El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-15
FORMER Ell PAS0
LAD FACES DEATH
Glenn Wits Chum Is Con
victed Of Murder; lie Now
Faces Same Charge.

With his chum convicted for murder,
Glenn Witt, a former Ell Paso lad. faces
trial in Los Angeles this week for his
life The cEum, Chas. E. T. Oman,
was convicted yesterday and will either
be sentenced to hang or to life i'm
pVisOumeut.
The two young desperadoes shot and
killed William NJ. Alexander during a
burglary i'm the Alexander home, SOS
Wiltshire Place. less than three weeks
ago.
Shaking and trembling. both prison
ers repudiated the confession they
made to the police but neither at
tempted to deny that he took part in
the burglary.
District attorney Woolwine will de-
mand the death sentence for both men
and viii combat every effort of the
prisoners to escape the supreme PEN
atty.
OMAN was tried first and public de-
fender Walton Wood attempted to shift
the burden for the Staying on Witt, the
older OF the pair, whom he accused Of
having lUred his associate into a life of
crime.
Witt resided in. FL Paso for IS years,
until about q year and q half ago, when
the family moved to Los Angeles. At
one time he was a call boy on the G.
H.. but one of his former acquaintance
said today that during his later years
IN FL Paso ne was a bum
Mental Deficiency, Oxnam's Plea.
Oman is the son of q retired minis
ter, who died two years ago. His de-
fence was mental deficiency and ex-
perts were called to prove that he is a
Weakling and irresponsible.
Wits family has hired attorney Clyde
Z. Cate to represent him. His defence,
as outlined by Witt himself i'm the
county Jail, win be based on three con-
tentions:
First-That the shooting of Alexan-
der was done either by OMAN or by
William NJ. Alexander, jr., son of the
victim. who engaged Oman in a thrill
ing revolver duel in the bed chamber
where the tragedy occurred.
Second-That the shooting was not
part Of the burglary: that Witt had lett
the room and had warned Oxnam to
leave and not to shoot.
Third-That the evidence fails to
show whether AleXander was killed by
OMAN or by young Alexander. who
rushed into the room in defence Of his
parents He said:
They can't soak me- I didn't kill
Alexander; the burglary was over and
] had left the room. I had no revolver,
and there would have been no murder
If Oman had not lost his head"
Differs From First story
rms statement by Witt has been re-
lterated many times since he was
locked up in the Los Angeles county
Jail 1t differs materially from the
statement he made at the time of his
arrest.
Less than three weeks after the mur-
der the preliminaries have been held,
the information drawn. the pleas taken
ana the case set for peremptory hear
ing
Medical witnesses were subpenaed to
disprove Oxnam's assertion that he is
mentally unsOInd other EXPERTS win
refute Wits assertion that young Al
eXander killed his own father i'm the
duel with Oman.
In their cells both prisoners are ner-
vous and fretful
oman did il; didn't know he was
such a hairtrigger or I never would
have had anything to do with him. 1t
WaSn.t necessary TO kill Mr.. Alexander
Just before the son came rushing into
the room, ] touched oxnam's shoulder
and told him we had better get out
shooting"
This was Wits final statement. prior
TO OXnam being taken to court for
Witt got me into that business. I
never Lhought OF being r burglar until
he told me how easy 1t was to rob
houses declared Oman.
Stories to Police Damaging.
Inc most damaging evidence against
the prisoners are their own statements
der.
After they had been trapped in a
room at 400 Temple street, Oman and
witt surrendered without a struggle
ana We'd with each other in recounting
their parts in the tragedy.
Both admitted they had been cor
nered and were desperate and that the
killing Of Alexander did not occur nm
I'll they both had been set upon bv the
son and two daughters Of Mr.. Alexan-
ing the excitement
The victim of the tragedy was a re-
tired lawyer who had returned to Los
Angeles after a two years tour of En-