Evening star., 1961-02-23
REES
Musician Guilty in Jackson SIoyines
Jury Does Not Ask Death Penalty
Continued From First Pase

EC&l QuSSblOu Dc4OtG Tile pHAlCA
hinging on whether the jury
should recommend Rees' exc
cution in the Maryland gas
chamber. the foreman said.
Majority Favored Death
The foreman said the ma
jority favored q recommenda-
ton for capital punishment,
which would have been binding
on the Judge.
2, Mr.. Conner said one Of the
Jurors had told the others, how
ever, 81 don't want any blood
on my hands," in holding out
. for the guilty verdict without
the death penalty.
s When the jurors filed into
the courtroom shortly after 10
am, Deputy Clerk Arthur j
Robertson arose and asked the
IL Maryland men If they had
reached q verdict. Mr.. Conner
replied without rising from his
seat that they had.
Mr.. Robertson asked Mr.,
Conner separately about the
verdict on each Of the two
counts In the indictment
: against Rees. The jury fore
man intoned the single word.
guilty" twice in q loud, clear
voice.
Does the jury recommend
the death penalty?" Federal
Judge Roszel C. Thomson asked
the panel.
mo, SIR" Mr.. Conner replied,
Defense Attorney William. j,
ODonnell, who spearheaded
the Rees defense. asked that
the Jury be polled. ~
The clerk then asked each
juror: you have heard the
verdict Of your foreman. Is
that your verdict?"
Each Of the IL said individ-
ually that it was.
Judge Thomson deferred the
sentencing Of Rees pending the
fling Of motions by the de-
tense. Mr.. ODonnell said the
Law provides an interval Of five
days in which q motion may be
filed for q new trial.
Defense CompIlrnented
Judge Thomson thanked Mr.
ODonneIi and William j.
Evans, ccurt-appointed lawyers
for Rees, performing without q
fee, for extremely able Serv-
ice." He told Mr.. O'Donnell to
advise Rees Of his right to ap-
peal the verdict.
The jurist also thanked the
Jury for loyal and faithful serv-
ice in performing an unhappy
task"
Then Judge Thomson re-
manded Rees to Baltimore City
Jail, where he has been IN
custody since his arrest last
sumner, In custody Of Deputy
United States marshals.
Rees walked rapidly from the
courtroom. looking neither to
right nor left and was quickly
whisked away 10 his cell where
b has been playing chess and
reading books on philosophy
during the trial.
Assistant United States At
torneys Robert E. Cahill and
II. Russell smouse had no CONE
ment when reporters asked
than how they felt about the
verdict, but Mr.. Cshill wore 9
broad grin.
3 Verdicts Possible
Three verdicts were available
to the jury. It could have found
Rees guilty, as It did: 1t could
have found him guilty with q
Recommendation for the death
penalty or 1t could have
brought in Q verdict Of not
guilty.
speculation that the jury
might be unable to reach 9
verdict ended abruptly at IL
o'clock this morning.
Maryland and Virginia au.
thoritieS heard Of the verdict
with considerable interest since
Rees is wanted in both States
sCommonwealth's Attorney T
Stokley Coleman Of Spotsyl'
vania County, Va, where Rec
is charged with murderinl
Carroll v. jackson, 20. and hi
daughter Janet. 10 months
told reporters. 1T is prema.
ture to comment on whether
Virginia viii attempt to prose
cute" But he indicated he die
not agree with the verdict thai
spared Rees from the ga
chamber.
Capt. Charles NJ. Lindsey oi
the Virginia State police in.
vestigatiye staff, said. II an
sure many people are disap'
pointed in the verdict. There's
much more evidence the jury
couldn't have the benefit Of"
Capt. Elmer Hagner Of tn.
Anne Arundel County police
who holds O warrant chargint
Rees with q 1857 murder o.
Mrs. Margaret v. Harold, indi'
Gated Virginia could have frs
priority If Rees is to be triet
again.
Just before handing the cast
to the jurors, Judge Thomser
delivered a 20-minute charge
In. which he listed the three
possible verdicts. He said the
Jury must return q verdict or
each of the two counts In the
Indictment under which thu
defendant was tried.
Two Charges Explained
I. The first count accused Rec
d abducting Mrs. jackson 70,
ssthe purpose Of having sexua
qualification on her body" ant
failing TO return her unharmed
The second count Of the Lind
hergh law chargeaccused him o
the kidr1a ming and TnurdAT n