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

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withdrawn as prosecution witness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 tria,
in Washington or Baltimore"
A motion for new trial was
made by Defense Attorney T
Brooke Howard On grounds thai
Carter, asked by the prosecution
why he was in jail, replied that he
was serving as result of a car dea
In which Shelton was involved Mr.
Howard said this was not relevant
Judge Sterling Hutcheson over.
ruled the motion after instructine
the jury to disregard that portion Of
Carter's testimony.
Previously defense witnesses, in.
Guiding Shelton's wife, established
the accused's presence in Baltimore
at II am. and again at 3:21 pm.
the day of the crimes. Shelton, wht
took the stand in his defense, sale
he went to the Glenn L. Martin
plant to ask for a job release ane
to get his terminal pay on the da,
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 3:21 pm.
was produced in court by Mr.. How.
ard. The time of the robbery at
tempt is set at approximately l2::3t
pm. and Miss Wadlington testified
she was released on Wisconsin ave
nue. and Garrison streets NV. il
+. Washington between 1.20 and Ia
pm. $685..
Much of yesterdays testimon,
centered on the length of time re
quired to drive from Arlington t
Baltimore, with witnesses givin
estimates OF one and a quarter t
two hours.
I A statement from Miss France
Cummings, now in England wit.
| UNRRA. who formerly worked wit
Mrs. Shelton, was read, In Whicl
Miss Cummings testified that Shel
tons wife had left her Washington
office at lis for lunch, leaving
message for Shelton that she woul
be back at 8 O'Clock.
Long Distance Call.
Miss Cummings statement sail
a long-distance call for Mrs. Shel
ton came at 1:30, that she gave tn
message to the operator, and tina
Miss Cummings heard a mans
voice which sounded 1ike Shelton
as the operator talked to him.
| She said she believed it was Shell
tons voice on the 1:30 call. ant
that she had heard his voice be
fore
| Mrs. Shelton testified she left he
Office at lis. and after returnin,
about an hour later received cal
from Shelton at 3 o'clock She salt
the call came from Baltimore.
Records Destroyed.
Frederick w. Siegman. Chesa
peake & Potomac Co.. branch man
ager for the Essex area, told tn
court that. records of a call mad
January from the Martin plant t,
Washington had been destroyed.
On cross examination by Mr.
Humrickhouse, Mr.. Stiegman said {
call made from any point in tn,
Essex area, which he said extends tt
Elkridge, still would pass through
the Baltimore exchange.
Mrs. Shelton and Mrs. France
Hammers, who said she lived with
the Sheltons at the time of the at
tempted robbery, testified that Shel
ton was wearing gray hat ant
black overcoat when he returned
home the evening of January 6
They both testified that, as far a.
they knew, he never had owned {
tan overcoat or a brown hat, no.
had he ever worn horn-rinmes