Evening star., 1945-06-04
Mrs. Ellington
TO oFaceQ Quiz in
Medley Trial J..
Last Woman to Quit
Mrs. Boyer's Home
Before Staying
BY GEORGE KENNEDY.

BY GEORGE KENNEDY.
Ann M. Ellington, petite white.
haired woman who conducts an an
tique shop below her quarters at
1750 Columbia road, was to be cross
examined by defense counsel in the
resumption today of the first-de-
gree murder trial of Joseph D. Med
ley for the killing of Mrs. Nancy
Boyer.
James K. Hughes, counsel for
Medley, said when he obtained a
three-day adjournment Of the trial
for further investigation, that his
examination of this witness would
be "protracted."
Mrs. Ellington testified Thursday
before adjournment that she was
the last of five female poker players
to leave Mrs. Boyers apartment
house at 2120 Sixteenth street after
the breakup of the game in the
early morning hours of March (the
date on which the Government con-
tends Mrs. Boyer was killed..
Medley, another of the players, ,
put her in cab at am, she said,
and told her he was going back up
stairs ito take Nancy out to break
fast
Phoned Apartment.
1t was Mrs. Ellington who called
the manager of the apartment house
on March 8 and caused the latter
to enter Mrs. Boyer's apartment.
Mrs. Boyer was found slumped be-
side the refrigerator in the Kitchen
cite with blood over her powder blue
dress (the one she had worn at the
game) from two bullet holes in her
head.
Mrs. Ellington, who speaks with
a cultured Southern accent, for her
first appearance on the stand wore
a little black skinner hat so far
down over her eyes that she had to
tilt her head back to see John w.
Fihelly, assistant United States at
torney, as he asked her questions
in direct examination.
AL the women in the circle who
participated in the 81 limit stud
poker games held in their various
homes had given some thought to
millinery for their appearances on
the witness stand.
How Medley, a convict who had
escaped from State Prison at jack
son, Mich, in November with S7OO
OF the prisoners money they had
given him as prison War Bond
treasurer, and who had left two
red-haired women dead in the wake
Of his tour. joined the female poker
circle was told by a succession of
the players on the stand.
Met Him in Restaurant.
Mrs. Bernice Mcclure, 1881 ver-
mont avenue NV, a tall, red haired
young woman. said he had offered
her light in O'Donnelrs restau-
rant; told her that he was lone
some in Washington, would enjoy
a home-cooked meal and liked to
play cards.
Mrs. Phyllis B. Morgan, 1923 East
ern avenue. Mount Rainier, Md,
mother of Mrs. Mcclure, told how
she had entertained Medley two
nights later on her daughters invi-
tation. After dinner, she said, I'VE
left the dishes, took the children
with us and went to the Capitol
Theater."
The children are twin daughters
Of Mrs. Mcclure, who have been
adopted by her mother, Mrs. Nor
gan. Mrs. Mcclure had seen the
picture, but there was a twin-sister
act on the stage and she thought
the children would enjoy it.
Mrs. Morgan invited Medley to a
poker game two nights later in the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Dur
gin. l0l6 Tenth street NV. The
game started at 4:30 pm. There
was an intermission at $50 pm. for
dinner. After dinner second table
was set up in the living room for
later arrivals. Mrs. Boyer was one
of them. When Mrs. Morgan left
Medley had not yet met Mrs. Boyer
but players who were later on the
stand told that the two tables were
Joined and Medley and Mrs. Boyer
were sitting next to one another.
$40 Cut for Refreshments
The next night Medley took Mrs.
Boyer to a game at the home of
Mrs. Gladys Nash, 1916 Blaine
street NE. Mrs. Nash, who testified
that it was the first game at her
home In three years, cut the pot )
per cent in accordance with the
custom of the circle "for the maid
and refreshments" She said the
cut>totaled $40.
On Monday, March 5, two nights
later. Medley played poker in a
game at Mrs. Boyer's apartment. As
the five women and one man in the
game took the witness stand and
were asked to identify Medley, he
anticipated any request by rising
again and again to be identified as
II acknowledging introductions.
One woman testified that after
Medley's arrest she was asked to
go to police headquarters to iden-
tify him in the lineup and that
he had said Hello"
Mrs. Boyer was expected at a
game Tuesday night at the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. James Milton, 2012
First street NV. When she did not
show up, her friends began to be
concerned about her.
Medley's defense has stipulated
that a signature on a slip recording
the sale of an emerald and diamond
ring identified as Mrs. Boyer's in
Pittsburgh on March 8, two days
after the supposed time of her death,
is Medley's. 1t is expected that Med
ley will take the stand when his
defense opens tomorrow or Wednes-
day.