Evening star., 1945-09-28
Shelton Case Expected
To Go 10 Jury Today
After States RebuttaI

The Governments case against j.
Paul Shelton, on trial on charges of
kidnapping and attempted bank rob-
berry, is expected to be given to the
jury late today.
Assistant District Attorney George
Humrickhouse completed his ex-
animation of rebuttal witnesses
shortly before noon after Thomas
Carter, colored convict who was
withdrawn as prosecution witness
Wednesday, testified that Shelton
had told him in March, 1914, that
the East Falls Church Bank would
be easy to hold up.
Carter also testified Shelton asked
him to help do a job," saying he
then would not have to "go on trial
In Washington or Baltimore"
A motion for a new trial was
made by Defense Attorney T..
Brooke Howard on grounds that
Carter, asked by the prosecution
why he was in Jail, replied that he
was serving as result of car deal
in which Shelton was involved. Mr..
Howard said this was not relevant.
Judge Sterling Hutcheson over
ruled the motion after instructing
the jury to disregard that portion of
Carter's testimony.
Previously defense witnesses, in
cluding Shelton's wife, established
the accused's presence in Baltimore
at ii am. and again at 1921 pm,
the day of the crimes. Shelton, who
took the stand in his defense, said
he went to the Glenn L. Martin
plant to ask for a job release and
to get his terminal pay on the day
he Is accused of kidnapping 14-year-
old Grace Wadlington after an at
tempt to rob the East Falls Church
Bank.
Pay Stub Shown in Court,
His pay stub, stamped 3:2l pm,
was produced in court by Mr.. How
ard. The time of the robbery at
tempt is set at approximately II 80
pm. and Miss Wadlington testified
she was released on Wisconsin ave-
nue. and Garrison streets NV, in
Washington between 1920 and lao
pm.
MUCH of yesterdays testimony
centered on the length of time re-
quired to drive from Arlington to
Baltimore, with witnesses giving
estimates of one and a quarter to
two hours.
A statement from Miss Frances
Cummings, now in England with
UNRRA, who formerly worked with
Mrs. Shelton, was read, in which
Miss Cummings testified that Shell
tons wife had left her Washington
Office a. lis for lunch, leaving a.
message tor Shelton that she would
be back at 3 o'clock.
Long Distance Call.
Miss Cummings statement said
a long-distance call for Mrs. Shell
ton came at 1:30, that she gave the
message to the operator, and that
Miss Cummings heard mans
voice which sounded like Shelton's
as the operator talked to him.
She said she believed it was Shell
tons voice on the 130 call, and
that she had heard his voice be-
fore
Mrs. Shelton testified she left her
Office at lis, and after returning
about an hour later received a call
from Shelton at o'clock. She said
the call came from Baltimore.
Records Destroyed.
Frederick w. Siegman, Chesa-
peake & Potomac Co., branch man.
ager for the Essex area, told the
court that records of a call made
January from the Martin plant to
Washington had been destroyed.
On cross examination by Mr.
Humrickhouse, Mr.. Stiegman said a
call made from any point in the
Essex area, which he said extends to
Elkridge, still would pass through
the Baltimore exchange
Mrs. Shelton and Mrs. Frances
Hammers, who said she lived with
the Sheltons at the time of the at
tempted robbery, testified that Shell
ton was wearing a gray hat and
black overcoat when he returned
home the evening of January 6.
They both testified that, as far as
they knew, he never had owned a
tan overcoat or brown hat, nor
had he ever worn horn-rimmed