Evening star., 1947-09-24
BrouiIIetteFaces
Sentence Today
In Cabin Staying
Soilor Found Guilty
In Death of Woman:
Moy Get 5 to 18 Years
By Jerry O'Leory. Jr.
Stor Steff correspondent

serve from to 18 years in prison
for the second-degree murder Of Mrs
Julia Katona, wife of naval officer
after he was found guilty late last
night.
The broad-shouldered sailor from
Manchester, N. H., did not change
expression when the st. Marys
County Circuit Court jury returned
after two hours of deliberation. He
rose to his feet when the jury flee
back into the chilly courtroom al
11:10 o'clock last night and stood Al
attention in his white Navy uniform
Seaman BroUllette shook hand!
with his friends after the verdict
was read, but his mother, Mrs. julie!
Brouillette, who earlier had testified
that he was model son, burst into
tears. The defendants frail, blonc
wife of five months. however movec
quickly to her husbands side ane
squeezed his hand.
BrouilIette Testifies.
1t. Frank Katona, husband of the
slain woman, was one of the first OF
the several hundred spectators tc
leave. His face betrayed no emotion
at the jury's decision as he quickly
threaded his way through the
crowds packing the corridors.
The jury went out at 9:1O pm
after Brouillette took the stand fo1
two hours to tell how he and the
35-year-old Navy wife-motfer OF
twins-had been left alone after an
impromptu penny-ante poker game
at the Katona's Tall Timbers (Md. }
home. on the night of July %.
Defense Attorney Paul j. Bailey
based his plea for Brouillette's life
on the fact that the war veteran
admittedly was very drunk" wher
he and Mrs. Katona walked alone
to Bachelors Haven, cabin neal
the Katona home, after the poker
party broke up.
Brouillette declared on the wit.
neess stand that Mrs. katona hac
lied me on" both at tnc poker
party she organized and later, wher
the four other guests had departed
Brouillette's testimony indicated hs
had been drinking all day and hac
climaxed his drinking when he anc
Mrs. Katona consumed IL bottle!
OF beer some time after midnight
No Denial of Beating.
State Senator Bailey said Brouil.
lette's drunkenness precluded any
chance of generalization or malice
At no time did the defendant deny
beating Mrs. Katona, but Brouillettt
likewise never admitted killing her
As events leading to the tragedy
were. constructed ssSiv. testimorv o.
both Brpuillette and other wit.
nesses, the Patuxent Naval Base
sailor and Mrs. Katona were left
alone In the Katona home about
pm, July %, when the other Care
players departed. -.
1t. Katona, a veteran of 18 years
In the Navy, who also is stationed
at Patuxent, was on a 24-hour toul
OF duty at the base at the time
testimony revealed.
Brouillette said the attractive
Navy wife urged him to remain tt
continue the card game. Finding M
cards, he said, he and Mrs. Katons
shot dice and continued drinking
He testified that she suggested
they go to the nearby cabin
at that time unoccupied-in search
of a deck of cards. When they
reached the dark cabin, Brouillettt
testified, I'VE kissed and I put my
arm around her waist
Then we were on the couch.
don't know how we got there.
couldn't see thing" Brouillettt
said in a low voice.
Tells of Victim Falling.
He told the jury he and Mrs
Katona remained on the couch fol
long time and then Mrs. Katons
began to object to his advances say.
ing, my husband wouldn't like thi.
and neither would your wife"
The sailor said Mrs. Katona triec
to get up but instead fell to the
floor. When he tried to pick hel
up, the defendant testified, Mrs
Katona began to struggle and "l
believe I hit her several times"
Brouillette denied choking Mrs
Katona but admitted ripping of
her clothing.
After that" he testified, cts all
hazy. I got scared and went home.
1t had been brought out earlier that
Mrs Katonas body bore no evidence
of criminal assault but her face
and body were bruised and cut ex.
tensively.
Brouillette, asked by States At.
torney c. Henry Camalier, the
prosecutor, why he tore Mrs. Ka-
tomas clothes, replied:
IT don't know. I was very drunk
She had been leading me on ali
evening. I didn't mean to hurt her
The defendant said he did not
learn that Mrs. Katona was dead
until naval authorities picked him
up at his barracks the next eve
ming.
Chief Judge william M. Lokel
and Associate Judges John B. Gray
jr, and Charles G. Marbury listened
intently as a parade of Navy men
took the stand to tell of Seaman
Brouillette's good character" The
sailors characterized him as "a good
shipmate and the kind of fellow we
liked to have around"
Mnfnrists Warned IN Nav