Evening star., 1945-11-27
Jury in Montgomery
Acquits Be||boy
In WAVE Attack

Robert Shackelford, %, a Wash
ington bellboy, was acquitted yes
terday by a Montgomery County
Circuit Court jury of charges of at
tempted criminal assault and as
sault and battery on a 22-year-old
WAVE September Is in the Great
Falls section of the county.
The jury deliberated only 10 min
utes before returning a verdict of
not guilty. Shackelford's mother,
Mrs. Martha Shackelford, Harlan
County, KY, who attended the trial,
smiled broadly, while his sister, Mrs.
Esther Adkins, also of Harlan
County, burst into tears.
The WAVE, stationed at Arlington
Farms. said she and two other
WAVES had been picked up by
Shackelford and two other youths
while they were waiting for a bus in
Rossiyn.
Drank Beer in Tavern.
After taking them to their bar
racks, she said, the youths drove the
three WAVES to a Wisconsin ave-
nue. restaurant, where they drank
beer. She testified they then drove
back to the barracks, where the
WAVES changed from the slacks
they were wearing into regular uni
forms and returned to the restau-
rant.
She said the youths drove around
Washington and nearby Maryland
after leaving the restaurant, ending
up at a wooded spot just off Mac
Arthur boulevard, about Is miles
from Washington.
Two of the WAVES left the car
with Shackelford and Allen Hughett,
18, both of 1926 Seventeenth street
NV, leaving her in the automobile
with the driver, John Bedre, 26, of
1727 Eighteenth street NV, ac-
cording to the WAVE.
About 20 minutes later, she testi-
fed, Shackelford returned to the
car and ordered Mr.. Bedre to leave.
She said Shackelford then attempt
ed to kiss her but that she pushed
him away.
Fell Out of Car.
HE got mad and told me you
know what I'm in here for and I'm
going to get it," she said.
HE tried to attack me and I
screamed. I kept trying to get
away. Finally, I managed to get
the door Of he car open and fell
out"
Under cross-examination by De-
tense Attorney James H. Pugh the
WAVE admitted that she had not
reported the incident until the fol-
lowing day. She said she had not
complained to policeman at the
barracks when they returned be
cause I was too nervous"
Shackelford said he and the two
other youths picked up the WAVES
after they thumbed us" He de-
MED attempting to assault the
WAVE, adding that II merely kissed
her several times. Then she opened
the door of the car and we both fell
out" He said he was in the car
with her only about five minutes.
States Attorney Joseph B. Simp-
son, jr., read a statement made by
Shackelford after his arrest in
which the bellboy admitted the at
tempted assault.
Other WAVES Testify.
Although the two other WAVES,
both stationed at Arlington Farms,
testified they heard their companion
scream, they said they did not go to
her aid.
Both Bedre and Hughett, however,
denied hearing the WAVE scream.
Hughett said he heard her say,
Don't, Bob" in a conversational
tone. He added that none of the
WAVES seemed angry when they
drove back to the barracks. Bedre
said all three Of the WAVES said
they had mice evening" when
they got out.
1t. Frank N. Panch, a Navy ply
sician, testified he examined the
WAVE September a and that he
found no marks on her hoIv