Show VOLUNTARY Y IS PLEA OF S The trial of Bateman charged with murder in the first degree degree de- de gree for the slaying of Henry Saxton last November was suddenly terminated terminated Wednesdays when the defendant pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter Soon after the return of the jury from a the scene of the murder a conference was held between Samuel Sam Sam- uel A. A King counsel for for Bateman and District Attorney Wison McCarty The state agreed to permit to change hIs plea of not guilty to murder In the first degree to one of guilty to voluntary manslaughter Time for passIng sentence was fixed by Judge Jo Join n I F. F Tobin at 10 o'clock next Saturday morning With two witnesses for the state already examined the trial progressing progress progress- Ing rapIdly the sudden turn of events proved a big surprise In the court court- room Even the jury a and d' d members of Batemans Bateman's family were noticeably surprised at the sudden termInation of the trial Attorneys well versed In criminal proceedings who have taken a marked Interest In the trIal since it was started l predicted that Batem Bateman Bate Bate- m man n would not be e convicted of first degree murder the finding of the jury beIng for second degree murder or orone orone one of manslaughter The first surprise of the trial came Wednesday when District Attorney McCarty declared In hIs openIng statement to the jury that MIss Lydia for whose love Bateman is alleged to have slain Saxton would offer damagIng testimony against Bateman as a state witness Until McCartys McCarty's statement was made there was still doubt as to whIch sIde would call Miss as a witness |