Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-10-26
MURDERER GETS
/ LIFE SENTENCE
Jury Out go Minutes in Crazy
Mikes Case, Brings in a
Verdict of Guilty.
TRIAL WAS VERY SHORT
Convicted of Killing 2 Women
School Teachers at Stelton
---Made Self Defense Plea
.sY Star Ccrresnondent.

IS STAN Correspondent
NEW BRUNSWICK, Oct. 26:-
Guilty of first degree murder" with
a recommendation for life imprison-
ment at hard labor was the verdict
of the jury after seventy minutes
deliberation in the trial of Mike
Cray Nike" of Stelton, charged
with the double murder of the
Misses Susie and Sadie Felter. of
Highland Park, on the early morn
ing of September IL at Stelton. The
jury went out at 12:45 o'clock this
afternoon and returned with the
verdict of guilty at 1856.
After the foreman of the jury had
announced the verdict of the twelve
men Senator Thomas Brown, attor-
ney for the defense. requested each
juryman to repeat the verdict.
which was done by each in turn.
Prosecutor Joseph L. Stricken. rep
resenting the state, then moved for
sentence and Supreme Court Justice
James ]. Bergen had the defendant
brought before the bar where he
was sentenced to life Imprisonment
at hard labor. AS q result of the
jury's decision it would have been
impossible for the man to be GEN.
fenced to the electric chair, Justice
Bergen stated.
Self defense was the plea entered
by Crazy Mike when he took the
stand in his own behalf this morn
Ing. He was the only witness for the
defense and testified forty-five min
utes. He claimed Frank Whitlock,
of Highland Park, in whose automo-
bile the Felter sisters were sitting.
fred the first shot at him and he re-
turned the fire in self defense.
Senator Brown required about
forty minutes to sum up the case for
the defense, he referring to Mike as
"raving relic of the world war
and lone of the military maniacs"
numbered among the thousands who
went through the fighting in France.
He asked the jury to strike all testi-
mony except that given by Mike and
Whitlock, declaring that the only
issue to he decided was whether or
not Whitlock fired the first shot and
Mike acted in self-defense. The at
torney maintained that to degree
at least Whitiock was as responsible
for the shooting as was Mike.
If the jury should decide upon a
verdict of guilty to first degree muir
Ter. Senator Brown continued, they
we're requested to make a recon-
mendation for life Imprisonment sc
that the defendant would be spared
.~om the electric chair.
Prosecutor Joseph T.. Stricken
summed up the states case in about
twenty minutes. showing that Mike
was not so intoxicated that he could
not have premeditated and planned
,he murder.
Judge Bergen in charging the jury
explained the difference between first
md second degree murder and man.
slaughter. He told the jurymen that
The fact the defendant was an ex-
service man was no excuse for his
violating the law and this should be
considered by them before turning in
4 verdict. Judge Bergen explained
% the jury that they could return d
verdict of first degree murder with
recommendation for life imprison-
ment.
The jury went out at 12:45 o'clock
Mike. according to his testimony
his morning. did not fire the first
shot. He claimed that Frank Whit
, lock. of Highland Park, the driver
\ Of the automobile in which the Eel
\ .er sisters were killed by the same
bullet. had taken from him his re-
volver and holster and fired severa
shots at him. The defendant claim
6u llle SlOlS WSTe 50 ClOSe 10 Hllll liz
was afraid he would be hit and de-
cided to shoot his rifle in order tc
frighten Whitlock.
In presenting the defense to the
court Senator Brown said he would
admit Mikes stopping at the Sims
2 home for a drink of water and in.
formation as to the way to Cam
Raritan. The defendant was intox.
icated at the time, his attorney said
but had no feeling Of animosity un.
til Whitlock endeavored to takt
from him his revolver and ther
forced him to go down the driveway
Ten or fifteen shots were fired, Sen
ator Brown said, Whitlock firms
first while Mike returned the fire il
self-defense.
When Mike was placed upon tn,
stand to testify in his own behalf he
proved to be good and willing wit.
ness, his English being somewhat
broken, but he made his statement,
clear and in majority of the case,
his story coincided with that told b,
the states witnesses. He said h,
was employed in the Navy Yard a
Brooklyn and had come to New
Brunswick that afternoon, gettinl
in at about o'clock and going Il
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