Evening star., 1938-06-18

mother in order to secure a lawyer,
and that he was told he could not
do this because she was being held at
the Woman's Bureau. He said he
broke down. after this and made his
statement.
Later, however, Mr.. Heflin showed
Lands a statement he made to Fire
Department ofiicials In which he set
forth that he had absented himself
from duty on the morning his wife was
hurt.
"You were not threatened, beaten
or intimidated when you signed that
statement, were you?" Mr.. Hefiin
asked. The reply was in the negative.
Frightened by Blood.
The" 23-year-old defendant told the
jury that when his wife plunged from
his car he stopped, backed the ma
chine, got out and picked up the in
jured girl in his arms.
4 got blood on me-" Lands said.
1T frightened me. I had never been
IN that fix before. I was afraid
might lose my job, or else, I guess, I
just didn't think.
Il left her and started back for the
flreboat station, where I was sup
posed to be on duty. Two or three
times turned about and started back
for my wife. but each time changed
my mind"
Lands own account of his move
ments on the morning his wife was
fatally injured was substantially the
same as that related by detectives who
had questioned him and taken the
signed statement from him shortly
after the tragedy.
Says Wife Telephoned Him.
lands said he went to see his wife
that morning because she had tele-
phoned him at the f1reboat station
at $50 o'clock the previous night to
urge him to come to see her. that she
had an important" subject to dis
cuss. He did not reveal what this was,
but added he was anxious to see her
to discuss the doctors bill. He said
he understood his mother told Mrs.
Lands where he was on duty and
that was how she located him with
telephone call.
Lands declared that he had
pleaded with his wife to return to him
after their separation last August but
she refused because her mother had
advised her against this course.
Motions Overruled.
Justice Adkins late yesterday over
ruled two defense motions for q
directed verdict Of acquittal. In the
first petition it was -contended the
Government had failed to establish
the element of premeditation, neces-
sary for first-degree conviction.
The other motion argued that Lam
dis could not be convicted of second
degree murder in view Of evidence that
Mrs. Lands leaped from his automo-
bile.
Detectives testified that Lands at
first denied leaving the fireboat sta
ton where he was on duty until
summoned to Casualty Hospital to
identity his wife, who died two days
later. The detectives said that when
they noticed. blood on Lands cloth
ing and neck and accused him Of
an assault upon his wife, he changed
his story and admitted he had been
out with her.
Previously he repeatedly had said
he had not seen her for several days.
The signed statement, Is read to
the jury by Mr.. Helm, was made
at headquarters at about noon on the
day Mrs. Lands was injured. Sergt.
William Liverman, the statement set
forth, warned Lands that his wife
was gravely injured, that he was .
suspect and anything he said might
be used against him in court.
Lands then was asked If he wished
to set his verbal statement down in
writing. He replied in the affirmative,
1t was said. The suspect then set out
that he had been q District fireman
for about five weeks. He explained he
was on watch until midnight on
March %, and was supposed to be
on duty at the station until about 8
o'clock the following morning.
Wife Entered Car.
After getting of watch, Lands
was quoted as saying, he went to bed
at the station. At about 1880 am,
he answered the inquiry of q fellow
fireman as to what time it was.
Shortly thereafter, he got up, dressed
and entered his automobile, driving to