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Show Markham's Counsel Prepares Appeal to Board of Pardons Attorneys for John Markham, 26-year-old slayer under sentence sen-tence of death, Monday were preparing papers for a last-minute appeal to the state board of pardons. Samuel Bernstein of defense' counsel said he would not know of final plans for- an appeal for commutation of aence to life Imprisonment Im-prisonment until he has conferred with Attorney General Joseph Chez to learn whether the board will consider the case In special session or at Its next regular session, ses-sion, February 19. Markham was sentenced Saturday Satur-day by Judge Oscar W. McConkie of Third district court to fact a firing squad at th prison on March 9. The death sentence was unprecedented unprece-dented in Utah sine statehood in that Judge McConkie overrode the jury's recommendation for a life sentence. Meanwhile, Markham, In death row at the prison, has shown no change In conduct, said Warden Owen Nebeker. Save for an emotional emo-tional outburst at the county jail before leaving for the prison Saturday, Sat-urday, Harkham has kept himself In control. Markham was convicted of slugging slug-ging to death J. G. Smith, confectionery confec-tionery stand owner, In a robbery on November 25. - i |