Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-28
Problem Boy May Hear
SIoyine Verdict odoy
BY HARRY BACAs

DAVID vernon Hall, termed q
"danger to society" by the de-
Tense attorneys fighting for his
life. may hear a jury's verdict
today on his admitted Staying Of
Qeorgette Anne Hentgen on q
snow covered hill in Silver Spring
last January II.
Trial Of the 15-year-old "prob-
lem" boy opened yesterday in
Montgomery County Circuit
Court before a jury of nine
men and three women. The
State Is asking for o flrst-degree
murder conviction. The defense
has pleaded not guilty on
grounds of insanity.
The requirements Of Maryland
law have forced David's defense
counsel into a seemingly para
duxical presentation. Admitting
that the slender youth struck
the blow that killed his diminu-
tive l6-year-old classmate dur
ing a shedding expedition. attor-
ueys Berard T. Welsh and J.
Hodge Smith have said he is not
guilty Of murder because. he did
pot have the capacity and the
reason to understand the nature
Or the consequences Of his act
q to distinguish right from
wrong"
Asks Institute Case
And they have told the jury
they are seeking a verdict (which
VII enable this unfortunate
young man to be placed in GUS
tody at the Patuxent Institute
for Defective Delinquents."
but under Maryland law, only
convicted criminals can be so
committed. and verdict Of not
guilty would thus set young Hall
flee, despite the defense admis-
sion that he Is a defective de-
linquent.
Mr.. Welsh said his apparently
contradictory course was forced
on him by the refusal Of the
State to accept q plea Of guilty
to anything less than first degree
murder. II cannot plead that, ~
Mr.. Welsh said.
The prosecution is being con-
Quoted by States Attorney AlgerI
Y. Barbee and his deputy, Leon
ard +. Hardy. They called on
asuccession Of witnesses yester-
day to show that David and
Qeorgette left a group Shedding
party on that cold. January day
and went by themselves up al
wooded hill at the end Of Man
chester road in Silver Spring.
walk Together
The two walked together,
pulling their sleds, the tall, slim
David following closely behind
little o0-pound Georgette. David
was wearing q white cowboy hat
that figured prominently in his
arrest the next day.
Near the base Of the hill,
David stopped and picked up q
dogwood branch and broke of |
one end, leaving him with q three
foot stick which he used as .
cane.
Near the top Of the hill, as the
prosecution reconstructed the
story from David's written state
ment to police after his appre-
hension, tho two began to quar-
rel. David had been teasing
Georgette about q boy friend Of
hers. "as a boy will when a boy
feels left out"
Angered, she turned and
cursed him and struck him in
the groin with her fist. He swung
the dogwood staff at her and
caught her above the right ear.
She crumpled to the ground. a
spot Of blood showing on the
white snow.
Tries to Cover Body
In the words Of his defense,
che knew he was in trouble and
he panicked." He picked up
Georgette's body and carried
her IS feet into the woods and
put her down beside a fallen
tree. Then he returned and got
her sled and placed it beside
her. He tried to cover the body
with snow.
Prosecution witnesses said that
when the body was found about
three hours later, Georgette's
heavy clothing had been pushed
up to the neck and down to the
abdomen. exposing her breasts
and midsection. They said there
were faint bruises on her neck.
The defense has suggested that
someone else may have molested
the body after David left the
scene. Deputy Medical Examiner
Frank j. Broschart Of Mont
gomery County testified that
there was no evidence Of rape
OF. SEXUAL intercourse