Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-23
Sentence Awaits
s'Appea|in
Murder Of Girl
Junitor Foces Death
Or Life imprisonment
In Baltimore Cose
BY the AsSociofsd Press

BALTIMORE. Sept. 23.-Imposi-
ton of sentence on Eugene H.
James, convicted in the knife slay-
ing of 11-year-old Marsha Brill,
has been deferred pending the i'll
ing Of motions for a new trial or
an appeal.
James, 81, colored, was found
guilty yesterday by Judge Herman
M Moser, swho heard the case
without Jury. Under Maryland
law, his conviction of flrst-degree
murder carries . mandatory SEN
tence of death on the gallows or
life imprisonment.
The supreme bench jurist said
the janitor-handyman has a sense
less hostility toward immature fe-
males" James also is under in
dictment in Washington for the
similar staying of Carol Bardwell,
also II, in Rock Greek Park on
June ~. Both little girls were
riding bicycles in wooded sections
when attacked.
Had Served Eight Years.
Judge Moser said James COM
mitted a deliberate. premeditated
act when he made his unprovoked
attack on the pretty little girl July g.
In more than two days of testi-
mony. the State based its case on an
eight-pase statement which James
signed 48 hours after he was az
rested. Police picked him up about
10 hours after the crime when an
officer remembered James had just
completed an eight-year term for
knife attacks on women in North
west Baltimore and was back in
the neighborhood.
The State showed that James led
officers on an elaborate tour and
wound up showing them where he
mad buried 9-inch butcher knife,
on vacant lot about four blocks
from where Marsha was slain.
Sanity Plea Made.
Charles H. Houston, colored. de-
Tense attorney of Washington,
fought admission of the statement
on the grounds it was extorted by
police and should not be relied upon
because it was the fabrication of a
low grade moron.
He argued James did not have
the mental capacity to kill deliber-
ately with generalization and, there
fore, it was second degree murder.
There was no motive, he argued.
II James did it. then it was an
instantaneous act done without
second thought.
Judge Mosel said there was not
"scintilla of doubt in my mind"
that it was James who attacked
Marsha.
He found little doubt that James
is sane under Marylandw's legal
definition: He knew the difference
between right and wrong at the
time of the crime and. appreciated
the consequences of his act.
Motive Is Described.
1.-THE motive is not dif1icult to
find" he said. 1T is cruel and heart
less and difficult for the normal per-
son to understand.
| But to him 1t was as clear as day.
light.
He was under compulsion. hos
tllity toward immature females. So
it was deliberate, premediated kill
ing. Here we have a dangerous in
/ dividuai. detective delinquent. j.,
| Il find guilty of murder in the
first degree"
| James slumped with bowed head
as Judge Moser talked. 1t was i'm
possible to tell whether he was
watching the Judge He was mo-
tionless There was no expression.
1t had been the same all through
the trial He was an almost forgot
ten figure. AS Judge Moser con-
Guided. a bailiff remembered the
accused should be standing in the
witness box There was a little
furry and James mounted the stand
| just in time for Judge Moser's last
| words,