The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-01

the hope some reference to the Martin case would be made. Su- preme Court Justice Ferdinand Pe- cora pinched off possible state ment on the murder while Davis was under direct examination yes- terday.
 Here To Solve Murder
 T am here to solve a murder" :" Ranney said as he entered the courtroom. That is the only es- pect of the case in which I am in- terested."
 He explained that Davis could be tried on murder charges if it could be shown he helped Schultz dispose of the body, or lured Martin to Troy for conference with the gang leader, knowing that Schultz in- tended to kill.
 Tn a signed statement Davis said he met Martin by chance on an Albany -bound train.
 T have reason to believe that is not true" Ranney said. T have reason to believe that the meeting between Martin and Schultz was ar- ranged in Davis office.
 Planned in Davis Office
 T don't say, now that Davis ar- ranged it himself but it was ar ranged in Davis office I say that Davis left New York with Martin, knowing that both of them were go- ing to see Schultz. In other words, Schultz sent word down that he wanted to see Martin and Davis was bringing him up. I don't know that the idea of murder was present at that time. Davis has told me that he was in another room of the hotel when he heard Martin and Schultz arguing and that he went in and quieted Schultz, saying to him Now look, we don't want any trouble here. We're trying to keep things quiet. There's no point in starting quarrel
 And then as a matter of fact Schultz did quiet down, but only temporarily, of course, according to Davis story to me.
 Can Prosecute
 T cannot prosecute him on ths basis of his statement. But any thing that comes up in the Hines trial, whether from Davis or from someone else, is entirely different. Davis can be indicted on the basis of any new information that comes out at the trial"
 The prosecutor said he was par ticularly interested in what Davis was doing between the time of the murder and the time Martins body was dumped into snow bank out side of Troy.
 No Regards For Oath
 Hines counsel, Lloyd Paul Stryker, hammered at Davis reliability as a witness under oath,
 "NIr. Davis, have you any regard for an oath?"
 T haven't had up to this time, but I have now"
 You haven't had any regard for an oath, have you?" Stryker shouted. No, I haven't. I've committed per- jury several times"
 Davis, the former "wise guy who boaSted of his power, and who now lldS 0DdtC GNldNAlNS uAANe thrCwn himself on the mercy of the court, wiped his lips often with a handkerchief. Frequently he shifted his position in the chair.
 Repeatedly he professed vagueness of memory and inability to recall meetings to which Stryker referred. "A typical answer was:
 My best recollections, sir, is that I don't really know.
 No Conscience
 Davis said his conscience didn't bother hlm when he lied under oath at federal and state proceedings be- cause T was protecting lots of peo- pie"
 He said District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey had not promised him im- munity from prosecution for his past perjury, but T hope he won't prose- cute.
 Stryker developed that Davis had considered himself an admiring and serving friend of Hines, whom he met in 1882. Davis agreed that he knew Hines was a powerful man who could help him and that he was anxious to win his frlendShlp. but he said there came to be mutual affection between him and Hines.
 Stryker tried to get Davis to admit that he had been active in forcing independent lottery operators, some of whom were his clients, into the combination frin which the Schultz gang extracted millions. Davis said he arranged some of the meetings but denied inspuiring the scheme or hearing talk about a recalcitrant op- orator being taken for a ride"
 Story of His Life
 Davis began with the story of his own life. He came from a small Catskill mountain town, worked as a hotel clerk while going to night law school, hung out his shingle at the