Evening star., 1950-03-29
Prosecutor Demands
.2d-Degree Verdict
In Bayonet Killing

ETOSeCuJOT cecil Helm To-Day
characterized the fatal bayoneting
of Mrs. Maytriss Ramey as a
vicious use of dangerous weap-
on" and asked a second degree
murder conviction for the dead
Woman'S husband.
Mr.. Heflin made this statement
| in his closing argument to a Dis
trict Court jury which started
hearing the case last Monday.
Judge James w. Morris is pre-
siding.
The prosecutor outlined testi-
mony which showed that Fred
erick (Buck) Ramey, %, plunged
a bayonet fixed to a souvenir
japanese rifle through the bath
room door of the Ramey apart
ment, 700 block of Sixth street
Sc, last month. Defense Coun-
sci Louis Jongbloet has described
the death of Mrs. Ramey. mother
of two children. who had been
leaning against the door, as a
'mlSadVenture.
Says Husband Was Drinking.
Mr. Hef1in pointed out that
Ramey could have battered down
the flimsy door with the butt of
the heavy rifle in his efforts to
enter the bathroom. Instead, the
prosecutor said, he fixed the bayo-
net to the rifle and plunged it
through the door in a "wanton
and reckless" manner.
Mr.. Hef1in also reminded the
jury, that Ramey had been drink
ing a great part of the day of
the murder and got into an argu-
ment with his wife over his days
activities. The prosecutor de-
scribed the defendant as being
about half drunk" at the time
of the stabbing, and said he was
in an angry mood.
Elsewhere in his argument he
critized some of the Governments
witnesses. who were guests in the
Ramey apartment on the night of
the stabbing for minimizing" and
covering up" circumstances sur
rounding the death.
Ramey Takes Stand.
The maximum penalty for Sec
ond degree murder ranges from
20 years to life imprisonment. The
jury could return a verdict for
manslaughter which has a maxi
mum penalty of Is years i'm
prisonment and $1,000 fine.
The slight, soft-spoken defend
ant took the stand yesterday and
insisted he had no idea his wife
was holding the door shut with
her body when he rammed the
bayonet through a door panel.
Ramey testified the door was
locked when he knocked on it
several times, trying to persuade
his wife to come out. He said he
thought his wife was arguing"
with another young woman for
taking too much drink at the
party.
Unable to get his wife out of
the bathroom, he said, he picked
up japanese rifle and bayonet
and "hit" the door to make a
racket" He told the jury of five
women and seven men he would
have killed himself first had he
known the blade would strike his
wife.
He was unable to say why he did
not use the butt instead of the
bayonet of the Japanese rifle he
had picked up as a souvenir while
serving in the Far East after end
Of the war.
The bayonet made 10-inch
wound in Mrs. Ramey's body.
Ramey said friends told him later
he "hollered his head off" when
he learned his wife was injured.
He added that, before she died,
he told her he loved her and
begged her not to leave him.
Ramey said his wife was Cit
tie jealous" of him. He explained
they quarreled over his absence
from home on her birthday, but
they made up later during the eve
ming.
Judge Morris was to instruct
the jury this afternoon following
final arguments.