Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-24

Continued From First Page)
so that they would not have to inter-
rupt the proceedings.
Removing his eyeglasses, Defense At
torney Dorsey Echison Jumped from his
chair, exclaiming, What's that? What's
that2"
He then was instructed by Judge
Hammond Urner to pay closer atten-
ton to the testimony in the future.
The prosecution this afternoon is ex-
pected to produce three other wit
nesses, described as firearm and type
writer experts, in an attempt to show
that the weapon taken from Robertson
and the typewriter found in his home
are the same as those used by the
slayer of Mills.
Counsel Clash Often.
The State had made little Roadway
as the trial reached the close Of its
second day last evening. The pro-
ceedings were Interrupted by clashes
between opposing counsel but even
these held nothing of interest.
The prosecution scored lightly in the
afternoon when Theodore Vollten, for
mer justice Of the peace at Bethesda,
said he had seen Robertson wearing q
black shirt with white buttons, similar
to the one worn by Mills slayer. ac-
cording to Clarence Miles, sole eyewit-
ness Of the shooting. Vollten's testi-
n1ony was substantiated by County
Policeman Joseph b. Oldfield.
The defense partially discredited this
testimony when 1t wrung admissions
from both of the State witnesses that
they had neglected to mention the
black shirt in their testimony at the
preliminary and grand jury. hearings.
Their statements were further Offset
when Mrs. Charlotte s. Knapp, next
door neighbor Of the defendant, said
she had never seen him wearing such
shirt during the past three years.
States Attorney Robert Peter also
failed to establish through Mrs. Knapp
that typewriter was in the Robert
son home prior to the shooting of
Mills She was frequent visitor to
the Robertson home before they had a
quarrel she said, and she had seen a
typewriter there, but could not 'remem-
Der when. The State has indicated it
will attempt to prove that typewriter
taken from Robertson's home subse-
quent to the shooting was the one used
in writing note which was pinned
to Mills body by the man who killed
him. Robertson admitted owning a
typewriter, but claims he bought 1t
three days after Mills was shot.
only the evidence of flrearn experts
dealing with two revolvers taken from
Robertson, on which It hopes to base
| Its case.
Ownership of Gun.
A heated battle has ragged around
the ownership of the gun designated
as mo. g." The other, mo. l." was
taken from Robertson's home after his
arrest and he has admitted ownership.
| It is alleged mo. 2" was purchased
| from a Washington sporting goods deal
err. Max Zweig. The first entered the
Mills case when Robertson surrendered
| it to police after fight with man
| named Wilson Trout. Robertson said
| he took the gun away from Trout and
Trout says it was in RobertSon'S pos
session throughout
According to zweig's records, the re-
volver was purchased from him by
George Bodkir of 1902 Twentieth street
northeast. Bodkin was called to the
stand yesterday and said he had never
owned or possessed such a weapon.
Almost the entire afternoon was de-
voted to attempts by counsel of the
State to trace the handling of the shells
and bullets found after the murder and
subsequently fired from the two re-
volvers for test purposes
In crosS-examination Of several. wit
rlesses, Stednan Prescott Of counsel for
the defense, stressed the fact that sew
| eral tests Of the weapons were made by
him in the presence of Maj, Calvin w
Goddard. New xork firearms expert.