Evening star., 1935-02-22
LIFE Of KENNAMER
SAVED BY VERDICT
Youth Found Guilty of Man.
slaughter in Staying
of GorreII.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PAWNEE, Okla, February 22.-
Phil Kennamer sat in his cell today,
outwardly calm in the face of the
penalty he may pay for the Staying
of his friend, John F. Gorrell, jr.
Convicted of f1rst-degree man.
slaughter, the husky, 19-year-old son
Of Federal Judge Franklin E. Ken
manner must wait until tomorrow
afternoon before he learns his SEN
tence-a term which may range from
four years to life in the State peni-
tentiary. Defense attorneys, however,
said a motion for a new trial would
be filed at that time.
The verdict was returned last night,
hours and Is minutes after the
jury OF farmers and small town busi-
ness men had taken the case. Before
that jury he had told of Gorrells
death Thanksgiving night at Tulsa.
He said he shot in self defense while
seeking to Illustrate an alleged ex-
tortion plot against the family of the
girl he loved
Jokes With Prisoners.
Before the jury reported, the dap
per, black-haired defendant joked and
laughed with his Jail mates, several
OF whom have served Federal SEN
tences imposed by his father.
How long do your think that damn
jury will deliberate?" he asked a
visitor
Waiting in the courtroom before the
verdict was read, Kennamer sat and
glared at w. F. (Dixie) Gilmer, an
assistant prosecutor who earlier in the
day had shouted killer, kidnaper,
Kennamer-there he is" pointing to
the defendant.
kennamer accepted the verdict
without a show of emotion. He leaned
over to pat the shoulder of his father,
who sat slumped in the next chair.
God bless the jury" commented
Gilmer
New Trial Sought.
j. Holly Anderson, prosecutor of
Tulsa County, from where the trial
was brought on change of venue,
said he was satisfied, "and intimated
he would demand a long prison term
for Kennamer.
Miss Virginia Wilcox, pretty 19-
year-old oil heireSs, the girl Kennamer
said he was trying to protect when
he shot Gorrell was not in the court
room, although she had attended
nearly all the sessions of the trial and
had appeared as defense witness.
Sons and daughters of socially
prominent Tulsa families were called
to. testify both for and against Ken
manner.
Mental Status Disputed.
Kennamer was described by his at
torneys as both brilliant and insane"
He testified Gorrell snapped the pistol
in his face and in the struggle the
weapon was discharged.
Young Phil scowled at witnesses
who told of his melodramatic dreams,
his childish pranks and strange
actions.
His father sobbed as he told of
Phil's peculiar" adolescence and Of
suicide threats made by his son.
DR.. c. G. Knoblock, toxicologist,
testified that at least minute and
a half had elapsed between the time
of the two shots fired into Gorrell's
head.
Jacob Clark, the foreman, said the
jury had considered only a man
slaughter verdict, although the State
had demanded Kennamer's life In the
electric chair.
Twelve ballots were required. On
the first, three voted for acquittal and
nine for conviction. I'VE had quite
q time getting together" said Clark.
DR.. ]. F. Gorrell, father of the
slain dental student, said:
I'm very happy over the outcome" I"
Turning to the prosecution staff, he
added: Il appreciate what you gentle
men have DONE"