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‘| with” » Tay. 1. , Policemen Say Defendant Seen In Greenwood At ’ Time Of Slaying By EDWARD P. MOORE JR. Special to The Commercial Appeal JACKSON, Miss., Feb. 5.— ‘The defense rested its case in murder trial at 5:47 p.m. Wed- nesday. The action came after Beck- with took the witness stand in a surprise maneuver and swore he did not ambush Med- gar Evers, Negro integrationist leader shortly after midnight last June 12. He claimed that a gun simi- lar to the weapon the state charges was used to kill Evers was stolen from him the night before the slaying. {, Arguments will open Thurs- ‘day morning. af | The packed courtroom : |'gasped in astonishment when the name “Byron De La Beck- was called and the former fertilizer salesman walked swiftly to the stand, took his oath and was seated. He was questioned by his coun- sel, Hardy Lott, for 55 minutes, answering deftly and with as- isurance. i “Mir. Beckwith,” asked Mr. ‘Lott “Did you shoot Medgar. _ Evers” “No sir," he” answered crete ampeen every pap spnag 2 Onmey-ONera merageennenn ees PHOT ER tit f Nah AIOE errr we ate _ — We Didn’t Kall Evers ~—(Claims Rifle Stolen the Byron De La Beckwith . [8h __AMount Clipping in Spoce Below). The former Marine Corps Purple Heart-winner said he received a cut over his right eye during a target shooting session “before this Evers’ business came up” when the 30-06 Enfield’s telescopic sight recoiled into him. Three of his fellow employes at a Green- Iville fertilizer company testi- fied earlier Wednesday they saw the cut before June 12. The state had suggested the cut resulted when Evers was ot. Beckwith denied being in Jackson at any time near the date of the shooting and added that if his white Valiant, iden- tified by several witnesses as being near the murder scene, was in the capital city “I have no knowledge of it.” “ The 43-year-old Beckwith told the jury that he customarily traveled with weapons, ‘‘as many as 30 to 40" in his car. He admitted receiving an En- field rifle from Itta Bena plant- er Thorne McIntyre and trad- ing for a telescopic sight at Grenada. But Beckwith said he could ‘hot with certainty identify a rifle hidden in honeysuckle ‘vines near the murder scene as his. ; Mr. Waller began his cross- examination with questions about letters in his possession, some to newspaper editors, which he said bore Beckwith’s signature, He asked the Deltan if his expressions 6f segrega- tion ideas were not made pub- licly. _with was in an alley near the Ae en eke ht oe (Indicate page, nome of newspaper, city and estate.) “I have, heen yery pro- nounced about my views con- cerning segregation, constitu- tional government, and states rights,” he answered calmly. But the scion of an aristocratic Mississippi family began to squirm slightly as Mr, Waller began reading. From a letter bearing what the district attorney said was a 1957 date, he read ‘‘and fur- thermore, when 1 die, I'll be buried in a segregated ceme- tery. When you get to Heaven you will find me in the part that has a sign saying ‘For White Only.’ And If I go to Hades, I’m going to raise hell all over Hades till I get in the white section.” Beckwith said the signature looked like his. In earlier testimony three Greenwood residents, two of Page 1 —— __o'PS CONMERCIAL APPEAL ___ Memphis, Tenn. them police officers, swore . they saw the dapper fertilizer pate: 1/ 6/ 64 salesman 59 minutes before| Editon: Final Evers’ murder and 30 minutes after in Greenwoog.’They said they were positive in their identifications. Roy Jones, 33-year-old sign manulactuyp ‘, testified Beck- Author: edtor:Prank R, Ahlgr Title: junction of Highways 82 and Character: 49 preparing to pull out on the highway at 11:45 p.m. He said the area was lighted with flood- lights and there was no doubt the man was Beckwith. or Classification: Submitting Office: Mamphi James Holley spotted Beckwith at+{:05 a.m. June 12 filling his car with gasoline near the same spot. Officer Cresswell said they remem- bered the time because one of the two-had just looked at a watch. | ae ee nape ere re pen