New Britain herald., 1928-02-02
TEACHER RELATES
 HICkMAN'S METHOD
Tells How Self Confessed Slayer
 kidnapd Marion Parker
WANTED YOUNGEST GIRL
Called at School During Noon Hour, Asked Teacher for Little Parker Girl and Said That Her Father Was III.

~AOA ASlAklH ASR
 Girl and Said That Her Father Was III.
 Court Room. Los Angeles, Feb. UP)-The story of how William Edward Hickman lured Marion Parker from school on the pretext that her father was i'll was told a jury in superior court here today. Naomi Britton, teacher at the Mount Vernon Junior High school, Los Angeles. was called by the de- fense. which is attempting to prove Hickman insane and save him from hanging for the murder of Marion. Tells of His Visit Miss Britton. little woman wear ing heavy glasses. walked timidly to the witness stand and related how Hickman came to the school and asked to see the little girl he later killed.
 Her voice was hardly audible as she told the story. and it seemed that the fact that she had permitted Mar ion to leave school with the youth weighed heavily upon her.
 Hickman drove up to the school during the noon recess on December IS, went to the office and asked for the Parker girl" Miss Britton said.
 Said Father Was Ill
 The youth was informed that there were two Parker girls and Hickman replied that he wanted the younger one, she said.
 Marion was then called to the office and was told that her father was i'll and that she was wanted at home immediately.
 Marion asked anxiously about the condition of her father. the youth told her to hurry along, and they left the office at once.
 There was nothing about the ac- tions of Hickman to arouse the least suspicion of his motive in asking for the girl, Miss Britton testified. and Marion showed no hesitation.
 Drove Away in Car
 A moment after they left the off, flee of the school. Edward and the girl stepped into the automobile he he'd parked at the curb and drove away.
 A little more than two days later, Hickman returned the dismembered body of the little girl to her father and collected $500 ransom money.
 By a chance of fate, the teachers testimony brought out, it was Mar ion who became the kidnapper's vic tim instead of her twin sister.
 Trick of Fate
 When Hickman asked for the younger Parker girl, the teacher sent without hesitation for Marion. not knowing the two girls were twins.
 Miss Britton testified that in her opinion Hickman appeared perfectly rational and intelligent when he ab- ducted the child.
 Mrs. Mary Holt. another teacher at Marion's school, followed Miss Britton on the stand and recounted her meeting with Hickman.
 Mrs. Holt's testimony was sub stantially the same as that of Miss Britton. She also expressed the opin- ion that Hickman appeared quite sane during the short time he was in the school office.
 She said Hickman was well groomed and that he instilled confi- dence rather than aroused suspi- cion.
 Detectives Testify.
 Herman Cline, chief of detectives, who led the hunt for Hickman after he had been identified as the killer, followed Mrs. Holt to the witness stand.
 Welby Hunt, former bandit pal of Hickman, entered the court room while Cline was on the witness stand and was taken to small room just off the judges chamber.
 Hunt and Hickman are under in- dictment for murder in connection with the death of a Los Angeles during hold-up, on Christ mas Eve. 1926.
 Before the opening of today's session Jerome Walsh. chief defense attorney, said it was highly i'm probable that Hickman would testi- fy.
 There was . tremendous jam to get into the court room today with the prospect of Hickman's father, mother and brother testifying.
 Several persons in the crowd 
 The confession of Hickman to the Kidnapping and murder was shown to Cline. He identified it and said the statements therein were made by Hickman.
 Hears Own Confession
 The young confessed murderer sat yesterday and heard his own confession of the horrible mur- der repeated to the court room. | Once or twice his face blanched as Detective Richard Lucas went over l the details of the crime-as Hick- man had confessed them-but for the most part he sat and stared straight ahead as the story was told.
 The defense had staged a surprise l move in having the confession l which Hickman gave Lucas and a ater one the youth gave Asa Reyes, district attorney, read as part of it's evidence.
 A crowded court room heard the i ietails of the confession. The crowd was 50 great that extra precautions 1 were made-as Lucas went on with he details Of how Hickman had dis ,ected the little girls body-to as- ,ure a safe trial of Hickman. Mem- ,ers of the jury. composed of eight men and four women. paled as they heard the confessions.
 They heard details of Hickman's