The Washington times., 1929-01-02
TRIAL JUDGE IN
NORTHCOTT
CASE QUITS

CONTINUED from First Page)
he would ask for d continuance un-
til January 7.
sayay revealed that the defense
alienists had been examining North
colt since December %. He said he
had believed Northcott sane until
that date, but conflicting statements
made to the authorities by the pris-
oner caused him to retain the med.
icai experts.
savay also declared that the action
Monday of Mrs. Leuise Northcott,
the defendants mother. in pleading
guilty to numbering one boy had
Tense, and he was unprepared for
trial at this time.
District Attorney Earl Redwine an
nounced that Northcott would be
placed on trial despite his newest
purported confession made to Los
Angeles authorities last night.
Northcott in rambling and &C.
centric statement indicated he was
prepared to plead guilty and again
said that he was ready to point out
the burial places Of his alleged vic
Tins. As d result, officers win prob
ably make another search Of the
desert today.
Pointing to a map III the hands Of
investigators, NoFthcott said.
You win find the body Of Rich
ard West there.
Officers were of the opinion that
Richard West might be 4 compo-
site picture of all the victims North
cot q believed to have slain.
Although living witnesses were
ready to accuse the 21-year-old Cana
dian youth, the prosecution Will de
pend largely upon the mute evidence
Of science In an attempt to prove
charges that Northcott slew little
boys on his Wineville chicken ranch.
fragments Of broken bones, wisps
0f hair and sWeepings from blood
stained flooring have been assen1b-
led, placed under microscopic ex-
animation and declared by prose 1u-
tion experts to bear out the charges
that human lives were taken en-
the desolate Northcott farm,
Single Hairs Photographed
The prosecution has not over
looked the Importance OF such evi-
denee and even single strand of
hair has been photos ggaphad afld en-
larged TO such size ae to permit d
crOss-sectionaI view for analytical
testimony.
While the body of only one Of
Northcotts 4 four alleged victims has
heen discovered. it is upon the
minute findings scientists scraped
from the three-acre farm that the
State expects to establish the corpus
delech Of the others. Lawyers insist
this must be shown before murder
can be proven
This phase Df the case promises
to overshadow its morbidness as the
trial already has attracted nation
wide attention in scientific circles.
Aside from the array Of erimino-
logista and paleont tologists who have
been summoned to testify, b group
of medical and crime experts were
here as observers,
The trial, called today. Ii speeifi-
calIy for the murder of Three Of the
asserted murder farm victims,
4NcAfssSAA q ttu LIZ WIG w lAAS4OsNS HNuAA@As ?
aged 10 and u respectively, and q
Mexican youth. whose decapitAted
body was discovered near Puente,
Calf, last February. The Mexican
boys name was gIven as Alvin
Gothea In Northcott's purported
confession. 80 M
As the trial opens. young North
colts status In e. fourth murder
charge, involving the death Of nine
year-old Walter Collins. Of Los
Angeles. was uncertain as the re-
suit Of the dramatic court confes-
sion to the staying made by his
mother, Mrs. Louise, Northcott last
Monday. In an effort to save her
son. Mrs. Northcott pleaded guilty
to the charge and declared that the
youth had no hand In the murder.
Sanford Wesley Clark. her 15-year-
old grandson ana Northcott's chief
accuser was her accomplice in the
killire. Mrs. Northcott said
After her open cupfession. the
woman was sentence to life I'm.
prisonmenr and taken TO San Quen.
| tin State Penitentiary that night.