Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-25
DEFENSE COUNSEL
SPURNS OFFER TO
STAGE GUN TESTS
Collins Not to Withdraw Chal.
Ienge Despite Stand of
Campbell Attorneys.
COL. GODDARD EAGER
FOR DEMONSTRATION
Expert Would Identify Bullets
Fired From Pistols Chosen
at Random.

Attorneys for Herbert M. Campbell.
on trial for his life In Criminal Div-
sion on a charge of numbering Mary
Baker, today notified the prosecution
they had revised their position of YES
terday in accepting the Governments
challenge for a crucial test in court Of
the science Of ballistics, but are ready
TO propose q substitute demonstration.
the nature Of which was not disclosed
Tns was announced early this after
noon by Assistant United States At
torney William H. Collins, IN charge
OF the prosecution, who said the
notlncatlon was received by telephone
rom Lucien Van Doren, of defense
At the same time. Collins declared
original offer to have Col. calvin c,o6e
dard give an unprecedented exhibition
OF the "infallibility" of bullet Identifies
ton and would not be agreeable to any
counter proposal which differed dras-
tically from the prosecutions offer.
win Stick to Objective.
Collins said he advised the defense
lawyer that the counter proposal should
De mace 70 The court and jury when
convenes Monday morning at 10
O'Clock. He said, earlier in the DAY,
ing Goddard and the defense ballistics
expert. Albert H. Hamilton, fire bullets
rom CampbeI's gun and demonssrate
70 the jury their opposing views as 10
the dependability Of ballistics, was
absurd and assinine."
The defense has revised its accent
ance Of the Government challenge. made
in court yesterday" the assistant dis
tr1ct attorney stated. '"They have
countered with 3 substitute test more
TO their own liking, and I told them
the proposal should be made not to
me, but to the court and Jury. I am
going to stick by my original offer and
win not agree to any alternate plan
that does not have for its purpose the
same Cbjective assnur proposal, namely.
proof of the infaiiibility Of the science
Of ballistics."
Goddard Eager for Test.
Col. Goddard, director Of the Seien-
the Crime Detection Laboratory Of
Northwestern University, conferred to.
day with the assistant district attor-
ney regarding the proposal of the Gov
eminent to put the science Of ballistics
ION trial. before the District Supreme
Court jury. Goddard expressed eager
ness to 60 through with the original
suggestion Of test, In which bullets
would be fired from half dozen Diff
ferent guns, chosen at random, and
submitted to him for report as to
which gun each slug came from.
II will be only too glad" Col. God
dard said today, ito 60 through with
he rHfr IL Lw~
let the defense select the guns, fire the
bullets and mark the weapons and bull
lets so that they can later check UP on
the accuracy of my findings under the
microscope. If the court so desires, I
will make my tests before the jury right
in the court room, or Il some other
room where the light, perhaps, is
better"
Collins was asked what would be the
attitude of the Government in the event
that Col. Goddard made mistake"
He viii not make a mistake" Col
Inns replied. But If he should, then
shall be the first to move that the court
issue directed verdict generating
Herbert Campbell of the charge Of muir
der under which he is being tried. If
Col. Goddard makes a mistake, then I
will be ready to admit that ballistics is
not an exact science, is not infallible
and should have no place in the court
room"
Sensation Of Trial.
The assistant United States attorneys
surprise offer for the extraordinary
scientific demonstration by Col Goddard
has proved to be the sensation of the
trial. Defense Attorney Charles Henry
Smith promptly accepted the chal-
lenge when 1t was offered in court
late yesterday afternoon. Later in
the afternoon, however. following a
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