Evening star., 1961-01-25
Trial Of Rees
For Murders
Is Under Way
Musician Accused
In Jackson Case;
Relatives Attend
By JERRY, O'LEARY, Jr.
Star stan Writer

BALTIMORE, Jan. 25.-With
his parents and relatives of the
slain Jackson family in the
courtroom. Melvin D. Rees, jr.,
went on trial today in the
kidnap-murder of a Virginia
housewife and her daughter.
Just before the trial began
before Federal Judge RoSzel C.
Thomson, Rees was visited in
the marshal's lookup by his
parents. Mr.. and Mrs. M. D.
Rees, Of the 5000 block Of Madi-
son street, Hyattsville. Then
his parents took their seats in
the courtroom.
The clerk had already begun
reading the jury list when the
relatives of slain Mrs. Mildred
Ann jackson and her daughter,
Susan Ann, arrived in the Fed
eral Post Office Building from
their home in Buckner. Va, to
witness the trial. They in
cluded Mr.. and Mrs. BENJAMIN
L. Hill. Mrs. Jackson's parents,
her brother, George Hill. and
two aunts.
Relatives Behind Him
The jackson relatives sat
four rows behind Rees' parents.
The tall. dark-haired defendant
sat with his back to both
groups.
The former Hyattsville mu-
sician, who observed his 32d
birthday just four days ago,
was led in handouts from
United States marshal's car
into the court building at $3.50 !
am.
His waiting parents were
given brief interview with
Rees before he was led into the
courtroom as the trial con-
vened at 10 O'Clock. First order
of business was selection of a
jury of IL, with four alternates, !
from a panel of IS prospective
jurors.
At the luncheon recess a red |
haired girl approached the de-
fendant's parents and lawyers
for a conversation out Of hear
ing of newsmen. The girl, who
identified herself as Mrs. Pat
Rees, refused to comment on
her reasons for being in the
court room, but it was under
stood she will be q witness for
1.-THE defense. |
Reporters recalled that aI
girl, variously identified as Pat
Routt and Pat Weidenhaus.
lclaims she was Rees' second
wtfe. She refused today. as
then, to amplify her relation |
ehip with the defendant. |
Jury Selection Slow
The jury selection dragged
slowly. BY l pm, only Is Of
the IS prospective jurors had
taken the stand to be ques-
toned by Judge Thomson and
the opposing counsel.
Rees was indicted in the
kidnap murder January II,
1859. of Mildred jackson and
her daughter. Carroll v. jack
son. jr., 20, his wife and their
daughters, Susan and Janet,
18 months, disappeared while
driving home to Apple Grove,
Louisa County, Va, after visit
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Hill in Buck
ner, is miles away. On March
4, 1859, the bodies Of the husky |
Mr.. Jackson and Janet were
found in a lumber mill pit 2
miles west of Fredericksburg.
Mr.. Jackson had been shot and
beaten and the infant was dead
of exposure and suffocation.
Virginia has charged Rees with !
these deaths.
Two teen-age boys found the
bodies of Mrs. Jackson and
Susan in a shallow grave near |
Gambrills, Md. on March %,
1859.
Rees, a former University Of
Maryland student. was arres'ed
in West Memphis, Ark, by +. VI
agents. Subsequently he wa,
indicted by a Federal grand
jury in the kidnapping and
murder of Mrs. Jackson and
Susan.
Rees pleaded not guilty and
later was found mentally COM
petent to stand trial.