Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
CAMPBELL TO HIRE
BALL|ST|C EXPERT
TO TEST REVOLVER
Counsel Announces He Has
Arranged Conference With
National Authority"
SMITH WILL CONSULT
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Hearing on Transfer to District
Will Be Held in Alexandria
Wednesday.

. Steps toward obtaining authority to
have a defense ballistics expert exam
inc the revolver of Herbert M. Camp
bell, under indictment in the Staying of
Mary Baker, were taken last night by
Charles Henry Smith, counsel for Camp
bell
Smith announced he had arranged a
conference with "a nationally known
firearms authority with the view of
retaining him to test the pistol turned
over to Investigators by Campbell and
the bullets removed from the body of
Miss Baker. The defense attorney de-
figure in the case.
Col. Calvin Goddard of Northwestern
University, Chicago; DR.. Wilmer Souder
OF the Bureau of Standards and Lieut.,
Jonn Fowler, firearms expert of the
washington police fierce, all agreed re-
Gently after minute examinations that
the slugs which killed Miss Baker had
been fired from Campbell's weapon.
Campbell, himself, has insisted there
must have been some miszake. He de-
clared the revolver never had been out
OF ms possession. He was greatly an
noyed by the results of the first baIlistic
examinations, saying they must be in
error because he had no knowledge of
the Staying.
Will Confer With Collins.
Smith said he had not yet had an op-
portunity to consult william H. Collins,
an assistant United States attorney in
charge OF the case. He AIDED he would
make overtureS to Collins soon in an eff
fort to gain permission to have his own
expert test the pistol and bullets.
Informed of the defense attorneys
plans, Collins said Se would accede to
such request if, in his opinion, the
authority advanced by Smith was quail
ned to express an opinion on such a
matter. He said that in any event It
would be necessary for representative
Of his office to be present when the new
examination takes places in order that
damage to the evidence might be In
sured against.
The pistol and bullets have been
locked up in a safe in the Department
of Justice for several weeks.
While no similar case has arisen In
the history of local courts, 1t was said
last night that Smith could attempt
thority to have the articles tested
should Collins rule the expert he Sc
lected failed to qualify.
Plan Hearing Wednesday.
Meanwhile plans are going forward
United States Commissioner j. Barton
Phillips, In Alexandria, to decide
whether Campbell shall be removed to
Washington for trial
Attorney Smith declared his case
would be built around the statements
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Green of Viz
GINA Highlands, who recently disclosed
they were visiting Campbell on business
at his home IN Arlington County at the
very hour Washington police believe
MISS Baker was slams pm. on
April H.
The defense lawyer said he would seek
to prove Campbell was at his home
When the girl met death. He announced
plans to contend the prisoner could not
pe removed merely on the authority of
the indictment. He added his wit
nesses would definitely establish Camp
DelPs whereabouts for the entire day,
Smith revealed he intended to carry
tne case to Federal Judge D. Lawrence
Groner In Norfolk should he lose out
before Phillips. He intimated he would
appeal to an even higher court if
necessary to block his clients removal.
Collins announced the prosecution
would insist at the hearing that the
Indictment was sufficient In itself to
justify the defendants return from the
Alexandria City Jail to Washington.
He reported he would have witnesses
produced If the situation required such
action.
He said he would vigorously oppose
any move to have Campbell released on
bail. He said he would continue to ad-
here to his original position, expressed
in a recent conference with Smith,
that the gravity of the crime forbidS
the release of the defendant under
bond. Smith had offered to drop his
efforts to prevent removal should Col
Inns agree with his suggestion that bail
be granted.
The indictment of Campbell resulted
from grand jury investigation decided
on by Collins in furtherance of his
plans to speed up the return of the
prisoner to Washington.