Evening star., 1944-11-27
j. 5. Claims Brafcher
Drugged Self Knowing
Effect on Draft Status
Defense Hints Plan
To Challenge Jurisdiction
Of District Court

AeoAStdIt OLlIcu StdCeS AtCOrne,
George Humrickhouse> told the jur,
In Federal District Court in Alexan
dria today that the Government
would prove Everett M. (Washie,
Bratcher took benzedrine tablets be.
fore appearing at the Fort Myer in
duction station with full knowledg,
Of the effect on his blood pressure
The trial of Bratcher, Washington
orchestra leader, began here today
before Judge Robert N. Pollard aftel
the selection of the jury. Severa
witnesses, including two physicians
were presented by the Government
before the court adjourned for tht
noon recess.
Jurisdiction Challenge Seen.
An indication that the defense
planned to challenge the jurisdic.
ton of the District court here came
when the first witness, A. P. Bow.
man. chief clerk of Local Selectiv,
Service Board No. l in the District
was called to present the record ir
the Bratcher case. When Mr.. Bow.
man said Bratcher was sent to Fort
Myer, Va, for induction, Defense
Attorney T. Edward O'Connor asked
him:
Where did you say Fort Myer is?'
TN Virginia." Mr.. Bowman re-
piled.
Have you ever been there?"
Mr.. Bowman said he had not.
Then how do you know it is in
Virginia."
Il don't know" the witness said.
In his opening statement to the
jury Mr.. Humrickhouse said the
Government would attempt to estab-
lish that Bratcher used benzedrine
tablets before appearing for an in
duction examination August %,
1943, and again November %, 1943,
and that on the second occasion he
made a false statement to the med
ical examining oficer.
I'VE will prove that he made
statements to acquaintances to the
effect that he took benzedrine and
kept his blood pressure up so he
would not have to 60 into the army" "
the prosecutor declared.
Conflicting Statements Claimed.
Mr.. Humrickhouse said the Gov
ernment also would show that dur
Ing the second examination Bratcher
told medical officer that he had
taken no medication other than
some cold shots" three or four days
before, although he since had ad-
mitted taking benzedrine tablets sew
eral hours before the examination.
I'VE will also show. that he knew
what the effect of this drug would
be-" the prosecutor said.
Maj. Malcomb B. Harrison, Army
doctor stationed at Fort Myer at
the time. and DR.. Benjamin New
house, 4213 Sixteenth street NV,
testified Bratcher's blood pressure
at the time of the first examination
was 160 over 100 during two tests,
and 168 over 100 at the third test
DR.. Harrison said the maximum ac-
ceptable was $50 over 80, and that
the normal reading for man Of 30
should be 130 over 80.
Several Veniremen Excused.
Selection of the II jurors took
most Of the morning session. Twelve
of a panel of IS prospective jurors
were disqualified because they ad-
mitted they had formed opinions in
the case from reading the news
papers. Another was dismissed be-
cause Of deafness. A tentative panel
Of % veniremen was finally selected
with the defense getting seven
peremptory challenges and the Gov
ernment three.
Also prosecuting the case for the
Government is United States Attor-
ney Harry H. Holt, jr. Assisting
the defense are Attorneys Leslie
Garnett and T. Brooke Howard.
After Bratcher's arrest in Feb
ruary his attorneys filed a motion
asking that evidence obtained by
the Government from induction
station officials be suppressed or
grounds that it violated his con-
stitutional rights. This motion was
overruled as was another which
sought to quash the indictment on
grounds that the Fort Myer station
is not in Virginia and, therefore
not under the Jurisdiction of the
Virginia court.