The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-14
RUTH JUDD BATTLES
MOOSE BEFORE JURY; HOPE
SBASED ON INSANITY PLEA
Court Hearing Starts in
Arizona: SIayer'S Nerves
at Breaking Point.
TWO VERDICTS POSSIBLE
Blonde HooSier Woman viii
Go to Asylum If She Is
Found Demented.
BY GALE ID. WALLACE,
United Press Staff Corresnondent

COURTROOM, FLORENCE, AriZ.,
April 13.-The eighteen-month-f fight
Of Winnie Ruth Judd, condemned
murderess, to escape the gallows
entered its final phase today, as her
attorneys launched an attempt TO
have her declared insane
1t is illegal in Arizona to hang
the demented
Pale and wan, the condemned
woman looked on nervously as o. V.
Wilson of the defense counsel, and
states attorneys began selecting the
jury to determine her mental state.
The weather was hot and the
prisoner wore a white summer dress
trimmed in green. She wore no hat.
Doom Is Near
Mrs Judd is scheduled to be
hanged a week from today for the
murder of Mrs. Agnes Ann Leroi, a
fellow nurse, unless the jury at the
sanity hearing saves her.
Mrs. Leroi and Hedvig SamuelSon,
another nurse, were shot to death
in the Judd cottage at Phoenix in
a quarrel over j. j. Halloran, veal
thy lumberman.
The hearing was requested by A.
G. Walker, warden of Florence
prison, who said Mrs Judd was los
ing her mind through fear of inn
pending death.
1t was her last hope, since the
ct al n LN -
dons and paroles denied her Glenn
ency.
Two Rulings Possible
Two Verdicts were possible by the
jury being selected from the twenty
two middle-aged ranchers, store
keepers, and miners drawn on the
panel.
If it finds her sane, she must
hang If it declares her insane, she
would be sent to state asylum for
life, or until such time as she might
become sane.
A return to sanity automatically
would reinstate the death penalty.
AS questioning of prospective
jurors began Mrs. Judd became
tense. Her face was drawn. She
wound a handkerchief around her
left hand-the hand she claimed
was shot in struggle with her
victims for possession Of the gun
that killed them.
The state contended she wounded
herself to bolster claims of self
defense.
Insanity Was Her Plea
Mrs. Judd pleaded insanity at
her original trial and defense alien
lists cited her handkerchief-w wrap
ping habit as an indication of in
sanity.
Mrs. Judd became hysterical when
she was taken from her cell today,
Warden Walker said.
She learned that official black
bordered invitations had been issued
for her hanging and screamed that
she never would hang" he said
H. G. Richardson of defense coun-
sci, who was present, said matrons
had great difficulty in canning her.
Invitations to hangings are issued
as Formally
Seated in the court room, presid-
ed over by Judge f. L. Green, Mrs.
Judd found the restraining arm of
Chief Matron Ella Heath around
her. She whispered nervously to
the matron.
Parents Are Witnesses
Among the witnesses were Mrs.
Judd's aged parents, the Rev. and
Mrs. H j. McKinnell. They came to
Arizona from Indiana after they
learned Of their daughters arrest
and have fought continuously for
her life.
McKinnell, a retired Free Metho-
dist pastor, said it was sad Good
Friday for his family.
AT the same time he said. she
was to have been executed today. I
guess We should be thankful for the
extra week and this last chance to
save her"
She was to have been hanged to-
day, but the board Of pardons and
parole ordered a weeks delay in
Difference to the day
Also present in court was Mrs.
Judd's husband, DR.. William c.
Judd.
The blond nurse married DR..
Judd nine years ago today.
The first hour Of the hearing was
devoted to a fight between Mrs.
Judd's counsel and county attorney
VIII Truman over the method of