Evening star., 1949-07-01
Scott Swedrs
He Hit Girl on
Quick Impulse
Had No Intent to Kill,
He Tells Roanoke
Church Murder Jury
By Robert c. RoIIings


ROANOKE. Va, July Lee
Buddy Scott testified today
that something just swept over
me and I hit her"
He referred to Dana Marie
Weaver. 16-year-old classmate for
whose murder he is on trial in
Hastings Court.
Taking the stand for the first
time. the 16-year-old youth testi-
fled he met Dana in the parish
hall of Christ Episcopal Church
on May 8 and that they went into
the kitchen for soft drinks.
The defense admitted in open
ing statements Monday that
Buddy killed Dana, but said it was
no greater crime than man
slaughter. The State is trying to
prove first-degree murder, which
carries a possible death sentence.
Talked About Friend.
In clearly audible but quaver-
ing voice, Scott told the l2-man
jury in answer to questions by
Defense Counsel T. Warren
Messick that for some reason
she Dana> started talking about
Jimmy" Earlier, he had identi-
fled Jimmy Webb, another high
school athlete, as a longtime
friend.
"She said he drank too much.
That he was just drunkard.
Il told her not to talk about
him like that. He was nice boy.
"She said he wasn't any good.
Just lowdown. He was just lucky
that he won the wrestling cham
Something just swept over me
and I hit her." the boy declared.
What did you hit her with.
SOM" Mr.. Messick asked softly.
With a DR.. Pepper bottle I had
in my hand" Buddy replied.
"She swung at me. I don't know
whether it was her fist or DR..
Pepper bottle.
Il tried to hold her and she was
kicking and fell and I let go.
Il sort of let go and she struck
some more and I held her and
when she let go, she didn't move"
Denies Choking.
Mr.. Messick asked, Buddy, you
didn't try to choke her to death?"
mo. sir, I wouldn't choke her
to death. I wouldn't have hurt
her for the world"
Did you have any intent to
kill her?" the defense attorney
asked.
mo. SIR Buddy replied.
Scott then testified he didn't
know the girl was dead until the
next morning when he heard it
at Jefferson High School where
both he and Dana Marie were
students.
The youth said that if he hadn't
"been in fog" and hadn't been
80 scared" he would have told
his father after he heard OF
Dona Marie's death.
The defense counsel then re-
iterated:
Were you trying to choke her
to death?"
mo, sir Scott answered, i
Just tried to hold her"
Hid Rag at Friends Home.
Then, referring to the minutes
Immediately after the fight, Scott
said he left the church and that
his blood stained clothes were all
messy"
Il know I must have looked
like a wreck"
He said he didn't know why he
hid a blood-stained rag in the
rear of the home of a friend, Fred
Bradley, The rag, a sack from .
coffee urn, was found there after
Scott was arrested the day after
Dana Marie's body was discovered.
A soft drink bottle also was found
with the rag, and Scott testified
today that when he got close to
the Bradley house he found he
had a bottle in his hand.
The defense attorney again di-
rected his questions to the period
in the church kitchen.
DO you know what position you
were in when you were holding
Dana" Mr.. Messick inquired.
mo, sir. except I must have
been on my knees, because my
knees were wet
Mothers Sobs Heard.
Again the youth stated in an
swer to his attorneys question:
II was trying to hold her. .
I wasn't choking her at ALL"
AS the youth testified. his
mother and father wept softly.
Now and then the mothers sobs
were heard in the quiet courtroom.
Also in the small audience in
the closed courtroom was another
intently interested spectator -
Richard Weaver, brother OF Dana
Marie.
Defense Motion Denied.
Mr.. Messick's motion to strike
the evidence as it relates to first
degree murder was denied yester-
day by Judge Dirk A. Kuyk. The
motion was made in chambers
Immediately after the prosecution
rested it's case on the fourth day
of the trial.
The prosecutor has sougrt to
implant in the minds Of the
jurors-many of them parents Of
teen-age girls and boys-the
thought that Scott attempted to
rape the pretty high school Junior.
Last night, the first night ses-
sion, saw a parade of defense wit
nesses testify that SCOTS reputa-
ton was Of the best. He enjoyed
good repute at his school. his
oh,,rob Of tho vMTA uhere he