Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-02-19
MotherweII's
Trial Backed
ByPrecedent
BY RICHARD O'LONE
Star Staff Writer

BY RICHARD OLONE
Star stafi Writer
BONNEVILLE, Calf, Feb.
19.-Can a man be convicted of
first-degree murder when the
State cannot furnish an eye
witness nor establish a cause of
death2
This is a key question in the
murder case against Larry Lord
Motherwell, on trial for his life
here charged with killing an
elderly Washington widow. Mrs.
Pearl Putney.
Special Prosecutor Lynn B.
Compton says it can, and has
been done, and cited a recent
California case to back up his
argument.
In the famous Scott murder
case, the State not only lacked
a witness and cause of death,
but it could not even produce
a body. Further, the defendant
never confessed. All this made
the case unique.
Death Cause Unknown
In the Motherwell case, which
the State has called a cold
blooded murder for profit" the
prosecution does have a few
bleached bones. found in the
rugged Yuba Pass area of the
Sierra Nevada foothills, q
miles from here.
However, it cannot prove a
cause of death. nor can it pro-
duce anyone who saw Mother
well any closer than 100 miles
to the spot where the remains
were found. Motherwell has
PACoASa AAOG 3 NAAly'
In the Scott case, the huS-
band of a wealthy. oft-married
woman was convicted of killing
her and sentenced to life i'm
priSonment, although the State
could furnish only the VIC
TINS dentures and eyeglasses,
found near the incinerator of
their home in a fashionable
section of Los Angeles.
The defendant had a knack
for representation, and passed
himself off as a investment
counselor.
When the woman dropped
from sight, her brother be-
came suspicious and notified
police. The husband told them
she drank heavily, was mentally
upset, and had just gone off on
her own.
He was arrested for forgery
when he tried to get his hands
on her money, but jumped $75,-
600 bail and disappeared.
After a long search. he was
found in Detroit, charged with
murder and convicted.
Widows Disappearance
Mrs. Putney, 70. disappeared
after taking a cross-country
trip with Motherwell in the
summer of 1858.
Her half-brother, Castro M.
Dabrohua of Chicago, pestered
skeptlcal Washington police
into starting search for her,
Motherwell, and some $4,000
in cash and securities she had
taken with her.
Motherwell spent a lot of
money after Mrs. Putney's dis
appearance. He claimed Mrs.
Putney had paid him literally
for driving her across country
The securities have never been
found.
Mr.. Compton feels that the
elements lacking in both of
these cases are not vital, pro-
vided the prosecution can build
a satisfactory circumstantial
case.
otherwise, you would be
putting a premium on murder"
he said.
Meanwhile. with the trial in
recess until Tuesday, the gold
country area around Downie-
vile was being pelted with a
day-long snowfall.
More snow is expected, rails
ing the possibility that jurors
and Judge Warren Steel might
not be able to navigate the
treacherous mountain roads so
the trial could resume Tuesday
morning.
Judge Steel, at his home in
Marysville, IS miles way, was
looking up the law on hearsay
evidence, an issue which stalled
the trial Wednesday afternoon.
Mr.. Compton romped in the
snow with his two daughters
at a cabin he has rented near
here.
And Defense Attorney John
T. Reyes, once a top-f1ight
schoolboy basketball player in
Washington, was considering a
bid to referee Saturday nights
basketball game between Down
ieville and Loyalton High
Schools.