court that it has a pr!rna fscie
case u hold Samuel T. Robertson.
Bethesda building contractor, for the
grand jury in connection With the n1ur-
der Of Edward L. Mills, Montgomery
County dairyman. on July last, the
State today continued presentation OF
evidence.
Testimony Of Detective Capt. Charlie
II. Burns Of Baltimore concerning arles-
tioning Robertson was met with a viz
or0us attack BIZ Defense Counsel sted-
man Prescott Of Rockville. The Sra.e
prepared later in the day 10 present ths
testimony Of Calvin Goddard. New Yoyk
firearms expert. who gave testimony in
the Sacco-Vanzetu and Halis-Miils
murder cases.
Capt. Burns told the court that AoriI
is he had questioned Robertson st the
Baltimore detective headquarters.
Capt. Burns asserted that April T.
he had Robertson write sornsf ming m
a typewriter after he mad sh07n h4rr
the letter which wss found N he bot-
Of the slain man. Burns Identified ne
paper which he said Robertson rad
written.
Tells Of Questioning
Capt Burns questioned robertson
twice on April is and tvice on April II.
the detective testified
Capt. Burns conceded 10 Mr.. Pres
colt that when he had compared what
Robertson had written and the note
found on the bodr OF Mills Burns mad
said This is iden-icaI-why don't YOU
come on and tell Us you did ir9e
IN reply 70 question from Judge
Riggs Capt. Burns said that Foper,scn
had Informed him that he had ozns6
the particular typewriter year OF
year and a half.
Widow on Stand.
Mrs. Bertha Mills. widow Of the STAIR
man. and Andrew J. Baughmar.
neighbOr. recited circumstances sur
rounding the shooting. Wilson and
Mrs. Trout Of Potomac Nd told the
court that Robertson had a fight With
Trout on the night OF March II, a
pistol being fired.
At the afternoon session George "
Bodliin o. 3l02 Twentieth street north
east. Washington. a contractor. asserted
that he never owned a gun and denied
making a purchase Of one. as the prose
cution contended. He dirnly remsr-
bered knowing a man named Robertson
some years ago.
The States attorney himself took the
stand and was cToSs-examined ov Jo3
seph II. CiSsel OF Silver Spring. prose-
cutor at the time OF the Mills slavin7.
who is assisting in the prosecution. Tns
note found on the body Of Mills after
the shooting vas offered in evidence
and was handed to Judge Riggs 70 read
because Of its nature"
Tell of Gun Sales.
Mr.. Peter explained the blackened sp-
pearance was due 10 iampblack being
expert IN an effort 10 bring out latent"
fingerprints. The prosecutor said he
has known the defendant for some
years personally and gave testimony
concerning the Trout incident, as he
had outlined IN his opening statement
Police officials. including Roy Bod
mer. Harry Merson. lie Roy Rodgers and
Chief Alvie A. Moxley. testified 70 their
part in handling the case, and Charles
Z. Eggenschwiler. junior scientific aide
and Samuel Epstein. metallurgist. Of
the Bureau Of Standards testified about
their examination OF firearms in the
case.
Max Zweig. who conducts q store 81
937 D street Washington. testified that
a Savage automatic, No. SS4299. was
sold to enc George " Bodkin cf 1902
Twentieth street northeast. and on
discrimination he said he sells about
$50 revolverS a year Chester Wsltord
-
ton. testified that on June rs. 1897. he
sold an automatic 10 5. T Robertson.
So wears old and ) feet inches n
height