The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-04
H[CKMAN'S NOTE
TO JAILMATE IS
STATES WEAPON
Prosecutor Uses Letter in Ell.
fort to Undermine Defense
Claim of Insanity
INTENDED TO HAVE FIT
Youth Planned to Bewilder
Jury by Doing Laughing,
Screaming, Diving Act
INTENDED TO HAVE FIT

Los Angeles, Feb. l.-R1-The
active pencil Of William Edward
Hickman, with which he has scrib-
bled his numerous confessions and
dashed off mental tests for alien.
lists, today provided the prosecutor
with . new weapon in its attempt
to rip the foundation from under
the .slavoe's insanity defense.
The latest work Of the prisoners
pencil. . supposedly secret letter to
|. apQther eounty ieil prisoner, was
intro o0uced yesterday in the states
cross examination Of the defense's
last witness-Dr. A. s. Skoog Of
Kansas City.
Il disclosed Hickman's intention
to stage - laughing, screaming,
diving act," in the court room per-
haps in front Of "old man Parker" {"
tho father Of little Marian Parker,
the slayer's school girl victim.
Planned to Throw Z Fit
"All these depositions aren't
enough to prove me insane," said
the letter. written after the present
sanity trial was well under way.
"I've got to throw . fit in court and
I intend to throw . laughing,
screaming, diving act, before the
prosecution finishes its case
maybe in front Of old man Parker
himself.
"Then, to bewilder the jury, be-
fore the case is ended, I'll get up
and ask the Judge If / can say
something without my attorney but
ting In. Then I'll get up and give
all that stuff about me wanting to
do good by living. *sss%.
"For Gods sake tear this thing
up, because it would ruin me If It
got out"
Hickman Signs Letter
The letter was signed civilian
Edward Hickman" alias the "fox,"
with = few ssha has, attached and
. postscript: "You know and II
know that I'm not insane, however"
Confronted by that letter, DR..
Shortly afterward, the defense rest
insane, conceded that tho writer
might b. either sane or insane.
Shortly a3terward, the defense rest
ed and the prosecution began it,
rebuttal.
N AS the prosecutions first witness,
. handwriting expert, took the
sand to identity the letter, Hick-
mans counsel interrupted with the
declaration that the defense was
ready to stipulate that the letter
had been written by Hickman TO-
Dal Budlong, . fellow inmate Of
Has Opposite Opinion
Reynolds. then testified - the first
Of seven alienists contradicting the
opinion Of defense experts that
Hickman was unaware Of wrong do |
ing when he killed Marian Parker.
"Hickman's dominant character |
istic i callousness," testified DR..
Reynolds. "And callousness long,
has bean recognized % . hall mark
of the criminal.
"He pressnts no signs Of insanity
from the medical standpoint and
even less from. : medical-legal|
Inc IocI ydoI HICKMAN poe6eeee0
. "sardonic sense Of humor" was |
cited BY Dr. Reynolds O. proof that |
he was not suffering from demeutie
praecox - centsnded by The del
Tense.
The doctor quoted tn youth, In
dicted for two slayinGs, 9 saying
that "Keyes (the dist2ict attorney) |
q . generous guy. He says & heI
hangs me for killing Marian he'll 1t |
me of for the. shooting Of tho drue.
9ist." The druggist Wa G. IvYI
Thoms, killed BY Hickman md hisI
pal IN their attempt 70 hold up hisI
store.
to: Hickman Grins
Hickman, who had 1lushed hotlyI |
during the reading Of his 'sfitss
|etter, erinned - his sayings were
repeated BY the witness.
Cross examination Of DR.. Rey.
nolds BY Jerome Walsh, young chief
defense counsel, was cut Oft BY the /
close Of court last night. II was
lCoutinusd o. paSs two) 4