Salt Lake Telegram | 1932-06-01 | Page 9 | Elder Murder Case near Ned

ELDER MURDER CASE NEAR END Character Witnesses Testify in Behalf of Accused Slayer Character witnesses test testified in behalf behall behalf be be- half hall of Clarence J. J Elder EJder 36 of 1068 Kensington avenue Wednesday as his trial on first degree murder charges reached its final stages in Third distrIct district dis dis- court Elder EJder is accused of the murder of James L. L Beveridge whom he allegedly alleged ly shot and killed in hi the Beveridge home on March l 23 23 as the climax of ofa a marital tangle The w witnesses who took the stand in Elders Elder's behalf were Edward H. H Eardley Howard vard J r. MeKe n n. n E. E J J. J Kirkham Edward M. M Ashton and Gaskell Gas Gas- kell keIl Romney county commissioner The state scored heavily late Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tues Tues- day dur during ng the final m minutes in which Elder was on the stand in his own behalf During cross examination states state's attorneys questioned the defendant de de- de seeking explanations as to why he carried a gun with which he heIs heIs heIs Is said saW to have shot and killed Beveridge Beveridge Bever Bever- idge for two days before the alleged murder occurred Elders Elder's only explanation was that he kept the weapon with him in the belief his wife might attempt to commil com corn mit mil suicide if U she found it lying about The prosecuting attorneys directed many questions at him and made much of his admissions that he made madeno no attempt to place the gun Un in care of anyone else The state started its rebuttal testimony testimony mony late Wednesday by calling City Detective Reed Billings to the stand to relate the results of his investigation tion of the alleged murd murder r. r Mr Billings Billings' testified that shortly after ater he arrived at the scene of the alleged murder Elder made a voluntary volun tary tory statement that Mrs Elder had confessed to taking joyrides with Beveridge but that he was convinced she merely had been indiscreet He made no mention that Beveridge had violated the Elder home according to Mr Billings testimony Court attaches expressed an opinion that final arguments would be presented presented presented pre pre- Thursday and that the case would be given to the jury Thursday night