Evening Star Newspaper, June 30, 1936, Page 20

ISURANGE MOTIE STUDED N KL $20,000 Policy Is Cited in Rattlesnake Wife7 i, Murder Case. § ! By the Assoctated Press. LOS ANGELES, June 30.—Insur- ance angles of the Robert S. James wife-murder case came to the fore- front today in the place of two dia- mond-back rattlesnakes presented by prosecutors as the oft-married bar- ber’s first chosen agents of death. The fearsome reptiles, buzzing, rat- tling and thudding their heads against their glass cage in full view ‘of the Jury and court-room spectators, cre- ated a sensation. There was an audi- ble sigh of relief yesterday when Judge Charles Fricke ordered them hidden behind the court clerk’s desk. The snakes were identified by their owner as the pair he sold Charles Hope, star witness for the State, who testified James turned one of them on his seventh wife before drowning her for insurance monsy. $20,000 Policy Cited. With that spcctacular part of the case out of the way, prosecutors turn- ed to an effort to prove a $20,000 life insurance motive in the death plot. Louis Berry, an insurance man, tes- tified yesterday he sold a $5,000 policy on Mrs. James and that her husband insisted the policy provide for double Indemnity in case of accidental death. Her body was found in a fish pond back of her home last August 5. At the very time the State charges the body was floating in the pond, Berry testified he asked James about his wife’'s health and was informed she was feeling “pretty well.” Niece Gives Testimony. ‘The defendant's pretty niece, 21- year-old Lois Wright, who grew hys- terical on the stand, testified James also discussed insurance with her. In a previous case he was convicted of & morals charge involving her. During a recess the stocky, green- eyed defendant told his attorney, “I'd THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, Snakes Brought Into JOHN BARNES, Left, prosecuting attorney, and District Attorney Buron Fitts shown viewing the two live rattlesnakes introduced as evidence in the trial of Robert S. James in Los Angeles yesterday. James is charged with having used the reptiles in killing his seventh wife, Mrs. Mary James. —Copyright, A. P. Wirephoto. like to take a look at those snakes Neswpaper Tax Upheld. myself.” He peered info the cage and grew pale. John C. (Snake Joe) Houtenbrink, a snake dealer, testified Hope pur- chased the rattlers for $3 after buying some snakes elswhere that “weren't hot.” He quoted Hope as saying he “wanted some hot ones.” PHOENIX, Ariz.,, June 30 (#).—The State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Arizona newspapers must pay a 1 per cent sales tax on their gross comes under the excise tax law en- acted a year ago. Publishers contended the Legislature struck any reference to newspapers from the bill before it became a law. MEXICAN HIGHWAY RITES TOMORROW Garner and Cardenas to Take Part in Dedication Ceremony. By the Associated Press. LAREDO, Tex, June 30.—Anew bond of international amity will be forged here tomorrow in dedication of the Pan-American highway, new motor route from the romantic boder country to the scenic Mexican interior. High &fficials of the United States and Mexico will take part in cere- monies signalizing completion of one of the Southern republic’s proudest engineering feats. Vice President Garner and President Lazaro Cardenas will head the “list ‘of notables. ‘The road, built almost entirely by hand in nine years of arduous toil over tropical streams and rugged mountain ranges, represents an invest- ment of about $17,000,000. The Southern republic deliberately routed the road—the only passable automobile highway traversing the| imposing | -mountain ranges and the most inac- remate district — through D. C, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1936. cessible, although beautiful, region in the Eastern part of the nation. In 1925 the then President Plutarco Elias Calles—now in exile—ehvisioned the social and economic possibilities of modern motor transportation and particularly of the highway then being considered. Foreseeing that a route through beautiful, rugged, virtually unexplored territory would more probably bring tourists with dollars to spend, the government held to its plan. Dedication of the road will be marked by a brief ceremony on the international bridge here. ‘Telephone rates between the Philip- nd the United States may be Cogswell Chairs.__.$11.50 Fireside Chalrs____$14.50 done right and put back on 1t rmer JRBeeriny dones Techanies who han ioending maney get the besi wor Chair Caneing, Porch Rockers NOTICE! 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