Evening star., 1955-11-14
Staying Suspect
IN Hospital for
Mental Tests
Youth Committed
After Apparent
Attempt Of Suicide

"tStpt ~ S0tSS
A mental examination Of from
three to six weeks began today
for Edward Marcionette. IT
year-old Maryland Training
School fugitive charged with the
murder Of Richard 3. Gibson. 20,
Maryland University student.
Marcionette was committed to
Spring Grove Hospital near
Gainesville early yesterday after
an apparent suicide attempt at
Prince Georges County Jail In
Upper Marlboro.
Drs. Paul C. Van Natta and
James q. Sasscer. called to the
jail to examine the youth, found
slight outs on his wrists. This
was a short time after the jailer
heard the crash of breaking
glass, Saturday night and hur-
ried to Marcionette,s cell. The
window Of the cell had been
broken out.
Since his arrest Saturday
morning. Marcionette has been
quoted BY officials as consistently
admitting stabbing young Glib
son to death Friday night, and
repeatedly expressing a desire to
die for the deed.
Suicidal Tendency
Both Drs. Van Natta and Sas-
seer said a half-hour with the
boy convinced them he has sui
cidal tendencies.
He was very positive in his
answers, was cooperative DUR
ing questioning, but, seemed to
despair and appear hopeless In
his attitude, " DR.. Van Natta
said.
DR.. Van Malta said Marcionette
considers the situation desperate
and hopeless. and had "delusions
Of despair" The doctors recon-
mended his removal to the State
institution.
States Attorney Blair Smith
said there was no chance the
youth would be indicted during
the current grand jury session,
since the jury already has
turned IN Is report. This means
no action can be taken on his
ease before the spring term,
starting the. first Monday in
April, be said.
Hearing Postponed
Also postponed pending out
come of the mental tests was
a preliminary hearing set for
November 81 at Upper Marlboro.
Asked what win be done with
Marcionette meanwhile, Mr..
Smith said:
II think the boy win be found
sane. He seems to know right
from wrong. II so. he will be-
brought back to Upper Marlboro
JAN to await grand jury action. !"
At Spring Grove. Marcicnette
Is being held ..in the tightest
place we've got. /" said Dr.. Charles
Ward. In charge Of admissions
In the criminal section.
In Two-Story Building
He Is In q two-story brick
building. which has 30 patients
on the first f1oor and Is on the
second Nine attendants are on
duty IN the building.
The youth. who had refused
food at Upper Marlboro Jail, has
been eating regularly at the hos
pital.
He viii not be permitted visi-
tors, including attorneys. for 10
days, but during confinement win
be permitted such recreational
facilities as television and radio
Hospital staff workers win inter-
view his family.
Sheriff j. Lee Ball said Mar
cionette broke out q six-inch
square pane of glass from the
cell. had cut himself on the
back Of both wrists and was be-
ginning to cut the front Of the
wrists when he was interrupted
BY Jailer Joseph Watson.
@Wanted to Dien
Enroute to the hospital, Mar
cionette was quiet as mouse
most Of the time. But he told
Sheriff Ball and two deputies
he wanted to dieHand would
have completed the job il he
had had larger piece Of glass
and more time, = the sheriff said.
Marcionette Is accused OF stab
bing young Gibson after the
latter caught him IN the act Of
stealing his automobile from
near 8l06 New Hampshire ave-
nue., Langley Park, where the
student lived with q brother.
The victim pursued Marcion-
cite by car and then chased him
on foot into q wooded area. "A
sbcfG time later the student
emerged from the woods fatally
wounded.
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