Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-08
TEST|F|ES
7ODWYER'SSTORY
Counsel in First Trial Says
Youth Pleaded Guilty in
Fear of His Life.
BY IRE Associated Press.

=
SOUTH PARIS, Me. Aug. s-The
lawyer who defended Paul N. Dwyer,
l9, on charge Of strangling DR.. James
G. Littlefleld, testified today that
Dryer pleaded guilty in fear for his
own life and that Of his mother.
e. Walker Abbott. who represented
Dryer. told Superior Court Jury try
ing Francis M. Carroll on the same
charge. that on the third day of
Dryers trial last November, the youth
told him he had to plead guilty"
MY life has been threatened" he
quoted Dryer as saying. my mother
mas been threatened, and I've got to
get out of here"
Mr.. Abbott said Dryer told him
Carroll had made the threats.
Two weeks before that trial, at which
Dryer pleaded guilty and was SEN
fenced to life Imprisonment, Mr.. Abbott
said Dryer told him story "substan-
TALLY the same as at this trial"
Same Story As Before.
In nearly three days of testimony
last week Dryer charged not only DR..
Littlefield's Staying, but that of his
wife, Lydia Littlefield, SO. to the stolld
43-year-old Carroll, father of DIVERS
erstWhlle sweetheart. Barbara Car.
roll, 10. Dryer previously had con-
fessed straneling Mrs. Littlefeld as
we'll as the doctor.
Carroll, said Mr.. Abbott, was the
officer on guard while Paul told him
what Dwyer now contends is the true
story about the Sayings.
The same night. Mr.. Abbott added
Dryer called him to his cell and told
him mot to believe the story he had
told me that afternoon" Mr.. Abbott
said he never was actually alone with
Dwyer.
Dryers plea of guilty, said Mr.. Alb
bott, was the only thing he could
do" because of threats.
Earlier. Sheriff Fernando F. Francis
testified he first heard DIVERS accusa-
ton against Carroll the day Dryer vas
sentenced to life Imprisonment for
Staying the doctor.
Carroll. former deputy Of the sher.
i'll. is on trial on an indictment chare-
ing him with murder Of the doctor. and
1s-year-old Dwyer is the States chief
witness.
Probed Story.
Sheriff Francis. first witness called
as the second week Of the trial opened,
said another deputy, Sidney Verrill.
told him Dwyer had accused Carroll
of the Sayings
He assigned Verrill to investigate the
story. he said, and meanwhile kept
Carroll at work where I could watch
him.
John j. Breslin. chief prosecutor
for Bergen County, N. J., testified
Dwyer, when arrested in New JERSEY.
was greatly concerned about Bar
bara Carroll, his former sweetheart
and daughter Of the defendant. He
said Dwyer asked that the girls name
be kept out of the case.
The State has alleged that Dr.. Lit
tIef1elds knowledge of CAROLS alleged
violation Of his daughter was the rea-
son for the Staying.
May Last Weeks More.
Mr.. Breslin, in cross-examination.
said CAROLS name was not mentioned
in his presence when Dryer was ques-
toned after his arrest in North Ar
hngton. N. j.
Special Prosecutor Ralph M. ingalls,
earlier indicated the trial NAV last
three more weeks.
AS the court probe Of the case
which had been believed solved eight
months ago with the conviction Of
Paul N. Buddy Dryer, le, entered
its second week. only seven witnesses.
one of them Dwyer, had been called
by the State.
approximately 40 persons would tes-
tify. Mr. ingalls, said.
Defense counsel gave first indica-
ton of their plans over the week end
with Attorney Clyde r. Chapman's
announcement that he would open
up the entire case" and call CAROLS
wife and five children. the youngest
years old, as witnesses.