Evening star., 1938-06-28
IS METED
L|FEPR|S0N TERM
Justice Adkins Ignores Plea
for Mercy in Murder of
Ex-Fireman's Wife.

Twenty-four-year-old James L.
Lands, former District fireman, was
led into District Court shortly after 10
o'clock this morning to hear Justice
Jesse c. Adkins sentence him to life
imprisonment for the murder last
March Of his wife, Mrs. Gertrude
Blanche Lands. Lands had been
found guilty of second-degree murder
by = jury hearing the case earlier this
month. It was generally expected he
would receive the sentence Of 20 years
to life provided for murder in the
second degree.
The life Imprisonment sentence
alone, however, will make him eligible
for parole within IS years. Had he
received the indeterminate sentence.
he would have been compelled to serve
at least 20 years before applying for
parole.
Lands took The sentence calmly.
After one Of his attorneys, Jean M.
Boardman, had made a plea for
clemency before the court. Justice
Adkins asked the ex-fireman if he had
anything to say. The reply was,
Nothing"
Mrs. Mildred Jones, the youths
mother, was among those in the par
TALLY filled courtroom when sentence
was pronounced.
Pleads for Clemency.
Defense Counsel e. Russell Kelly
and Jean Boardman sat waiting at the
counsel table shortly after 10 O'Clock
this morning when Lands was led In
by deputy marshal.
With his client standing beside him,
Mr.. Boerdman voiced the plea for
clemency. At the outset, Mr.. Board
man asserted that. as an ofdcer Of the
court, he was bound by the jury's find-
ing of guilty Of nd-degree murder
lands has devoted all his life,
when he was able to do so. to the serv-
ice of his country" the attorney said.
He enlisted in the Navy and served
four years and was honorably dis
charged, after faithful service, having
offered his life, II need be, to his coun-
try. Then he entered the civil branch
of the Government and served in the
Post Once Department. Then he be-
came a member Of the National Guard
and again offered his life to his Gov
ernment, If need be.
Then, he resigned to become q
member of the District Of Columbia
Fire Departments most hazardous
occupation outside of warfare-early
this year.
No Other Offenses.
prior to the night he left the fire
station without leave he was never
known to have offended the Govern
ment or society,"" declared Mr.. Board
man.
The minimum sentence which the
law demands will take the flower OF
this young mans life and it Is enough
to pluck the flower without taking
the stock" said the defense counsel
in conclusion.
At the emo of this brief address,
Justice Adkins asked the pale. black
haired, neatly dressed young defend
ant if he had anything to say, but
Lands gave q negative answer.
Almost 50 briefly that i. was over
before the audience realized it, Justice
Adkins said that he sentenced the
prisoner to imprisonment for life.
Lands was quickly led from the
courtroom and the curtain fell upon
the drama which has engaged the
attention Of the criminal court for
many days. Later, with other pris-
oners, Lands will ride in the big blue
van Of the United States marshal on
the way to his imprisonment. The
Department Of Justice, odicials said.
will determine where he will be in
carcerated.