Evening star., 1946-10-04
Hendricks Held
For Grand Jury
In Wife Staying
Lawyer Denied Bond
At Bethesda Police
Court Hearing

Homer r. Hendricks, 46-year-old
Washington tax attorney, today was
held for grand jury action
without bond on a first degree
murder charge in Bethesda Police
Court in the fatal shooting We'd
nesday of his wife, Gertrude, AZ, in
the bedroom Of their home at 5514
Hampden lane, Bethesda.
Trial Magistrate James C. Chris
topher denied plea by defense at
torneys that the charge be reduced
to manslaughter and that Hendricks
be released on bond.
The tall, bespectacled defendant,
who did not take the stand, was
Immediately taken to the Rockville
jail in custody of two Montgomery
County policemen. The grand Jury
is scheduled to meet November IL.
Defense counsel said they did not
know whether they would ask a
writ Of habeas corpus in County
Circuit Court in an effort to have
Hendricks released on bond, al
though they had indicated earlier
that such action would be taken If
Judge Christopher did not set bond.
Says Wife Threatened Him.
Detective Corpl. John P. Leahy.
attached to the Bethesda police SUBJ
station, testified Hendricks told him
his wife had threatened him with q
pistol in his own bedroom.
The detective said Hendricks told
him he took the pistol from his wife,
pushed her on the bed in her bed
room and shot her in the head.
AS she fell to the floor, Corpl. Leahy
quoted Hendricks as saying, the at
torney shot her again in the shoulder
and arm.
Corpl. Leahy said Hendricks did
not say whether the two struggled
in the hall.
In response to questioning by De-
fense Attorney F. Barnard Welsh,
the policeman said some paint had
been knocked of a closet door in
Hendricks room. He added, how
ever, that there was no indication
OF struggle in Mrs. Hendricks bed
room. He said the pistol was found
in closet in the defendants room.
Told of Attack on Mother.
Corpl. Leahy also quoted Hem
bricks as saying his wife had threat
ened his life several times and had
attacked his mother several months
ago. Corpl. Leahy said the mother is
now in Winchester, Va. Corpl. Leahy
testified he found a two-quart bottle
Of wine partly filled in sewing room.
leading OF Mrs. Hendricks bedroom,
and an empty wine bottle in Mr..
Hendricks room. He said there was
"a lot of wine" spilled on the bed
In Hendricks room.
He told Judge Christopher that
the door to Hendricks bedroom was
battered as If some one had been
beating on it with a hammer, and
that both door knobs had been re-
moved.
He said Hendricks told him his
wife had taken on the door knobs
about q month ago and that she had
beaten on his door before threaten
ing him with q pistol.
Note Testimony Barred.
Corpl. Leahy testified he found q
note written by Hendricks and ad-
dressed to the maid. When asked
by Mr.. Welsh to diyulge its contents,
States Attorney Joseph B. Simpson,
jr., objected and was sustained by
Judge Christopher.
In response to another question,
Corpl. Leahy said the note was writ
ten Immediately after the shooting.
He added that two other notes were
taken from Hendricks room. At
tempts by defense counsel to have
the notes read were also objected
to by Mr.. Simpson.
Corpl. Leahy said the body of Mrs.
Hendricks was found face down on
the floor in her room. He said there
was bullet wound In her left eye,
one in her elbow and a third in her
shoulder.