Evening star., 1928-02-10
HICKMAN MAY LIVE
MONTHS ON APPEAL
Jury Out Only So Minutes to
Find Slayer Sane and
Guilty.

LOS ANGELES. February 10.-Wil-
liam Edward Hickman is sane, and,
Therefore, accountable To the Law for
the kidnapping and murder Of little
Marian Parker.
A jury yesterday required only 80
minutes to reach that conclusion.
Whether the 19-year old youth dies on
the galloWs or goes TO the penitentiary
for the rest Of his life rests With Supe-
rior Judge J. J. Trabucco, who will
determine his punishment and pro-
nounce sentence tomorrow.
Judge Trabuccos sole indication OF
what his decision might be carried 1T
tie comfort for the slayer. The Judge
said
,, II cannot state In advance Just what
my sentence will be-but you can rest
assured that this defendant Will be
given all the law allows"
DisdainfuI of Crowd.
While the court and the attorneys
we're feeling their way through the
| labyrinth Of the new and untested law
governing insanity pleas in criminal
cases, Hickman vas taking the matter
/ coOlly. As the jury delivered its verdict
he sat bolt upright in his chair. show
ing no emotion. As ne was led from
/ the courtroom ne only cast disdaintul
look at the hundreds who were staring
at him, and ne made wise cracks
on the way TO his cell.
THE die Is cast and the State wins
by neck" he said. A 24-hour guard
was ordered over him.
His mother, Mrs. Eva Hickman OF
IN aJfaOcA
! Ills had been paraded through the trial
| by defense in an effort TO show hereci-
| tary insanity. heard the result in the
Office of his attorneys. Overcome, she
/ wandered out into the street and some
/ time afterward was found by Hickman's
brother Alfred standing on street cor
! ner that rang with the shouts OF news
| bows
| In the Parker home news Of the YER
dict was received almost listlessly. The
| mother of the l2-year r-old girl victim
received it IN silence.
| I'm satisfied-satisfied and wanting
only to forget" said her father. Perry
| NJ. Parker.
| Will Appeal
Hickmans attorneys announced an
| appeal would be taken tomorrow on
the legality of the entire proceedings
and the constitutionality Of the new
| California law" under which the plea
| OF not guilty by reason of insanity"
was entered and received. In addition
| they will file motion for new trial.
| District Attorney Asa keyes said he
/ would fight every attemp. 10 delay the
case. but admitted that Il Hickman
were sentenced 70 be hanged court ac-
| ton probably would delay the execu-
/ ton for several months.
! -fr cot
probable that the prosecution OF Hick-
| man on a second murder charge-the
killing Of C. Ivy Thons. druggist, dur
| ing an attempted hold-up-would not
| be pressed until the present case had
/ been settled III the higher courts. Hick-
mans attorneys said they anticipated
! that the ThomS trial would be delayed.
| especially If Hickman's accomplice IN
| the hold-up Welby Hunt. pleaded
guilty and placed himself on the mercy
Of the court.
II his cell Hickman considered a re-
quest said 10 have been telephoDed from
the University OF Chicago. asking for
his body. He discussed the request in
a humorous vein. and said he would
consult his attorney about II.
Under the new statute, the jury did
not pass on the question OF Hicknlans
| guilt. nor the facts concerning the COM
| mission Of the crime. It's sole duty was
| TO declare him sane or insane. Eick-
| mans plea Of mot guilty by reason OF
| Insanity" was legal admission that he
| committed the ofenses charged.
| In his final argument Walsh said.
| For Hickman the murderer hold no
| brief. and continuing, describing the
| crime as the most daStardlv thing ever
| human set out 10 do" This observers
| believe. blocks any later move for mercy
which may be made,
H!ckmanS lease on life. /! he were
sentenced 10 death. would be four
months at least, pending his appeal.
Should his attorneys perfect an appeal
to the United States Supreme Court
after having exhausted al efforts III the
State Supreme Court Hickman would
be certain ct life for six months longer.
X was said a; the State supreme Court
The case may be heard there within -
AaNeS