Show Hammer Slayer Convicted By U. U S. S Jury Plea of Insanity Fails Sentencing Slated For May 8 in S. S L. L James Joseph was convicted convict convict- ed Thursday of the first degree murder of Abigale Agnes Williams October 12 on the Uintah-Ouray Uintah Indian Indian Indian In In- dian reservation by a federal petty jury which deliberated nearly five hours By bringing in the verdict of guilty with no recommendation for leniency the jury left Federal Dis Dis- Judge Tillman Tiliman D. D Johnson no possible sentence other than the death penalty According to court attaches this is the first time that thata a man has been convicted of first degree murder in the federal district district dis dis- clis- clis court of Utah Judge Johnson they said never has imposed the thc death sentence Continued on J Page Pape ae Ten S Column Four Jury Convicts Convicts' Hammer Killer Continued from Page One upon a defendant Sentencing of was s set t for May 8 Execution of probably will take ake place at the Utah state prison under the direction of the U. U S. S marshal Dan B. B Shields U. U S. S district district dis- dis attorney said will have his choice of being either shot either shot shotor or hanged Mr Shields said was a codefendant with LeRoy Edward Ritchey in the indictment in indictment in- in charging the murder which allegedly took place on I highway 40 near the reservation was granted a separate trial after he pleaded innocent by reason rea- rea son on of insanity Ritchey's trial which started late Wednesday afternoon afternoon afternoon aft aft- was continuing Thursday showed no outward indication indication indication indi indi- cation of feelings while the verdict was being read by the clerk Counsel appointed by the court to defend Ritchey Knox Ritchey-Knox Knox Patterson Patter Patter- attelson son and O. O A A. agreed agreed t to have nave ti the verdict read in inthe the presence presence presence pres pres- ence of jurors trying Ritchey because because because be be- cause they would find it out any any- way According to the indictment the two wo men murdered Mrs Williams by hitting her over the head with witha a short-handled short claw hammer She allegedly had given them a lift In the defense testimony and argument ment counsel Calvin W IV Rawlings and d P Parnell Parnell r i Bl Black k- k kai ai also appointed by the court attempted to prove that was subnormal at the time of the crime and ha hano had no part in the premeditation of the crime because he was asleep when Ritchey started to hit Mrs Williams Williams Williams Wil Wil- liams over the head Meanwhile le in the trial o of Ritchey pros Prosecuting Attorney John S. S Boyden assistant United States district attorney called several several several sev sev- eral of the witnesses who previously previously previously had testified in trial tria concerning their seeing either on onor one or both of the men in Denver anc and Vernal during the days immediately immediate Immediate- ely e- e ly before the crime allegedly was wa committed Leo Denver Colo secondhand secondhand secondhand sec sec- ond-hand ond clothing lothing store dealer appearing appearing appearing ap ap- ap- ap for the first time testified that Ritchey had sold him a leather leath leath- er belt for 50 cents He also produced produced produced pro pro- a receipt signed by Roy Ritchey Mrs Nora C Clark ark Roosevelt who first discovered the body of Mrs Williams October 13 described how she he was led to finding the body by the bark of a dog After sh she saw the body at the side of th the road she hailed a passing automobile automobile automobile automo automo- bile and the driver and she re returned returned returned re- re I turned to a 8 store to notify th the sheriff Other witnesses including th the sheriff of Uintah county were expected to take the stand later late in the day Statements made by Ritchey to federal bureau of in investigation investigation investigation in- in agents also are expected expect expect- expect I ed to be introduced I |