Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-17
Marine May Face
Death in Assault
Girl Testifies
Youth Forced
Her to Submit

"a PAOoCNutAAAS dtVO1 ICY Sd1Q
today the Government may ask
the death penalty in the case Of
Ia 20-year-old Marine charged
with criminally assaulting a 16-
Iyear-old Reese (Mich.) school
girl visiting in Washington.
The girl testified at a hearing
today that the Marine choked
her into submission in a park.
Charged With Rape
Assistant United States Attor-
Iney Edward P. Troxell raised the
death penalty possibility as the
hearing for Pvt. George Koran,
a Marine stationed at Quantico,
charged with rape, opened.
United States Commissioner
Cyril S. Lawrence held Koran for
the grand jury without bond, in
dicating this was customary in
cases involving a possible death
sentence. Rape in the District
carries maximum sentence Of
80 years unless the jury recon-
mends death.
Hears Girl Testify
This morning the Marine
heard the attractive brunette
high school senior describe events
of Tuesday night which led to
charges that Koran took advan-
tage of her in a park at Second
street and Massachusetts, avenue
NV.
In response to questioning by
Mr.. Troxell. the girl. who will be
II years old June IL, stated that
the Marine raped her, and that
she resisted to the best of her
ability.
Composed as she testified. the
shapely girl told how she and her
date went to the park after four
other couples had left them at a
grill where they had spent more
than two hours. There was no
testimony about drinking, but
earlier the girl had told police
she had drunk five beers.
At the park, they sat on the
grass beside tree.
I'VE were kissing for a while,
then stopped and talked" she
said. Il suggested getting a cab
and going home, but we started
kissing again and one thing led
to another.
"ChOked Me Once"
Il told him, so help me If you
don't stop will call the police
Then he choked me once, and
choked me again and asked. Are
you going to call the police?' and
I answered no."
After the attack. they started
walking to get a cab. The girl
said the youth asked if she was
going to "call the cops" and she
replied mo" He also asked if
they were still going to have a
date tomorrow night" and she
said they were. the girl testified.
At the conclusion of her testi-
mony, Koran. whom she had
identified as being in the hearing
room, was asked whether he
wished to ask the girl any ques-
tions.
II wouldn't know what to ask
her." he replied. Il don't have
to ask her; she knows that"
Held without Bond
Commissioner Lawrence said
he presumed the question of con-
sent had been intimated by the
latter remark, and asked the wit.
ness whether force had been used.
She reiterated her previous state.
ment that it had been.
Because there was presump-
ton of compulsion, and it was
customary to allow no bond in
cases where the death penalty
could be invoked. he was holding
Koran for the grand jury with
out bond. Commissioner Law
renee said.
In the hearing room were the
four other Michigan girls who
had dates with the Marines and
The teachers acting as chaperons
for the group of visitors.
Police exercised more vigilance
last night in an effort to prevent
pickup" dating of servicemen
and teen-aged girls. Acting on
their own without prodding from
Top officials. policemen on the
beat pointedly dispersed groups
Of servicemen and cautioned
visiting high school girls against
straying from their hotels.