Evening star., 1936-12-20
EDITH MAXWELL !
GETS lob IN CAFE
Will Start Work Today as
Cashier and Hostess in
Richmond.
By the Associated Press.

~ tue hhSoClhtcQ FIcbSs
RICHMOND. Va, December l9.-
Edith Maxwell was a dinner guest to.
night at Richmond restaurant. where
she will go to work tomorrow as
cashier and hostess.
The 22-year -old former school
teacher, twice convicted on a charge
Of staying her father, Trigg Maxwell,
in the Wise County foothills of the
Cumberland Mountains, greeted her
employer, Walter Kirsch, with a cheer
full smile and brand-new finger wave,
but she was mot at home" to pho
tographers and had little TO say to re.
porters.
You'll have to talk with nv
brother" she said, when cameramen
insisted on picture.
Her brother, Earl Maxwell arrived
little while later from the home Of
their cousin, A. T. Dotson, in Chester
field County. and advised newsmen TO
''let the poor girl get a little rest"
Tired" After Shopping.
Accompanying her cousin, Miss Lu-
cille Bryington, on a half day Christ
mas shopping tour, Miss Maxwell said
she was tired" after the hours Of
elbowing through thronged stores.
Wearing a plain black dress, beret
and gray coat, she went to dinner with
her brother and Miss Bryington in her
new place of employment, across the
street from Virginias State Capitol.
designed by Thomas Jefferson.
Members of the State legislature,
which adjourned today after a spe-
cial session. constituted a part of the
clientele on hand when Miss Maxwell
arrived. She retreated, however, to an
alcove until her brother arrived and
few Of the patrons knew she was pres
ent.
She'll get a good salary" Kirsch
said, land won't have to do anything
she doesn't want to do"
Kirsch said he talked over his pro-
posal with Miss Maxwell at lunch to-
DAY. Tonight she remained a few
hours to faniliarize herself with the
routine.
Parties Question.
When asked if she thought she
would like the work better than school
teaching, she said:
II don't know; I haven't tried it
yet"
But she smiled and appeared to be
looking forward to the new assign
ments with pleasure.
( She is making her home with her
family, Mrs Ann Maxwell, her moth
er, who was jointly indicted in Trigg
Maxwells death; her sister, Mary
Kathryn. 13, who testified in Ediths
defense at the last trial, and her
| brother Earl on farm in Chesterfield
County not far from the State capital.
| Miss Maxwell is at liberty under
/ $4,000 bond pending argument on her
| motion to set aside the verdict and
grant third trial Her first convic.
ton and 25-year sentence for first.
degree murder was set aside by the
Virginia Supreme Court Of Appeals.
Meanwhile, NJ J. Fulton, member Of
Miss Maxwell's counsel. declared that
the second trial failed to establish
the guilt" Of his client and that the
evidence only showed that she struck
her father with a slipper in "self-ds.
Tense"
Cites Medical Testimony.
He said the county coroner and
three other prominent medical and
pathological authorities testified that
Maxwell could not have died as the
result Of the lacerations from the
slipper. or any other instrument. She
was justified in striking her father
and repelling his attack with such
force as she deemed necessary"
The Jury in returning verdict Of
Second-degree murder" he said. dis
regarded the uncontradicted evidence
that the blow of the slipper was
struck in self-defense and also failed
to consider the overwhelming medical
testimony as to the cause Of Trigg
Maxwells death.
The verdict Of the second jury
clearly shows, in my opinion, that the
change of venue should have been
granted and the case transferred TO
another Jurisdiction, free from preju-
dice and the influence Of Mr.. Max
wells brothers and brother-in-law.
who exerted every effort before and
during the trial to secure convic-
ton"
Fulton said he believed there were
many errors" in the trial and ex-
pressed the opinion that Judge Ezra
T. Carter, who presided, should set
aside the verdict Of 20 years impris-
onment and order new trial when
the motion is argued at Wise March l..
Failing to get these" the attorney
said, Il shall not hesitate to advise
an appeal from the unjust verdict"