Evening star., 1937-12-03
DOCTOR IS CALLED
TO ROSS DEFENSE
Counsel for Marine Prepares
to Offer Testimony of
PsyChiatrist.
BY w. H. SHIPPEN, Jr.,
Staff Correspondent OF The Star.

Dec. 3.-Attorneys defending Walter
l.. Ross, 17-year-old Marine, at his
trial here for the murder of Elmer ].
Davidson planned this afternoon to
present expert testimony from DR.. ].
s. De Jarnette, superintendent of the
Western State Hospital at Staunton.
The defense hoped to show through
the psychiatrist that man of David
sons alleged type can be violent If
baked in his desires,
The defense contends Ross killed
Davidson in self-defense, while the
prosecution is attempting to prove a
robbery motive
Davidson, 52-year-old Washington
bachelor and well-to-do attorney, was
shot and stabbed to death by the
young Marine on the night of Octo-
Der beside lonely road near here.
Ruling on Confession.
Judge Frederick w. Coleman ruled
this morning that the defense could
lay before the jury confession made
by Ross to his superior officers while
IN the brig at Quantico State Police
Sergt. E. ]. McDermott was present
when Ross made this statement.
In the first confession Ross ac-
counted for his actions before and
after the Staying in much the same
manner as he detailed them later to
police and to the jury. The original
statement, however, made no men
ton of finding a watch in Davidsons
car or of pawning the watch later.
Ross told Capt. William OBrien,
provost marshal at Quantico, and
Sergt. McDermott that he killed Da-
wilson to protect himself against an
indecent assault"
Tells Of Shooting.
After State police took Ross from
the Marine post to an Alexandria JAIL
he signed another confession saying
he stabbed Davidson in a quarrel
over money and then searched his
pockets and took his watch from his
wrist. In this statement, Ross said he
shot Davidson when the wounded man
threatened him with exposure. He
said he shot Davidson between the
eyes as he lay on the ground.
The defense put the first confession
before the jury in an effort to shake
the prosecutions contention that Ross
killed Davidson to cover up robbery.
Attorney Frank Moncure, who rep
resents Ross, tried to bring out that
Ross was threatened offered induce
ments and otherwise coerced into
signing his second confession.
From the bench today Judge Cole
man said he would let the jury hear
the first confession because the de-
fendant has testified he was deprived
OF food and not allowed to see his
parents until he signed it.
Denies Ross Was Coerced.
1t. Edgar Sims of the Alexandria
police denied that Ross was coerced
into signing second statement. Sergt.
McDermott testified Ross confessed
voluntarily and that the young pris-
oner received the most humane treat
ment.
The officer said he personally saw to
the quartering, feeding and treatment
Of Ross
The defense brought out that Attor-
ney c. w. Shaw and Ross parents
were kept waiting in an anteroom of
an Alexandria Jail while the police OBJ
tanned the second confession.
The prosecution has perhaps half
dozen rebuttal witnesses to be heard.
and the case was expected to reach
the jury late today after several hours
OF concluding argument. There were
indications the jury might be locked
up overnight.
Ross was on the stand for almost three
hours yesterday afternoon, telling the
jury how he killed the mdde-aged
bachelor because, he said, Davidson
made improper advances and became
nfuriated when he was resisted.
Other witnesses yesterday included
several service men who testified to
encounters with Davidson.
These witnesses identified Davidson
through newspaper photograph
shown them. The sum total of their
testimony was to the effect that the
attorney had been seen near Fort
Myer, Belvoir and Quantico, and on
the Richmond-Wash highway
on number of occasions in the
months preceding his death in the
company of young service men.
The court room drew a CAPACITY
crowd OF spectators during this testi-
mony. Judge Coleman, who permitted
the witnesses to testify on the ground
mat their stories might shed some
ign on he type of man win whom
Ross mad to cope, warned that the de-
tails might be shocking to women.
during the testimony the audi
ence Uttered or otherwise expressed
themselves audibly Judge Coleman
warned them several times and then
ordered the court room cleared of
all spectators. This was done and
oalllHs herded several hundred persons
from the small and overcrowded court
room yesterday afternoon. This oc-
CURED just before a recess was de.
clared at pm.
Crowd Later Heeds Warning.
When the trial resumed two hours
later. however, all available space
was again crowded. The judges warn
ings against repeated demonstrations
were needed last night. The crowd
was allowed to remain, although the
overflow blocked the exists.
The defendants parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter j. Ross, who live on
small larm near Aberdeen, testified
last night, telling how a gun, allegedly
brought to their home by Ross, was
recovered by Sergt. McDermott and a
Maryland State officer. The defense
attempted to show the gun was taken
without using the authority of search
warran which the officers had broueht
with them.
Father Claims Gun.
The father said the gun was his
and he had bought it about is years
ago. Young Ross, in his statement
to the jury, said he had the gun with
him on the night of the Staying be-
cause he expected to take it home