Evening star., 1949-07-09
~ wv
Maryland Acts
To Take Control
In Bay Killing
Attorney General
Sent to CrisfieId;
Extrodition Pushed
40 = TfE EvEE1E!yss5, nc,
By Herman F. Schoden
Sfor Stoff Corrssp pondent

Maryland moved it's heavy legal
artillery to the firing line today in
another move to outmaneuver
Virginia in the battle to see which
will prosecute David Acree, 26, for
the murder of Earl Nelson, Girls
field waterman.
Attorney General Hall Ham
mond was ordered by Gov. Lane
to take command of Maryland's S
investigation at Crisfeld. miles
from the Chesapeake Bay crab
bing waters where Mr.. Nelson was
shot to death last Tuesday by a
deputy Virginia Fisheries Com
mission inspector.
Both States have charged Acree
with murder, but Maryland has
been thwarted in efforts to serve
its warrant, and the defendant
Is held in Accomack County Jail
under the Virginia charge.
Virginia authorities yesterday
agreed they would turn Acree over
to Maryland if a survey of State
lines shows the shooting scene to
have been in Maryland waters.
Never on Virginia Payroll.
In Newport News, Va, the Vir-
ginia Commission of Fisheries an
nounced today that Acree was
never on it's payroll.
Commissioner Charles M. Lank-
ford, jr., said Acree was deputized
Tuesday, the day Of the shooting.
when a report was received of
seven Maryland boats invading
Virginia waters.
He still has his deputy status,
Mr.. Lankford said in reply to a
question.
States Attorney E. McMaster
Duer of Somerset County. Md,
repeated today his intention of
pressing extradition proceedings
against Acree.
Mr.. Duer disclosed that FBI
technicians were unable to find
traces of gunpowder on Mr..
Nelson's trousers. The report was
regarded as important because of
AGREES contention that Mr.. Nelson
was slain in hand-to-hand
struggle for the rifle.
Abandon Efforts on Warrants.
Meanwhile, after three unsuc-
cessful forays into Virginia with
warrants, Maryland officers tenn
porarily abandoned efforts to.
serve Acree and George Colonna,
20, of Johnsontown, Va, charged
in Maryland as being an accessory.
after the fact.
While kind of truce" existed
in the jurisdictional battle. Com
monwealth's Attorney E. Almer
Ames, jr., of Accomack County
said he would take no further legal
steps against Acree until the sur
vey of the State lines is COM
pleted.
Yesterday. in the church where
his wife's funeral was held three
months ago, Mr.. Nelson was eulo-
gized by two ministers as God
fearing man who was prepared
for sudden death.
The white frame Church of God
was filled for the last rites. Two
score relatives, including Mr.. Mel
sons six children, sat in the plain
auditorium with hundreds of
friends. Other crabmen, still Bit
ter over the tragedy, were among
the mourners. many of them still
dressed in the rough clothing of
their trade.
While Mr.. Nelson's five boys sat
in the front row, outside Mrs.
Thomas Fox of Baltimore. mother
in-law of Earl Nelson. jr., walked
to and fro at the side of the
church, holding 18-month-old
Dorcas Lydia, Mr. Nelson's only
daughter. She is curly y-headed
blond and yesterday she was a
prize baby picture in her pink
dress, hair ribbon and socks.
Audience Moved by Remarks.
When DR.. j. Yancy Fincher of
nearby Marion, Baptist minister,
emotionally described the plight
of the orphaned Nelson children,
the audience was moved to audible
weeping.
The church's pastor. the Rev.
w. T. Moorefeld, told how Mr..
Nelson was converted several
months ago at the altar where his
casket lay yesterday.
Last Sunday night I saw him
at our revival tent. tears coursing
down his cheeks as he asked God
for guidance, Mr.. Mooref1eld said.
On Monday, the day before his
death, Mr.. Nelson refused to at
tend Fourth of July outing to
remain with his children, the pas
tor added.
So many flowers were sent by
friends and by others unknown to
the family that three florists were
unable to supply the demand.
Police Chief Albert Rich and
other city policemen served as
pallbearers. Mr.. Nelson was a
policeman before adopting the
fisherman's trade.
Douglass Is Co-Author