Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-05-25

Those convicted besides the widow
CT the slain cowboy actor, were
Anita Davis, Iris Burns and Henry
Isabel, small parts players in mo-
tion pictures, and Joe Hunt, Arizona
cowboy, all of whom were members
of the ''moonshine" party which the
oiice characterized as widest ever
to come tc their attention.
Mrs. Kerrick, whose testimony in
her own defense was marked by
}lysterical fits OF weeping and sob-
bing, evinced little emotion when
the verdict was announced.
Sentence Will be pronounced next
Friday.
The Trial OF the quintet, each
member of which attempted to
throw the blame for the shooting on
another, was unusual in that de-
tense attorneys, through cross-ex-
animation conducted almost wholly
the prosecutions case.
When the time came for summing
up by The state, no attempt was
made by prosecutors to fix the blame
Oh any one but asked that all five
be convicted.
Kerrick was shot to death early
OH the morning of April 9 in his
Hollywood flat Widely varying
stories of how and who fired the
shot were told by the defendants.
Miss Davis declared in a state
nlent after her arrest and again on
the Witnesc stand that the widow OF
the film two gun" western player
had killed her husband in a Jealous
rage when he accepted a drink OF
liquor from the hand OF Miss Burns
rather than the cup OF coffee pro-
ffered by his wife.
In answer 10 this Miss Burns de-
MED that she was at the flat at the
time OF the shooting and presented,
through 6 man friend, on the VII
ness stand, an alibi showing that
she mad kept an appointment at his
apartment prior TO the time OF the
shooting and had remained there
I'll night.
Mrs. Kerrick testified that the
shooting was accldental; that the
gun was discharged in scuftle
Which followed attempts by several
members OF the party to obtain
possession Of it after Isabel and
k-erriCk had engaged in a quarrel.
Isabells story backed up tnat told
by Miss Davis, while Hunt declared
he was in a drunken stupor and
knew nothing OF the affair.
In his arguments to the jury coun,
sci for Mrs. KerTick. trying TO prove
her story OF accidental shooting, de-
Clared KerTick was the victim OF "a
live Of gin, jazz and parties in SIM
ful Hollywood"
A fling at "HollyWood's wild part
les. and killings" was taken by d
spokesman for group OF the Jurors
after they had been discharged.
1--WE simply couldn't do anything
else but find the defendants guilty
all Of thenl--under the law and
instructions from the court" said
the juror. 1--WE felt that it is about
time to call halt on Hollywoods
wild parties and killings. TO nayc
returned q verdict of not guilty IN
this case would have beer to put q
stamp of approval on such disgrace
ful carousing. Under the law it one
was guilty all We're guilty even
though only one person may have
done the actual shooting"
The jury consisted OF nine women
and three men.
Judge Carlos Hardy had instruct
ed the jury that under CALIFORNIA;
law where three or more persons are
and engaged in an un~
lawful act, IT one member OF that
should be killed as
result, then all members OF the
group are responsible equally for the
killing. The fact that the members
of the party were intoxicated was
not an excuse, he instructed. Only
? half dozen ballots were taken In
a verdict, members OF the
jury said.