Evening star., 1949-07-01
By Robert c. RoIIines
Stor Stoff Correspondent

Stor Stoff Correspondent
ROANOKE, Va, July Lee
Buddy Scott today will tell his
story in the Staying of his 16-
year-old classmate, Dana Marie
Weaver-a crime which could send
him to the electric cnalr.
The threat of the death penalty
remained in the case despite a
defense effort to eliminate it
Defense Chief T. Warren Messick's
motion to strike the evidence as
it relates to flrst-degree murder
was denied yesterday by Hastings
Court 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.
Scott. 16-year-old high school
athlete, is charged with killing
Dana Marie in the parish house
kitchen of Christ Episcopal Church
here on May 8.
AS he sits less than dozen feet
from the men who will decide his
fate, the husky. impassive youth
will tell story he hopes will dis
prove the prosecutions charge
that the crime was "a willful
deliberate and premeditated MUIR
der" The defense conceded al
the start of the trial that Scott
killed Dana Marie, but that
the Staying occurred during an
argument.
Mother and Father on Hand.
And watching and listening as
the youth talks, will be his mother
and father who have been seated
near him constantly since the trial
began. Also in the small audi
ence in the closed courtroom will
be another intently interested
spectator-Richard Weaver. broth
er of Dana Marie.
In telling his story, Scott will
try to erase from the minds of
the jurors-many Of them parents
of teen-age girls and boys-the
thought planted there by the
prosecution that he attempted to
rape the pretty Jefferson High
School junior when they met in
the parish hall kitchen.
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
church, at the YMCA where he
instructed boys in swimming, at
the summer camp where he was
a counselor. and among girls and
boys, according to the. witnesses
Girl Tells of Scott's Ability.
One was a pretty 16-year-old
brunei, Norma Balochi, a girl
dated by Scott. who tossed her
head and said:
Buddy didn't have to cheat in
school. He always could learn on
his own"
Cruelty to animals and children?
Miss Gail Clark, a next door
neighbor, testified she had seer
him training a Cub Scout den in
his back yard. and watched him
playing with his animal pets. Nor
had Durwood Owens, 18, a YMCA
employe, ever heard of Scott strik-
ing a youngster who didn't get
out of the pool promptly.
Mr.. Messick bore down on his
view that Scott struck and then
choked the girl while in a partial
blackout because she belittled
Jimmy Webb. high school wres-
tling champion-a boy he called
an idol in SCOTS eyes.
Had Unusual Interest in Athletics.
George R. Meek testified under
questioning by the defense chief
that Scott had an unusual interest
in Webb'e athletic successes.
when Webb won a match you'd
think Scott had won it himself
from the pride he took" he said.
In evidence over defense OBJ
jections are police photographs of
the slain girl lying on the floor.
her cuts and bruises plainly visible
and her skirt and slip above her
waist.
Announcement that Scott would
testify came earlier while rival
counsel spared before the jury on
whether they should accept as
true Scotts story told under truth
serum. The story was that he suf-
fered partial amnesia" in his
struggle with Dana Marie.
Magistrate Recalls Statement.
1t followed the testimony of S. r.
Price, police magistrate, who said
Scott admitted meeting the girl al
the church on the evening of May
8. only after he said to the boy
while alone with him at his Office
Lee, you killed that child and
she branded you indelibly."
Scott had long. deep scratch
mark on his right cheek when ar
rested.
The prosecution hit back at tht
defense position that the slayins
took place while Scott was in &
mental blackout.
It brought out testimony from
q medical witness that it was un.
likely Scott's consciousness woule
flick on and off during the time
he slugged his claSsmate with 8
pop bottle and then choked her
After the defense rests it Il
expected that the prosecution viii
call rebuttal witnesses. Attorneys
4 doubt that the case will be give9
to the jury before late tomorrow