Evening star., 1945-09-29
Shelton Is Acquitted
In Ho|dup-k kidnapping;
Faces Auto CHARGE

j. Paul Shelton, former Arlington
Insurance salesman, today stood &C
quilted of charges Of attempted
bank robbery, kidnapping and as
sault after a verdict of not guilty
was returned yesterday by jury in
Federal Court at Alexandria.
The jury retired at AN pm. and
its verdict was handed to the court
at sos pm. by the foreman, Car
lyle Boguess, Alexandra.
Shelton was charged with the at
tempted robbery January 6 OF the
East Falls Church Bank, with as
saulting H. A. Barber. 80-year-old
bank manager, and with kidnapping
Grace Wadlington, Arlington school,
girl, to shield escape after the rob-
berry attempt failed.
Accused Of Auto Theft.
T. Brooke Howard, Alexandra
attorney, conducted the defense. in
which SIS witnesses were examined.
Immediately after the verdict was
handed down, Shelton was served
with warrant by United States
Marshal James Braithwaite, charg-
ing him under the National Motor
Vehicle Theft Act. Although United
States Attorney George Humrick-
house withdrew this charge, the
court was informed that another
warrant is being sent from Rich
mond charging Shelton with trans
porting a stolen automobile from
the District of Columbia to Rich
mond in August, 1914.
Shelton agreed to remain in jail
overnight pending a preliminary
hearing before United States Com
missioner Stanley King as soon as
the warrant is received in Alexan-
dria. Mr.. King indicated he would
set bond OF 5000 on the charge,
which Mr.. Howard said would be
posted at the hearing.
Minister With Wife.
Shelton's wife was accompanied
to court by the Rev. Willard N.
Borchers, rector of the Resurrection
Lutheran Church in Arlington, a
neighbor of the Sheltons. They left
Immediately after the verdict to
attend church picnic. Mrs. Shell
ton expressed regret that her hus-
band could not accompany her.
Before the noon recess yesterday
Mr.. Humrickhouse, in his argument
to the jury, pointed out that the
defense had offered no explanation
of the fact that the auto used by
the bandit in escaping after the
robbery attempt, originally licensed
in the District. bore . Virginia tag
when it was found by Arlington
police on Little Falls road, and
that the registration cards for the
car, which had been stolen from a
District woman, were found in a
desk in a Baltimore offce, alleged
to have been rented by Shelton
The prosecutor also argued that
there was no explanation for re-
ceipts, issued to Shelton by a Balti-
more loan firm, found on Little Falls
road
Witnesses Couldn't Identify Him.
In an hour and half argument
Mr.. Howard contended that the
prosecution had produced no direct
Ievldence linking Shelton with the
crime, since all witnesses had failed
to identify him. He based his de-
fense argument on the established
alibis which placed Shelton in Bal
timore at l0:45 am. and again al
l.30 pm, allowing insufficient tine
for him to get to East Falls Church
commit the crime and return.
Mr.. Humrickhouse had pointed
out, and repeated in rebuttal, tina,
no witnesses were produced to tes-
tify as to Shelton's whereabouts
between 10:45 and 1870 pm, al
though the defendant himself had
an explanation for every moment
of his time.
Mr.. Humrickhouse told the jury
!; that, although the death penalty
could be asked if verdict OF guilty
were returned on the kidnapine
, charge, he did not ask for thai
recommendation.
Judge Hutcheson, in charging thu
jury, said that the only direct evi.
dence presented was that the Grim.
had been committed by some one
He said that all evidence linkins
Shelton with it was circumstantial
but could still be used by the jur,
5 to return verdict of guilty If they
were convinced that the Govern.
!, ment had nrovAd TIE c.ee