Evening star., 1961-01-31
Investigators
From Virginia
Give Evidence
BY JERRY O'LEARY, Jr.
Star Staff Writer

BALTIMORE, Jan. 31.-Two
Virginia State investigators
testified in Federal Court to-
day how they found the bodies
of Carol v. Jackson and his
daughter on March 4, 1859.
The testimony was given at
the trial of Melvin D. Rees, jr.,
80, of Hyattsville. who is ac-
cused of the kidnap murder
of Mrs. Jackson and the other
daughter of the Louisa County
family.
Trooper E. P. Rockcharlie
told the jury he was called
from Fredericksburg at $50
pm. when the body of Mr..
jackson was found. He said
he saw a foot and ankle stick
ing from a pile of debris. Un-
der Mr.. Jackson's body was
found the body of his daughter,
Janet, 18 months. The trooper
testified that Mr.. .Jackson's.
hands were tied at the wrise
with his own necktie.
Had Visited In-Laws
The family had been to visit
their in-lawS at Buckner, Va
on the night of January II
when they were apparently
froced off the road on Route
500. 1t was months later that
Mr.. Jackson's body was found
with that of his youngest child
near Fredericksburg. Subse-
quently the body of Mrs. jack
son was found in a wooded area
near Gambrills, Md, with the
body of her daughter Susan
Ann. S.
Another Government witness,
G. S. Cooper, a Virginia State
police investigator, also testi-
fled to what he saw when he
was called to the place where
Mr.. Jackson's body was found.
Rees. an imperturbable de-
fendant, is accused in a Fed
eral grand jury indictment Of
the kidnap-murder Of Mrs.
jackson. However Government
Prosecutors H. Russell Smouse
and Robert E. Cahill are link
ing the death of the mother
and daughter with that of the
father and the other daughter.
Pistol Grips Found
They have indicated that a
major part of their evidence
will hinge on blood stained pis-
tol grips found near Fredericks-
burg and their connection with
a .38 caliber revolver found at
the home Of Rees in Hyattsville.:'
Another important Govern
ment witness will be Glenn Mo-
ser of Norfolk, Va, who, the
Government contends, reported
his suspicious that Rees was
the Jackson family killer in or
der to claim the reward. Moser
is expected to appear later this
week as a Government witness
against Rees.
Another witness, William D.
a rescue squad man, told
the court he discovered the.
pistol grips a few yards from;
MIR. Jackson's body. He testified
he had gloves on when he
picked up the pistol grips. Mr..
Smith said the brown plastic
pistol grips were lying about
6 feet apart.
Earlier James Beach of Bend
Farm road, Fredericksburg, said
he was gathering sawdust when
he found the slain body of the
feed truck driver
and his daughter Janet.
Rees. 80. a musician, sat i'm
paSSively in the courtroom here
today as the Government un-
folded its case against him.
The Government asked for
the death penalty yesterday as
the first witness took the stand
against ReeS.
Rees, if convicted, faces ex-
ecution in the gas chamber of
the Maryland State Peniten-
tiary.
If the jury recommends the
death penalty. Federal Judge
Roszel c. Thomson has no al
but to order it.
Four of the six witnesses
heard yesterday were relatives
who said the Jacksons were in
good spirits before they left a
nome in Buckner on the after