Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-23
Sparks
Convicted in
Boys Death
: Counsel for Nursery
Home Operator Moy
Seek New Trial

tOssS OPStUtOi IVtUy
Seek New Trial
Mrs. Lois J. Sparks, 52-year-
old Takoma Park (Md.) nursery
home operator. yesterday was
found guilty Of manslaughter in
the death of a 4-year-old boy
at her home last October 3.
An all-male jury in Montgom-
cry County Circuit Court took
only 20 minutes to return the
verdict.
Mrs. Sparks was the operator
Of q nursery home at 1905 Car
roll avenue. The boy who died
there was Joseph Kelly, son of
Mrs. Annette Kelly Of 1907
Twelfth street NV.
Shows No Emotion.
The white-haired. rnatronly
woman sat stonily throughout
most Of the trial. She appeared
unmoved. even when the fore
man read the verdict. She
smiled when her, son, Pfc. John
Sparks, on leave from the Army
for the trial, helped her put on
her coat.
Chief Judge Charles w. Wood
ard. before the verdict was read.
warned the courtroom against
any demonstration, after friends
Of the defendant had outspoken-
ly criticized States Attorney
Walter w. Dawson in the court
corridors after his rebuttal argu-
ment.
Judge Woodward delayed SEN
fencing. Mrs. Sparks went di-
rectly from the courtroom to the
county jail.
Defense Attorney Barnard T.
Welsh said he probably would
seek q new trial on the ground
the verdict contradicted the
evidence.
3 Prosecution Witnesses.
Assistant States Attorney
Thomas M. Anderson presented
eight witnesses who described
events leading up to the time
the bruised body Of the boy was
| wheeled in canvas stroller into
the Washington Sanitarium.
four to six hours after his
death.
Sarah Beatrice Watkins, a
maid at the nursery home, said
the boys body bore no bruises
on the afternoon of his death.
She said that when she left
work at $50 pm. that day the
boy was waiting for his dinner
and appeared healthy and
happy.
Detective Sergt. Kenneth w.
Watkins said Mrs. Sparks gave
him this account of the boys
death:
Joseph finished dinner Short
~ after Z pm. About 30 min
utes later she took the boy to
the bathroom. and shortly there
after realized he was dead. She
gave him artificial respiration
for about an hour, then took
him into the kitchen and rocked
him until about II pm. Then
she called her lawyer and Short
ly afterward took the boy,
clothed in pajamas and wrapped
in a blanket. about four blocks
to the Sanitarium.
A roomer at the home said
Mrs. Sparks came upstairs about
8 pm. to bring him some clean
towels. but made no mention of
Joseph's illness.
No Testimony by Defendant
The States account of events
went unchallenged by defense
witnesses. Mrs. Sparks did not
take the witness stand.
| Mr.. Welsh put eight persons
on the, stand, all of whom had
boarded their children with Mrs.
Sparks. They described the dead
boy as pleasant child who was
clumsy and o-ordinated. They
said he fell frequently and often
bore bruises.
DR.. Frank j. Broschart.' county
medical examiner, said Joseph
had died of asphyxia resulting
from vomiting. He described in
detail two large bumps on the
boys head and numerous bruises
some elongated-on his back
and buttocks.
Recent Bruises.
DR.. BroSchart said the body
bruises we're recent. He said he
was unable to determine the
cause of vomiting, but that it
could have been caused by
whipping.
Takoma Park Police Corpl.
John w. Hite, jr., and DR.. John
Spencer. an intern at the sani-
tarium. told of being unable to
get a coherent story from Mrs.
Sparks at the hospital. But
DR.. Spencer described her as
collected, calm and placid"
AS a result of the boys death.
the Montgomery County Coun-
Gil last Tuesdsay passed an or
dinance to license and regulate
nursery home operators in the
county. The license must be
obtained by March 81.
THIS SUNDAYS