Evening star., 1939-10-26
Brother Here Regrets
Ruth Judd's Escape

Burton j. McKinnell, brother of
Winnie Ruth Judd, slayer of two
women, expressed regret today at
the Government agency where he is
employed here. that she escaped
from the Arizona State Hospital and
revealed that he had written Gov
Jones OF Arizona asking him to
make study" of conditions at the
institution and had sent Los An
geles newspapers a message threat
enlng court action if any effort were
made to have her adjudged sane
and resentenced to execution.
Mr.. McKinnell said it would he
better if his sister surrendered and
allowed herself to be returned to
the hospital. But he declared State
politics, meaning factions opposed
TO the Governor, had deprived her
OF all privileges and an opportunity
TO work at the hospital and had
driven her to escape.
IN explanation of the message
which he sent to the West Coast
newspapers and to Mrs. Judd's at
torneys, Mr.. McKinnell said his ref
erence to "one major blunder" which
had been made was to Mrs. Judd s
escape.
By saying that if everything goes
well for the next 20 hours, proba-
bilities are no court action will be
necessary" Mr.. McKinnell said he
| meant that the chances were she
could not be caught.
The plans" he referred to in that
message, he said were for her priv
leges at the institution to be re-
stored.
Mr.. McKinnell feared an attempt
would be made by political enemies
OF the State administration to have
he readjudged sane and committed
to the court for resentence to death.
In this event, he said an appeal
would be made to the courts to stay
such proceedings.
All legal remedies were not ex-
hausted during the trial of Mrs. Judd
for the double killing, he indicated.
He thus referred to a copy of the ap-
PSoA VI lOA WlllCll lie HAS.
"A member of the jury told me-"
Mr.. McKinnell added, that he voted
for the death penalty only because
Mrs. Judd had not taken the stand,
and he thought she might talk"
Letter to Governor.
Mr.. McKinnell wrote Gov. Jones:
May I express my deep regret
for the action Ruth has taken. 1
know you will be able to under
stand the forces at play which have
brought about the unhappy event
of which I speak.
The human animal cannot live
without hope. To try to do so is
provocative of desperation. Ruth
has tried to prove her right to hope.
She has poured oil into the
wounds of unfortunates around her.
She has done this, not for anv
external reward-but rather to
create reason for life itself. Her
deeds and loving care for those un-
1ortunates around her is a testament
TO her will to make life worth while.
Il am sure, Governor, that you
Will make study of conditions
which have provoked Ruth to the
desperate position in which she is
placed. and if there be reason un-
ouly warranted, that said reason
will be eliminated"
Cared for 26 Patients"
Mr.. McKinnell explained that his
sister had cared for 26 bed patients
at the State Hospital. Her work at
the beauty parlor, he added, netted
her from $40 to $40 month, be-
cause she dressed the hair of some
hospital employees and was paid for
this. An association of beauticians
brought pressure on the hospital
administration to stop her work, he
said.
He predicted that she would sur
render If assured she would not be
punished for leaving and treated
IKE Gagged animal"
Mr.. McKinnell lives at Hyatts-
vile Nh