The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-12-24
JURY C0NV|CTS
TWO UTAH GIRLS
JURY DELIBERATE FOUR HOURS
AND RETURNS VERDICT OF
GUILTY IN UlNTA COUNTY
Nellie TrujiIIo and EInora Van, Ac-
completes in Rhodes Killing, Face
Ten Years to Life
Imprisonment

Vernal,-Nellie Trujillo, 16, and Ell
nora Van, IT, face long prison terms
as the result of a verdict returned
here, finding them guilty of second
degree murder for their part in the
brutal Staying of Thomas Rhodes, CO.
wealthy bachelor rancher of the
White Rocks section.
Under Utah statutes, second degree
murder carries a sentence Of not less
than ten years, with the term to be
| fixed between that figure and life at
discretion of the court.
Ernest Trujillo and Harris Murray,
both 10 years old, actual slayers of
Rhodes, were convicted last week
of first degree murder, the jury
recommending life Imprisonment be-
cause of their youth. Sentiment here
is divided as to the adequacy of the
punishment which, if Judge Hansen
does not exercise his prerogative to
override the jury's recommendation,
will be melted out to the boys. Salts
faction with the verdict in the girls
case has been generally expressed.
The case went to the jury shortly
after o'clock Wednesday, when Dis
trict Judge Elias Hansen gave that
body instructions as to it's duty. The
jury recessed until after the dinner
hour and at o'clock it met to begin
deliberations. At II o'clock the bail
iff advised Judge Hansen that the
jury was ready to report and within
five minutes the trial had ended.
Court attaches, the defendants, De-
tense Counsel Thomas W. O'Donnell
and District Attorney Marcellus Pope
were the only persons present when
Judge Hansen received the jury's re-
port. Attorney O'Donnell, faced with
perfect prosecution and under the
handicap of detailed confession from
all four of the murder participants,
made a desperate effort to gain nit
igation from the extreme penalty. In
the boys case he won jury recon-
mendation of mercy, and with the
girls obtained verdict in a lesser
degree than charged.
With the verdict returned one of
the most sensational murder trials in
the annals of crime in Utah was
brought to a close.
Harris Murray, Ernest TruJno,
Nellie Trujillo and Elnora Van had
for several months been living to-
gether. The Trujillos are brother and
icfo re Of hn h.
iected to their joint occupancy of a
,abin and neighbors had demonstrated
With them. The four are all of mixed
indian stock, but their families are
lmong the most respected of this re-
ZION.
Mrs. Ross Takes Office January
Laramie, Wyo.,-With Mrs. Nellie
Taylor Ross, governor-elect of Wyom-
ng, as the central figure, history and
economic classes at the State univer-
ity here, celebrated the fifty-fifth
of the granting of equal
uffrage to women In this state. On
december 10, 1869, Territorial Cover
or ]. A. Campbell affixed his sigma
IRE to ian act to grant the women
Wyoming territory the right to
lffrage and to hold office" Wyom-
lg territory was the first American
to grant such rights 70
omen, and on January 5, 1925, Wy
ming as state, again will blaze
lie path in recognition of women In
olitics when Mrs. Ross, one of the
rst woman governors in the United
tates. will assume office.