New Britain herald., 1928-02-03
HICKMAN TRIAL IS NEARING ITS END Defense Expected to Complete
 All Evidence Today ALlENIST TO TESTIFY
Additional Brain Specialist Calletl and Will Be Asked . Long Hypo- thetical Question About Insanity Accused Offers Self for Tests


 Courtroom, Los Angeles, Feb. 3 UP The defense expected when court convened this morning to complete it's case for William Edward Hick- man before noon.
 Dr. R. o. Shelton, psychiatrist, was the first witness. and Jerome Walsh, defense attorney, said only one ad- dltional alienist would be called. It was then planned q ask a long hypothetical question embodying the entire insanity defense. Hypothetical Question
 The hypothetical question embrac- cd the following points: l. Testimony that the Hickman family had shown traces of insanity for three generations.
 .. The sudden change of the slayer from a popular and brilliant student to a. morose and unap- proachable individual ,. Brutality of the crime he com- mitted
 i 4. Lack of definite motive and | the small sum demanded as ran- som.
 ,. Testimony of the father and mother that Hickman was born lead.'
 6. Evidence that his mother. Mrs. Eva Hickman, had been committed to an insane asyiusanhd tfAt short l ly bcfUe Htckl shc was in her worst Ae.
 Hick,skG M Dcluded' ' Hickman was deiuded by the be- lief that special providence" or dered him to murder Marion Park er Dr. Shelton. former sanity com missioner of San Diego, testified.
 The alienist testified tha this ques- tionng of the young murderer had brought out that Hickman believed himself greater than Christ" and that he was sent to earth with a message for all men,
 According to Dr. Shelton, Hick- man told him that he was to be q man without emotion and that the murder was directed by providence as a test.
 The witness testified Hickman said that at one time during the dismem- bering of Marion Parker's body, he stopped his work and played a phonograph record to determine whether he was experiencing any emotion.
 Dr, Shelton said Hickman believes that if he were hanged, he would be like Christ.
 At other times he believes that he never will be hanged but that his .'providence will cause some acci- dent that will halt the law, Dr. Shel- ton said.
 He is under the delusion. for example. that he could make you his friend.' Dr. shelton said, ad- dressing District Attorney Asa Reyes
 That is the first real delusion you have shown us," Reyes declared.
 The remark was ordered stricken from the records by Judge J. J. Trabucco.
 Details Are Told
 Los Angeles. Feb. 3 RD-The hor- yifying details of the murder and mutilation of little Marion Parker. the ti;ful thoughts and schemes Of the killer and the innermost secrets of the Hickman family have found their way into the record of the William Edward Hickman sanity trial.
 Before the close of yesterdays court session two of the three ex- pert. witnesses for the defense had started to draw from the evidence the conclusions with which his at- ;orneys will attempt to convince the jury that Hickman was unable 70 distinguish between right and wrong ;.t the time of the murder.
 To the evidence was added a mothers story of grief. a fathers s fearful account of his married life and a brothers matter-of- fact idea of the prisoners mental status as well as the grim testimony of po- lice officer
 II was the latter and a newspa- per photographer who brought into the court records the morgue pho tographs of the girls dismembered body and the big Jackknife which Hickman declared was the weapon iie used.
 As the afternoon session came tC a close defense alienist, Dr. K. O. Shelton Of Los Angeles, declared
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