The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-04-02
State Demands That Boy of III Be
Conuicted of First Degree Murder
Cecil Burkett Accused of
Firing Shot That Killed
Playmate

KNOX. Indiana. April 2.-Cecll
Burkctt answers to the state OF Indi-
ana April on a first degree murder
Indictment
This trial will be In circuit court.
where an adult charged with similar
ofense would be tried. No disiinc-
tion will be made In the trial Of Cecil
Burkstt because he Is a boy Of only
1 years.
The question OF the boys ac-
countabiiity. his understanding OF
the gravity Of mui der. will not enter
into the ease.
Tho trial will proceed upon the
statutes of the state setting forth the
proof Of commission OF crime and the
evidence necessary for conviction.
The extreme penalty on conviction h.
death By clcctrocutiCn.
Agree ON Court
"Tll not ask for any change OF
vonue." says w. !. Reed. attorney for
the boy defendant, Circuit court Il
the proper place to try the boy. lie
did not shoot Benny Sluvin and we
expect to prove that he did not"
''rhe case Is being heard In the
proper tribunal. SAYS james A.
Blts. prosecutor THE boy D. ac-
countable. lie Is old enough TO know
what murder IL and to plan &c. The
him, were he not"
Cecil Burkett goes 10 trial because
Benny Slavin. Z, next door ncighbor
and playmate, died OF bullet wound
he received last Thanksgiving day
when playing In the Burkctt yard at
ora.
Up to children.
Although adults will prosecute, de-
fcud ana pass sentence on the boy.
! LNa N..Ha a.. a HHH h. 70
No adult witnessed the shooting OF
Benny slavin Only children were A.
the Bu.kett home Thanksgiving day
at the time Of the shooting.
Upon their testimony the jury Will
decide whether Cecil Burkctt goes to
his death. 10 prison or 10 freedom.
Cecil says that he did not fire tho
shot, that he did not s'c IL fired, tiat
/ ne was just entering his house when
De heard the shot.
lie says that he had left the gun un
the ground. ready TO kill sparrow II
they came about the martin house
which he and Frederick Schcrmann,
| II. were cleaning
But this story is contradictcd by
/ Frederick. lie is the states princi-
pal witness
In fact. all OF the important wit
nesses FOR state and prosecution viii
/ be children.
Alfred Burkett. .. Cocirs brother.
will bc in court. 50 will Clara Slayin,
10. and her sister Elsie. s. and her
/ brother Albert, 9.
Grownups will testify. too. but their
| testimony will only serve as the woOf
| through which N woven the warp Of
testimony.
Upon The design Of this fabric Cecil
/ Burkctt will die. go TO prison or be
set free.
Teacher tu Tosiif,
Mrs. Beth Kciser. teacher iu the
| tile red school house. viii bee in
court to tell OF things that happened
To Bennio slavin before the day ne
died.
| H-rry slayin, Bcnny's father. and
Lena Slaviu. his mother, will be in
court to add their lit Go the web Of
testimony So will Mrs. l.. r. Mad
Cock. q noighboi.
Ana Anna Burkctt. the boy de-
frnddnts mother, Will be- there. 81
viii Frederick MtNimiliau Won AuW
aud Mary Van AuW. grand parents oi
Cecil. Won Auw g. Ora'e postmaster
Indeed, most Of the village of ora
| will be in court.
Prc-ents n Problem
| Scicnts regard ora as presenting a
problem ~ psychology, or sociology
or Criminology.
But Ora disrcgards the scientist,
and looks within ~ narrow confinei
upon "a tragedy that concerns "ycrl
home. every child.
Opinion rruds the town IN twain.
Tho one man iu ora who wuult