Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-13
Fay Will Speed
Bardwe|I Case
To Grand Jury
james Pleads Insanity
And Denies GuiIt in
Baltimore Murder

Evidence pointing to Baltimore
ianitor as the slayer of 11-year-old
Carol Bardwel will be presented to
the grand jury here as soon as pos
sible. United States Attorney George
Morris Fay said today
The decision came shortly after
the ianitor, Eugene H. James, 81,
pleaded not guilty IN Baltimore
Criminal Court to three indictments
charging ne murdered Marsha Brill,
i, ir the Maryland city last Tues
DAY. and raped and robbed 80
yeaf-old woman there June IS.
All three pleas were made by rea-
son of INSANITY The prisoners at
tornev asked for and was granted a
bench trial at 10 m. August 3.
Mr.. Fay said it was decided to try
for an indictment against James
after an initial review of the Bard
well Staying June q in Rock Greek
Park
Remains Silent in Court.
For two hours, Assistant Detective
Chief Robert V. Murray and Assist
ant United States Attorney Charles
B. Murray conferred on evidence
gathered by police, including a
signed confession by James.
The colored janitor appeared pc
fore Judge John T. Tucker IN tne
Baltimore courtroom today f1anKed
bv two guards Dressed in a tan
shirt, open at the neck and KHAKI
trousers. he remained silent
throughout the 15-minute session,
bowling his head while his attorney
William H. Murphy, colored, pleaded
for him.
Mr.. Murphy requested a trial by
Judges and it was indicated that
the Supreme Court of Baltimore
would appoint a panel Oh thfee
jurists to hear the case.
Just before the short arrangement
opened at 10 am, there was a
whispered conference between James
and his attorney.
States Attorney J. Bernard Wells
made a personal court appearance
together with two assistants, AnSelm
Sodaro and Alan H. Murreu.
3-Week Delay Needed.
After the pleas were entered, MT
Wells insisted on as speedy trial
as nossible and asked Mr.. Murphy
vhen the defense would be READY
The defense attorney replied that
il was not possible for nm 10 De
rooJy fhforp three weeks,
With that, the States Attorney
demanded to know whether the de-
tense actually could go to trial IN
three weeks, or would ask a post
ronement then. When MI. N''rnhy
replied he would be ready, JUG,
Tucker set the date exactly three
weeks from today.
Mr., Wells said it was not certain
whether the three cases would be
disposed of simultaneously, but II
not. he would insist on the murder
case first.
The defense attorney told report
ers he had been retained by the
James family and not by any civil
rights organization.
Nav Not Be Returned Here.
It appeared that washington
police had all but abandoned the
idea OF having James re-enact the
Bardwell crime here.
Even If Baltimore authorities
should consent to return James
here long enough to reconstruct the
crime on the scene, his attorney IN
cIcated today he would object to
such measures
Mr., Murphy said such sugges-
tjon was fantastic in view of what
James had told them. The coloreo
ianitor had denied being in Wash
ington since he was sent to prison
I'm 1910. Mr. Murphy said.
One Baltimore official said todaJ
he thought it unlikely that any
washington request for James
would be denied, but added thai
It would be a matter for The SUI
preme Bench of Baltimore to de-
eide.
AS to the written confession
Washington police obtained in the
BardWell case, James remembered
signing something but did not know
what it was, Mr. Murphy said.
Murray Silent on Progress.
Capt. Murray, who was in Balti-
more Yesterday seeking some an
giles" in the Bardwell case, had
nothing to say about success OF the
venture.
In the face of certain contra
dictory evidence, Washington police
are certain James is the BardWell
killer
Before departing on a l2-day
leave, Police Supt Robert j. Barrett
said two or three things were known
10 police, but not by the general
public, which definitely implicated
James.
He was reluctant to reveal these
facts because of the Censure heaped
on the Police Department by a
srant Jury hearing evidence IN the
Nancy Bower murder case in 1945
Mai Barrett said. He recalled that
he Jury dispatched biting letter
% the Commissioners, reprlmandlng
The Detective Bureau, which he Their
headed, for disclosing certain per-
unent bits of evidence to the press
Asked if police had found any per-
tons who had seen James in Wash
tngton the day of the Bardwell STAY
ing, Capt. Murray said he woule
'ather not answer that at TINS time
but would have something to say
lbout it later.