Evening star., 1953-09-17
Kensinger Due
To.Hear Fate in
Murder Oct. 19
Salesman Convicted
After He Testifies
To Hackers SIuyine
By w. H. Shippen

JOnn Clay henSlnger awaited
sentencing today, upon his con-
viction for the f1rst-degree mur-
der of a taxicab driver during
a holdup in Arlington County on
June "a.
The 29-year-old itinerant mag
azine salesman from Pittsburgh
can receive the death penalty
or a prison term of at least 20
years.
Judge William D. Medley
found him guilty of first-degree
murder yesterday afternoon, fol-
lowing a two-day trial in which
Kensinger pleaded guilty and re-
peated his admissions from the
stand.
Yet to be tried in the killing
OF Leroy E. Applegate. 46, of
Takoma Park, Md, is Kensinger's
accomplice, Richard Lee Nc
Caughey. 20, of Geneva-on-the-
Lake, Ohio. The two were mem
bers Of a door-to-door magazine
sales crew.
McCaughey, who turned States
evidence against Kensinger, faces
a similar charge, despite his
contention that he had no idea
a robbery had been planned
when the two halted Mr.. Apple
gates cab in downtown WASH
ington and told him to drive
them to Virginia.
Stories Differ.
Kensinger. however, insisted
McCaughey suggested they pick
a hacker as a victim, rather than
rob a small downtown hotel, as
he had proposed
While his gray-haired, widowed
mother sobbed in a courtroom
seat, Kensinger told how he shot
Mr.. Applegate from close range
and robbed the body.
Judge Medley, in announcing
his verdict, said Kensinger, by
his own admission, had killed a
man in the commission of rob-
berry. He said the Virginia statute
left him no alternative but to find
Kensinger guilty in the first
degree.
KenSinger had waived a jury
trial. The sentence he receives
will depend largely on a proba-
ton report ordered by the judge
and on the degree of premedita-
ton shown by testimony and
evidence. Judge Medley set Oc-
tober 19 as the day of sentencing.
Kensinger's m ther, Mrs,
Emma Kensinger, 63. of Comp
ton, Calf, described her son as
a regular church-goer, who won
a scholarship in his teens to
study for the priesthood, and
never gave her a moments
anxiety.
Kept Sentences Secret.
She explained that, after he
Joined the Navy in World War
II, he sent her $4,000 of his pay
to make down payment on a
home.
Under questioning, Kensinger
admitted he won part of the
$4,000 shooting craps and play
ing poker with his shipmates.
He. added he never told his
mother of this, or of his dishen-
orable discharge after his Sec
ond enlistment, and of the jail
and penitentiary sentences he
served for various thefts.
In his signed confession, Ken
singer said he shot Mr.. Apple
gate because he was "very
nervous" when the driver halted
his cab and said he was calling
a policeman.
On the contrary, Detective
Russell L: Runyon told the judge
Kensinger, on several occasions,
declared he had intended to
shoot the victim, even if he had
handed over his money without
resistance.
Omission Questioned.
Detective Runyon said he
asked KenSinger why he felt
this way and that the prisoner
replied. II didn't want to leave
any witnesses"
Attorney Oren Lewis, ap-
pointed by the court to represent
Kensinger, challenged the de-
tective to explain why this oral
statement was not taken in writ
ing. No reference to the pre-
meditation appeared in the
signed confession.
Detective Runyon replied that
other officers had taken the
written statement and that he
did not know this oral admission
was not included until he saw
the statement in court.
Detective Runyon said Ken
singer made the admission to
him IN the presence of Com
monwealth Attorney William j.
Hassan and uniformed police
men whose names he could not
recall.