Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-06-16
First-Degree
Ruling Sought in
y
Kornarens Case
Fashion Models Trial
In Staying Of Husband
Opens at Hogerstown
By ChorIes [. Hoffmon
Stof Stoff CORRESPONDENT

HAGERSTOWN, Md, June Is.
"A tale of constant marital dis
order, husband somewhat of
a ladies' man." and a hospital
party unfolded today in the trial
of Mrs. Dorothy Gaskins Korna-
renS, Washington fashion model,
charged with the fatal shooting
f1rSt-degree murder.
Montgomery County States At
torney Walter w. Dawson, in a
brief opening statement, said the
State would ask for a verdict of
first degree murder.
The 25-year-old brunette faces
. jury Of II men and one woman
at the Washington County Court
house. They were chosen from
some so talismen today, 10 of
whom were rejected because they
were opposed to capital punish
ment. City Councilman j. Frank
Elliot was named foreman of the
jury. .s
Judge Approves Shirtsleeves.
The courtroom was crowded de-
spite 90-degree heat here. Cir
cult Court Judge Joseph D. Mish
told the jurors and others they
were free to remove their coats.
Mrs. Kornarens entered court
wearing q blue skirt, cream COL
ored jacket with blue piping and
dark glasses.
She is accused Of shooting her
husband. John Henry (Mr. jack
Kornarens, a.. Washington Houel
beauty shop operator, at their
home, 401 Leighton avenue, Silver
Spring, on February II. He died
at Garfield Hospital Is days after
the shooting. Z
Mr.. Dawson told the court that
he would show that the shooting
occurred during a violent argu-
ment after Mr.. Kornarens had
made call to another woman.
He said that Mr.. Kornarens was
a ladies man" and that his wife
had felt neglected. .:
Hospital Party Reported.
Defense Attorney Joseph B.
Simpson, jr., told the court evil
dence would be produced to show
that on Mr.. Kornarens' birthday,
February 3d., it was reported a
party had been held in his hospital
room and that there had been
whisky and some woman there. :"
Mr.. Simpson added, however,
hospital records would not sub
stantiate the report.
The defense also said it would
be shown that Mrs. Kornarens on
three different occasions prior to
the shooting had attempted to
take her own life. Mr.. Simpson
added that the gun she had pur-
chased was bought for the pur-
pose Of shooting herself.
DR.. R. Marshall Cuvillier, jr.,
Silver Spring physician, who was
called to the Kornarens' home
Immediately after the shooting,
was the first State witness today.
DR.. Cuvillier, upon ross-examina-
ion, said he had questioned Mr..
Kornarens on February "a about
reports received that he had been
drinking at the hospital.
Patient Denied Drinking.
DR.. Cuvillier said Mr.. Kornarens
told him some people had been in
his room on his birthday and
that there had been drinking,
but denied that he drank any
whisky himself.
DR.. CA1villier testified that on
February "a, Mr.. Kornarens'
stitches broke and that he took
a turn for the worse.
Defense lawyers and the States
attorney told the jury that the
Kornarens' year-long marriage
had been marked by violent argu-
mentS.
Mr.. Simpson said Mr.. Kornarens
frequently had beaten his wife,
BACKED her eyes, and once mashed
a lighted cigarette against her
face while at party in Washing
ton.
:. Defense attorneys said they will
Aeek to prove not only that Mrs.
Kornarens was insane, but also
acted in self defense" when she
allegedly shot her husband.
The defense has indicated a
widely known authority on mental
and nervous disorder will testify
Mrs. Kornarens was insane at the
time of the shooting. The Trial is
expected to last three days.
Mrs. Kornarens was examined
last, week by doctors from the
Maryland Board of Mental Hy-
giene. But Mr.. Simpson said their
findings was ''inconclusive." The
State later was granted the right
by Circuit Court Judge Joseph D.
Mish to have her examined by DIR
Manfred Guttmacher, mental spe-
cialist for the Criminal Court in