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Jury Puts 20-Year Term on Pettigrewwhat he termed inconsistencies. He dicw admissions chat Mrs. Vaughan end Pctplgrew had lived as man ar.d wife for several montns although the woman is married to William Vaughan Sr., a soldier in the U. S, Army.Ha also established that Mrs. Vaughan . had been with Pettigrew Wednesday night before her testimony in district court and had spoken with the defense attorney concerning wbat she would say. She admitted the latter at first, changed her story, then again admitted it during the county attorney’s examination.Judge ' McKeel ruled Mrs. Vaughan was a hostile witness, ar.d • as such, subject to leading Questions. She appeared reluctant .to answer most of Ward’s point’d queries and resorted to I just don't remember, Mr. Ward several times during her testimony. ’• .After Pettigrew left the stand, both sides gave thein closing arguments. Defense attorney Robert Wimbish claimed the prosecution had failed to prove any overt action on the part of Pettigrew. He’made reference to what' he called a different moral code under-which Indians, operate 'Pettigrew is 31/35tbs Indian). and appealed to the jury not lo convict him because he, was frightened by lawmen with ro regard to personal or property rights.Ward summarized the slatest ease by pointing to the statement i introduced, .Mrs. Va u g h a n’s: change of heart and pcrilnant | medical testimony given by Dr. Ray U. Northrip. Ada pathologist.I .The jury brought back the: guilty verdict at 4:50 p. m. Pettigrew remained stoic when it was read by Court Clerk Abe Holloway. The defendant shewed no emotion throughout the trial exAda Street Worker Saved FromCave-inWayne Sikes, ar. employe ol the Ada street department, was injured Thursday morning when a ditch in which he was working collapsed. burying him beneath the sliding earth.Knnk Ashford, a department foreman, was olsc In the ditch when other workers saw the wall begin ro slide. They shouted a warning ar.d- Ashford leaped back. He escaped ony injury but was buried to his waist.Sikos. 31. was not as fortunate. He' was trapped ar.d completely buried in a. semi-upright position. Only a small portion of the top of his head was visible. •Cleared for BreathingQuick action by fellow workers and prompt rescue work by other city officials, prevented what cculd have been a real tragedy at the cavc-in. Workers leaped into the ditch an scon as the dirt had.settled and within seconds.had cleared the earth away from Sikes’ face so he could breathe. * .The ditch eoliapsed at about 10:20 a. m. but it was at least 15 miriutfcr before the workman, who lives at 1005 North - Bluff, was freed. He never lost consciousness although examination at Valley View Hospital disclosed that h)3 arm was- broken ar.d there was a possibility of several fractured ribs along or.c side where the sliding dirt slammed him into the wall of the cut.A spokesman for the hospital said his condition was •'fair.Not a single Vienna-bcrn bey has been named. Adolph since 1933 — the year the Nazis annexed Austria.James tawis Pettigrew, 21-ycar-old Adan. was found guilty of first degree mar,slaughter and sentenced, to 20 years imprisonment Friday afternoon by a district court jury. Pettigrew was charged in the death of '23-month-old Jimmy Vaughan last January 25.The jury, composed of 8 women and 4 men. took 1 hour and 45 minutes to return the guilty verdict and set the sentence. District Judge John Boyce McKeel will .sentence Pettigrew next Tuesday. June 10.The conviction brought to a close one of the more bizarre court cases ever recorded here. Pettigrew, the prosecution .as sorted, h:t the Vaughan bay over the head with a toy rolling pin on January 21 and the youngster died four days later as a result of the blow.Pettigrew den red having hit the boy. but County Attorney Barr.ey Ward introduced ir. evidence a statement attributed to the defendant in which he admitted striking the child several limes with various objects, including' a belt, toy gun, switchrolling pin.Duress Claimed, Denied• Assistant County, Attorney JimGsssaway testified that Pettigrew made the statements in his presence ar.d the printed statement was verified by Barbara Weatherford, Ward's secretary. Pettigrew was hazy about whether he actually said the'things attributed lo him.When it was introduced, lie denounced it as false, but later said I-guess I rr.adc.it. at! right. He claimed Ward intimidated h;m at the time the statement was taken. Gassaway testified he was under no duress during the t:me he made the remarks.Tr.e high point in the case was the appearance of the dead boy's mother. Sue Vaughan. She had testified in the preliminary hearing that Pettigrew hit the child with the rolling p:n. As she appeared lor the prosecution Thursday afternoon, however, she completely reversed her testimony, claiming she lied in the preliminary because she was scared.” Woman’s Story Ripped• Ward ripped away at the witness’ testimony, .pointing outccpt when under examination by Ward, whom he accused of try-to browbeat him.. ore developments in the case are expected Monday. Ward said charges of adultery and perjury would fee lodged against Mrs. Var-han. The advlte.-v charges will probably be filed Monday and the perjury charges are likely to be filed as soon as a transcript of the trial is completed.The • Pettigrew convictionbrought to close the current District Court session. Four cases were brought tc trial. There were three convictions and one plea of guilty. Another defendant failM to appear and forfeited bond.Convictions other than Pettigrew's included: Walter LeeSanders,. 30 years for burglary with explosives, and A1 m a Skaggs. 1 year imprisonment and S2,OOO fine for illegal sale of intoxicating liquor, second and subsequent offense.
Newspaper Details
Ada Weekly News
Ada, Oklahoma, US
Thu, Jun 12, 1958
Page 5
Full Page
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Anonymous
OK, USA 20 Mar 2017
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