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' i ‘ woe - deren : ; De. “(Mount Clipping in Spoce Below) ~ “Beckwith Appears Nervous) © => >~ But Denies Murdering Evers; of t oo] hilieed neil JACKSON, Miss., April 14. — A subdued Byrox—Dg-La' Beckwith, more nervous than when he first testified in Febru-| ary, Tuesday took the witness stand and swore he did not murder Jackson Negro leader Medgar Evers on June 12. The 43-year-old Greenwood salesman took the stand at 3:13 p.m, and answered questions from chief defense counsel Hardy Lott exactly an hour. In contrast to his appearance at the earlier trial, Beckwith limited his remarks to caact and short answers. | Beckwith took th “Vos. siryl did,” encworsdl| . e stand ap- cs. Sirpi did,” ensworsd| But during the 48 minutes he :Parently to lay the ground. Mr. Hobby. . answered questions from Dist.]- work for defense contentions jAtty, William Waller, Beck-|'that his 30.06 Enfield rifle dis. Mr. Waller confirmed that with’s testimony was soon|:appeared either from his car the Hobby car had no aerial punctuated by comments fromfior 64-year-old unlocked homeiSimilar to the one Miss Holder, the 37-year-old prosecutor such} a few days prior to the mur. Said she saw in the corner and as, “Can I go on now?” and! der, yasked why Mr. Hobby waited “May I finish my question?"| He said his car, in which{until two or three weeks apo toi he carried several guns, also|/Contact Hugh Cunningham, a! 1 “Did you shoot Medgar! sat unlocked most of June 10 defense attorney. i‘Evers?” asked Mr. Lott. ,at his firm’s Greenville of- “I just thought T should sav. | “No, sir,” answered Beck-' fice. . something about it.” answered iwith, with emphasis on the!. “Can you tell me,” said the 37-year-old truck driver. isin. |Mr. Lott as he handed Beck- _ “Did you tell the Jackson: “Where were you when Med- With. the Enfield rifle with a Police Department about gar Evers was shot?” seretisaie telescopic sight the this? {Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) __ Page~1 The Commericel Appeal ‘iomphis, Tenn. ‘the attorney, State claims was used as the! “They didn’t ask me,” {| “I was in Greenwood,"{Murder weapon, “whether that Hobby answered. Beckwith said. jis your rifle and scope?” , Mr. Hobby, who has been Beginning with a listing of} “This rifle is similar to sev-, e™Ployed by the trucking firm the schools which he attend-jeral rifles I have owned, but! for about 15 years, was trans- ed as a youth, the Deltan out couldn't positively identify!|ferred from Jackson to Mem- ‘lined his life until his arrestithe rifle or the scope,” Beck-|jPhis last July. His wife and ‘on June 22 for the ambush’ With said. ithree children joined him last ;murder of the NAACP field: Before Beckwith took the| November. ; ‘secretary. . 1stand, a Memphis truck driv-|! Judge ‘Leon Hendrick Te-| . He told the jury he was‘€i. @ former Jacksonian, told|:Cessed Court at 5:03 p.m. with {wounded in the first invasion;th2 court he had driven his] ;Beckwith still on the stand for| ‘wave of Tarawa and had pre-.!930 Valiant into the_pertirz oo aeeamnation. The te ‘viously fought at Guadal-! \~_ 7 will resume at 9 Wednesday Date: 4/15/64 . . Edition: MiSSiSSippi Author: Editor: Frank Ahlgren Title: ‘canal. . lot, which the state described] morning. [ ===" | choracter: “When were you arrested?” .25 the get-away location, a few or asked Mr. Lott. _Minutes before the murdér. hieation: ; “ld have to look at the But James L. Hobby of 579 Classification: M ; calendar.” responded the pale’ East Frank, employe of Gor- Submitting Office: oemphi but emphatic Beckwith. “I've oon aransports Inc., said he . 7 been here for so Jong it’s hard| P4rked in front of the drive-in, ’ . for me to remember.” | A prosecution witness earlier He denied talking to two. Said she saw a 1962 white Jackson taxi drivers who testi-: Valiant parked in the corner fied Beckwith or “a twin-4nd identified it as Beckwith's : brother” asked them for COMpany car. . ‘ Evers’ address June 8 at a Miss Barbara Holder said/ elankson, bus station...» She saw the driver enter the| rest room but she was unable! 18 7- %% / to positively identify him. “Do you recall whether youj davon “AONE went into the rest room?" : asked Mr. Lott. . | -° eee we TL ws . . : . . sone . we we ee ~ er. ta . . =~ w Le — _ REE EYRE SO ERS EET AE I ARN ITY HOt me 8p AA A