Evening star., 1955-11-24
Elan Freed
In Staying
of Brother
Prince Georges
Jury Agrees With
SeIf-Defense PIeo
BY WILLIAM TALBOT

home last night. with his acouit-
/ tai on a murder charge in the
shooting Of his brother Sam al
the Oakcrest Inn near Laure
last August 29.
A Prince Georges County jury
Ideliberated for 31a hours before
Iagreeing with contentious of de.
fense attorneys Oscar R. Duley
| and Samuel j. De Blasts thaI
Roy shot Sam in self-defenst
after an argument at the inr
over "who should buy the mex
drink"
The jury of three women anc
mine men returned its verdict a.
I9 pm.
Yesterday. Roy took the wit,
mess stand in his own behalf Il
contend he shot Sam because
know that brother of mine. ane
when he gets drunk he'll shoe
the best friend he's got. ] knew
it was either me or him-one.
Tells of Developments
Roy, who said he came tc
Laurel from Texas to help San
Eoperate the inn Sam owned, re.
lated these events leading up tt
the shooting:
| During the morning. the
brothers had several drinks. They
went on shopping trip to Laure
with Mrs, Dorothy Jane Britton
an Oakcrest waitress, who testi.
fed on Tuesday that she hac
received a business marriage
proposal from Sam.
On their return, Roy went tt
his nearby cabin to shave. Hi
found no hot water. so he de-
cided to go to the inn. AS he left
the cabin. he picked up a CUR
under his pillow with the inten.
ton of returning it to its usua
resting place in his truck.
He forgot to put the gun II
the truck and walked into tn,
inn with the gun tucked under
his belt.
! Roy asked Sam to buy a drink
You amt paid for the last on,
yet" said Sam.
Il put the money on the bar.
Mrs. Britton interjected to say
!, that Roy had paid for the drink
We'll, it didn't show on thu
cash register said Sam. Some.
ihedy's lying"
Shooting Threat
Roy then quoted Sam as say
ing that. If Roy did not pay TO,
the drink. Sam would shoot him
Sam, standing behind the bar
then turned. Roy testified. to
drawer, one of many spots wher,
Roy knew Sam kept a total o.
mine or 10 guns.
4 Sam. them guns amt TO b.
lplayed with" Roy said.
/ well. they amt the only one
I've got Sam replied.
| Sam walked through a dininl
room door behind the bar. picked
up a gun. turned and pointed /
lat Roy. Then the shooting
Istarted. Sam fell in the doorwa!
with a Stub in his head.
During his cross-examinatiol
lof Roy. States Attorney Blai
III. Smith stressed apparent dis
Ecrepancies between Roy's un
signed statement to police afteI
the shooting and his court testi,
lmony.
| Mr.. Smith said Roy had tolt
Maryland State Police that San
had fired two shots during tn,
iscrape. but under oath ht
changed his story, saying he die
mot know whether Sam fired al
all.
/ Roy testified he did not mean
ito kill Sam. Mr.. Smith pointed
Iout. however. that. after the
shooting, Roy told one police
man. When I shoot, / shoot tc
kill" and another. Mister. wher
I shoot. it only takes one"
| Denies Statements
Roy denied making the state
tmentS.
In summary, Mr.. Smith termed
the shooting cold -blooded" ant
said Roy had a motive for killing
his brother when he learned O
the marriage arrangement with
Mrs. Britton, which was to in
lclude change of Sans will il
Iher favor.
Mr.. Smith also stressed experi
Testimony that the gun found ~
ling under Sans body had no
been fired on the day Of thu
shooting because it had dust II
1.-THE barrel.
Mr.. Smith said testimon,
brought out that Sam had or
Idered Roy out of the inn during
1.-THE argument but that Roy hat
lremained.
/ ROY knew Sam had beer
drinking" Mr.. Smith said. "Ht
should have gotten out Of there
Called "KnOwn Gunman"
MIR. De Blasts referred to Sam
as a known gunman" and said
Roy is innocent Ito the extent
that he had to preserve his own
life"
Mr.. Duley emphasized a stipu.
lation made by John Croker OF
Laurel. a witness to the argu-
ment before the shooting, ir
which Mr.. Crocker said Roy
lpleaded with Sam not to go into
1.-THE dining room where Roy
knew Sam kept gun. Mr.
crocker left before the shooting
ROY had a right to stand his