Evening star., 1935-02-17
KENNAMER TRIAL
EXPERT S|LENCED
Prosecution Blocks TeSti-
mony That Phil Killed Youth
While Insane.
ny the Associated Press.


blocking expert testimony that 49,
year-old Phil Kennamer was insane
when he killed John F. Gorrell, jr., %
at Tulsa last Thanksgiving.
DR.. Karl A. Menninger, Topeka
Kans., psychiatrist, qualified as an
expert IN mental Ills. Then he listened
for 40 minutes to summary OF the
strange life, words and deeds of the
Federal judges son, ending with the
question:
Nov, doctor, taking these facts into
consideration in addition to your own
fendant was rational or irrational?"
Question Argued Three Hours.
Before the alienist could say yes
or mo-" ]. Berry King, former States
attorney general, objected. He argued
there was much in the involved hypo-
thetical question. propounded by De-
fense Attorney A. Flint Moss. which
should be stricken. Other matters,
such as Kennamer's drinking, should
be included, he added.
Court recessed. For three hours
opposing counsel dissected the QueS-
ton. Judge Thurman Hurst reserved
decision over the week end
Upon reopening of court Charles
w. Mason, who was chief justice OF
the Oklahoma Supreme Court when
the defendants father, Federal Judge
Franklin E. Kennamer of Tulsa, was
a member, testified briefly he believed
Phil was irrational and ernbarraSsedly
admitted on cross-eXaminatlon that
probably" he wouldn't have appeared
to testify if young Kennamer hadn't
killed this boy"
Claims SelfDefense.
Kennamer, admitting the Staying.
claims he shot Gorrell in self-defenSe
after frustrating an eXtortion plot he
claims Gorrell had aimed at l9-year-
old Virginia Wilcox, heiress to an
Oklahoma oil fortune. His attorneys.
however, contend he was temporarily
insane.
Judge Mason testified to three acts
of irrationality on the part OF young
Kennamer:
That he once remarked, while pac-
ing Judge Mason's sixteenth floor Of
flee, that "it would be a swell place to
commit suicide. just jump out head
first"
That he wanted job on an Okla
homa city newspaper, but wanted to
start as editor.
That he told Judge Mason he want
ed to be flyer in Central American
revolution and thought he could rule
the country as its dictator.
Admits Impulses Normal.
Under cross-examination by W. F.
Gilmer, jr., assistant county proSecu-
tor, Judge Mason said he did not
consider it Irrational" for a boy to
want adventure in foreign lands nor
to own large newspaper. Both, he
said, he considered normal impulses.
Finally, Gilmer demanded
IF you thought this boy hadn't
killed that boy, you probably never
would have testified he was crazy,
would you?"
The witness squirmed.
THAT is true. I would not have
testified in this way under other cir
cumstances"
And isn't it true, judge, that you
are here testifying in this fashion be-
cause this boys father holds the re-
sponsible. powerful position of United
States judge for the northern district
Of Oklahoma?"
NO" Mason said, II have a high
regard for Judge Kennamer's friend
ship"
Kennamer. described by his attor-
neys as brilliant but abnormal" sat
with lowered head as his boyhood
escapadeS were recited. His father
shielded his eyes from spectators.
Judge Kennamer yesterday teSti-
fed to most of the actions upon which
the hypothetical question addressed
to the psychiatrist was based. Ken
manners young friends supplied the
others.
Curtailing the short Saturday ses-
sion, the long conference amended
the Hypothetical question" to be
asked the first half dozen psychia-
trists who are expected to testify be-
,, fore the defendant himself takes the
stand, probably Monday. The uues-
ton may be heightened by amend
ments to require an hour to deliver.
In the question, Moss for the Sec
ond time had stated virtually the
entire defense case before the iury.
He also made the opening statement,
In that he brought in briefly the fact
Kennamer has declared he shot two
bullets into Sorrell's head in self
defense.
Court reconvenes Monday, with
DR.. Menninger on the stand.
After him will come other experts,
Or. e. A. Werner and DR.. Coyne
Campbell Of Oklahoma City, retained
by the defense. and DR.. Felix Adams
OF Vtnita, superintendent of the East
ern Oklahoma Hospital, and DR.. G.
Wilsie Robinson, noted psychiatrist
Of Kansas City.
Born Death Solution Hinted.
An unsolved phase of the Ken
manner case-the mysterious death of
young Sidney Born, jr.-drew new at
tention tonight following the predic-
ton Of a special investigator that the
death will be solved a week after the
trial ends.
An investigator for an insurance
company, who declined to allow use
Of his name, shared the prediction of
the Born youths father that an ar
rest will be made soon
Sidney Born, jr., drove Kennamer
to the fatal rendezvous with John
Gorrell Thanksgiving night, and on
December Born was found shot once
in the head, his own pistol beside
him.