The Washington times., 1933-09-18
CELLMATE SAYS
He HAS FITS
Of DESPAIR
But Man Convicted of Killing
Wife Gives No indication
He ContempIates Suicide


SAN JOSE, CAL, Sept. 1s
G.NS). - A special suicide
guard" of deputy sheriffs today
was established over David A.
Lamson.
Sheriff William j. Emig made
the drastic move following a re-
port from Lamson's cellmate that
the handsome Stanford Univer-
sity Press executive, facing death
on the gallows for the murder of
his wife, was suffering from "fits
Of deep dependency"
A relay of deputies was counted
off to watch Lamson closely
night and day."
"SIept WE'LL" He Says
However, there were no indica-
tions from the prisoner himself
that he contemplated self destruc-
ton.
He smiled slightly, he had slept
we'll" He reiterated his astound-
ing declaration that he would "a
thousand times rather hang than
60 to prison for life"
The death sentence is sched-
uled to be pronounced upon him
tomorrow by Superior Judge
Robert r. Syer in accordance with
the verdict brought in Saturday
night.
A jury of seven men and five
women, after eight hours of de-
liberating the evidence presented
in a four-week trial, returned a
verdict of guilty of murder in
the first degree"
Because they did not impose
life sentence, it is mandatory
upon the court to order Lam
son hanged by the neck until
dead"
Defense To Appeal
Conviction was obtained upon
the contention by the State that
the 31-year-old defendant, a for
mer Stanford dramatic and jour-
nalistic favorite, had beaten his
pretty young wife-Allene Thorpe
Lamson-to death in their cam
puS bungalow because of an in
fatuation with a blonde divorcee
in Sacramento, Cal.
Lamson will be takeq to San
Quentin within 10 days after i'm
position of sentence.
An appeal for new trial will
be taken, according to Lamson's
attorneys, on the grounds of Ger
rors by the court, misconduct of
the district attorney, and a YER
dict not .pported by the evil
dence."
Lamson insists he stands
Squarely for either freedom or
death.
Death or Freedom"
He repeated:
81 would thousand times
rather hang than go to prison
for life. 1 don't want a life
sentence. 1 am innocent and
/ want justice. But if / can't
have justice, I want death.
81 am going to continue my
fight as best I can. But 1 am
not interested in myself, only
in my family; my mother, my
two sisters, and my 2-year-OId
daughter.
'My life is ruined, no matter
what happens. Wherever I go
/ will be a marked man.
know that. But will fight for
acquittal for the sake of those
i love. They don't deserve this
disgrace, especially the baby.
"And if lose want to die"
He added that before God
and my own conscience I am not
guilty of Allene's DEATH"
He took the same attitude that
marked his trial, repeating he
found the nude body of Mrs.
Lamson last Memorial Day in
the bathtub in their campus
home and had no idea of how
she came to her death, which
followed four skull fractures.
Seeks Baby Custody
Another development touching
upon Lamson was the announce
ment from Frank Thorpe, brother
of the dead Allene, that he is
contemplating suit for custody
of the baby. Allene Genevieve,
now with Lamson's sisters-Dr.
Margaret Lamson and Mrs. Will
lis Thoits-in Palo Alto.
Thorpe said he would like to
take the child back to the
Thorpe home in Lamar, Mo-.
where her mother was reared.
Lamson spent Sunday quietly.
but his cellmate-George Ives. a
bad check artist - said night
brought on "jitters and de-
Spondency"