The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1950-09-28
KIFER ACQUITTED
BY JURY IN AXE
Staying OF RAY
Charge of Murder Reduced To
Manslaughter In Agreement
by Judge and Attorneys
In Local Court Case

A jury Tuesday afternoon acquit-
ted William Lloyd Kifer, 50, of Mt.
Lake Park, in the axe Staying of
Philip George Ray last April at Deer
Park Members deliberated only 10
minutes before reaching a verdict
Previous to the conclusion of the
trial Associate Judge George Hen
derson, who presided, granted mo-
tion made by defense attorneys to re-
duce the charge from murder to man.
slaughter.
Judge Henderson cautioned the
jurors that the state had abandoned
all except the manslaughter charge.
"Therefore, your verdict will be in
one of two forms, which means you
find him guilty of manslaughter or
not guilty"
The motion, made following the
noon recess, came after conference
by Defense Attorneys Walter w.
Dawson and Stephen r. Pagenhardt,
with Neil c. Fraley and States At
torney w. Dwight Slower, who prose
cutcd the case.
Kifer appeared quite happy and
excited as the verdict was announced
and spectators who packed the court
room registered applause.
The accused man, now employed at
Hancock orchard, took the stand in
early afternoon and verified a state
ment he made to authorities after the
Staying. Defense attorneys said the
staying committed in self defense, re-
calling that Ray had chased Kifer in
to a neighboring home near gas
station where they had stopped in
Deer Park following an argument.
Slower, who in his opening state
ment asked that the jury bring in a
verdict of guilty, outlined the events
leading up to the killing. Testifying
were DR.. E. |. Baumgartner, deputy
state medical examiner; State Troop
er Robert Henline, Ronald Nazelrod
Robert Smith, Mrs. p. G. Arnold
wife of the gas station owner whose
place of business was across the road
from the scene of the Staying; and
Mrs. Charles Haines, at whose home
the axe Staying took place when Kifer
fled into the strange home and hid in
closet just off the kitchen.
Others Sentenced
Other cases were disposed of dur
ing the three-day court session.
Quentin Murphy, 20, and Lloyd P
Hopkins, Is, who were charged with
stealing $2,925 worth of savings
bonds from Irene G. Lille and per-
sonal property of Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Barnhart, while they were
guests at Big Savage Inn August 81,
were each sentenced to the Maryland
Reformatory for Males for period
not to exceed four years.
The two ransacked cars owned by
the inn guests. State Police said the
two came east from California and
were involved in a number of other
crimes during their trip across coun-
try. They were apprehended in New
Jersey and returned to Oakland for
prosecution.
James L. King, who was indicted
for false pretense, forgery and break
ing and entering, received two years
in the Maryland House of Correction
on the charge of false pretense, two
years on the charge of forgery, the
the first; and also two years in the
Maryland penitentiary for breaking
and entering, this sentence suspended
upon good behavior for a period of
five years.
King was involved in an entry into
the VIEW club at Friendsville.
Charles Article, Jr., and his uncle
George Article, il, who were charged
with breaking and entering the VIEW
club at Friendsville, were each placed
on probation. The former, who is a
member of the armed forces, was
told by Judge Henderson to return to
his army post Immediately.
Three youths, Clarion Russell
Willard Yommer and Byron Snyder
charged with breaking and entering
a camp owned by Gus Stanton, were
placed on probation.
The case of Woodrow Custer
charged with bastardy, was continued
Continued on Page Five)