The Washington times., 1929-09-19
PEACOCK SHAKY
As He NEARS
STAND
By LANES =. KILGALLEN

by JAMES II. hA1UALLGN
WHITE PLAINS. N. Y. Sept. 10
GINS. l.--Earle Peacox, latest Of
Americas array Of infamous MUIR
der-trial defendants to crash the
front pages in big way, was steel
ing himself today for the hour when
he will take the stand In his own
defense, to tell his version OF why
he killed his ''madcap" bride of 20,
Dorothy Heinzelman Peacock.
Already, with the trial just get
ting under way, the 22.year-olj
defendant who looks like high
school boy. IL showing signs Of
breaking down under the strain Of
his ordeal He seems nervous and
depressed, sitting tense in his chair
are taut and nearing a breaking
point. Once he wept.
Lacking in POise
Young Peacox hasn't the poise Of
DR.. James H. Shook: the personal
appeal Of Velma West; the callous.
ness of Richard Loeb and Nathan
Leopold; the self reliance and de-
fiance of Ruth Snyder; the resigna.
ton of Judd Gray; the dignity of
the Hall-Mills defendants nor the
dynamic court room personality Of
George Remus.
None of these greatly publicized
defendants seemed as apprehensive
of their fate ~ does this dark
visaged youth with the snub nose,
undressing chin. glossy black hair
and rather repellant personality.
Reads Bible All Day
He had an opportunity today to
get a fresh grip upon himself, for
there was no session of court, the
trial having been adjourned by Jus.
tice Arthur s. Tompkins until tomor.
row. The judge decided he needed a
holiday and took it. Peacox spent a
day In Jail. reading Bible that had
been given TO him by q Salvation
Army official.
Peacox reacts quickly to every
thing that transpires In the court.
room. He WINGED when the district
attorney branded him as a deliberate
murderer. His face lighted up with
nope when his own lawyer told the
jury that Earle Peacox is the last
man in the world who would will.
LuIIy XIII the women he loved so
devoutly and tried so hard to cher.
ish and protect"
PeacOx HumOrIess
This trial is a serious matter to
Earle Peacox. The tall, dianified
albeit genial judge, who has
proclivity for making humorous re-
marks, has failed utterly to draw a
laugh from the defendant. Ere
quently the spectators and Jurors
nave broken into laughter over
scme of the sallies OF the Judge
but not once has Peace seen the
joke He just can't. For some.
where in the back of his head is
that dreadful vision of the electric
chair.
So intent is he in watching the
Progress of the trial that he has
little time to give 10 his mother
MRS. catherine Peacox. who sits Just
oeh!nd MIN in the prisoners dock
wife.
Kisses Son
Each morning, when her SON Ia
brought into court shackled to 4
Deputy sheriff. she leans over ana
kisses him as he takes his seat.
feacox realized his big ordeal will
come when he is subjected to rigid
cross-eXamination by District At.
torney Frank Coyne. The prosecn.
TOR viii attempt to tear down the
detense contention that Peacox was
the greatly wronged husband and
VIII seek to show that the defendant
himself was no angel. One of the
ace witnesses OF the State is
MISS Frances Newman, Broadway
lance Palace hostess, whom Peacox
Kept company with while he and
MS wife were parted.
Witness Aids State
Coyle already has succeeded in
getting into the evidence one telling
blow against Peacox which the State
believes will aid them greatly in
their efforts to send him to the cleo.
trio chair. This came during the
testimony of Capt Michael I. Sill
verstein! acting chief of police of
Mt. Vernon, the last witness yester-
day. He will resume the stand to-
morrow for cross-examination. Sill
verstein gave testimony that sup.
ported the States contention that
the crime was premediated.
Sflverstein was the man who ex-
acted confession from Peacox that
he killed his bride on the first an
niversary of their marriage. the
night of April 81 last. He related
how Peacock had told of driving in
to, New York where Dorothy had
an apartment; of telephoning her
and asking her to see him on this.
their first anniversary night: of
their taking ride in. his automo-
bile, finally going to their old
apartment in Mt Vernon. And
then how. after she remarked upon
entering the apartment that it was
"the same old dump" they had
querreled and struck at each other
and of Peacox choking her into
insensibility in the struggle.