Evening star., 1938-06-14
RESUMES lands
TRIAL TOMORROW
Court Is Recessed for a Day
After Witness Tells of
Wife's BIudgeoning.
BY w. H. SHIPPEN, Jr

Wife's BIudgeoning.
By W. H. sHIPPEN, Jr.
Trial Of former Fireman James L.
Lands on a charge Of fatally blud-
geoning his young wife will be resumed
tomorrow after a days recess.
The furious beating suffered by the
22-year-old matron was described to
the jury of 10 men and 2 women
late yesterday by Deputy Coroner
Christopher j. Murphy.
DR.. Murphy qualified as an expert
and testified that, in his opinion, Mrs.
Lands was fatally wounded on the
morning Of March "A by a jagged stone
found near where the girl was discov-
cred unconscious on a lonely stretch
Of Twenty-fourth street NE.
Mrs. Lands, who had been separated
from her husband since August, died
at Casualty Hospital on March 2e.
DR.. Murphy told the jury that he
compared the stone, which was Of
fered in evidence by the Government,
with compound fractures in the girls
head.
Assistant United States Attorney
Cecil r. Helm, in his opening state
ment, outlined the case against Lands
and asked for q conviction of first
degree murder. He explained that the
penalty for such q conviction would
be warranted II the Government can
prove deliberate and premeditated"
staying. 7f
At conclusion Of yesterdays testi-
mony Justice Jesse C. Atkins recessed
the trial until tomorrow because he
will be occupied with another case
today.
73 Examined for Jury.
The defendant is represented by At
torneys E. Russell Kelly and Jean M.
Boardman, who waived their right to
make an opening statement to the
jury. Sixty-one prospective jurors
were examined and excused before the
10 men and women were accepted
about o'clock yesterday afternoon.
In his cross-examination Of DR..
Murphy, Mr.. Kelly attempted to show
that Mrs. Lands might have been
injured In fall. The defendant told
police, they said, that he took his wife
for ride on the night she was in
jured and that she jumped from his
moving automobile after they had an
argument.
Mr.. Helm told the fury the prose-
cution expects to prove that Lands
had been going with Miss Virginia
Lee Simpson, comely brunette and
student nurse, who has been sum-
moned to the trial to testify for the
Government.
The prosecutor said that after Lam
dis deserted" his wife last August he
met Miss Simpson and gave her a
diamond engagement ring" and
wrist watch. Miss Simpson left WASH
ington and returned to her home at
Atkinson, N. c., when she read in the
newspapers that Lands had been ar
rested. The young woman, it was
said, had not known that Lands was
married.
Lands was on duty at the fireboat
station from 6 pm. to am. on the
morning his wife was fatally injured.
Summoned to Identify Wife.
He was called to Casualty Hospital
to identify his wife several hours after
she was found in the street by the
driver Of milk delivery truck.
Lands at first told police, they
said, that he did not leave the fire
station until called on to visit the
hospital Later, police said, Lands
admitted that he slipped away from
the station unobserved to drive to
the home where his wife boarded, at
2014 Monroe street NE
The defendant was quoted as having
said that he got into an argument
with his wife and she leaped from his
car while it was moving. He added,
according to police. that he went back
to find her bleeding. and, becoming
frightened, drove back to the station.
He was not seen when he went back
to bed at the firehouse that morning.
Blood Clues Found.
Lands was arrested after detectives
noticed blood stain on his shirt and
another on his ear. DR.. Murphy testi-
fed that later test made upon his
hands revealed they recently had been
cleaned of blood stains.
Among 48 witnesses summoned by
the Government is jeweler said to
have sold Lands q diamond ring and
a wedding ring last March. Lands,
Mr.. Helm said, gave Miss Simpson
the diamond ring. The girl, after
learning Of the tragedy. returned the
diamond ring through q friend, who
gave it to the mother of the defendant.