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Jury AcquitsC. 0. PickettAfter 2 Hours iThe four day murder trial of i Jarenee O. Pickett, 42. ended at ’:27 p.m. Thursday with the sim- i de but exonerating words, “not i juilty” stated by Tipton Circuit j iudge, Oliver Wheatley. The clear- i ng words brought screams of re-ief and joyful cries from the ga-hered family and friends of Pickett. Th? jury deliberated less than wo hours in reaching the not guilty jdecision. |After rrceiving instructions the •ury retired at 4:30 p.m. They balloted until dinnertime and spent ian hour away from the courtrooms b fore returning to reach the final decision. Jury foreman Phillip Marin presented the final vote to Judge Wheatley and the accused Pickett rose to face his fate stoci-cally. IThe stoicism which had been followed by Pickett throughout the trial broke into a look of gr?at relief and tears came unbidden to !#the eyes of the d Tend ant. He was surrounded immediately by a small knot of overjoyed relatives and well wish rs.Pickett had faced charges of second degree murder in the shotgun slaying of Ml's. Margaret Smith ather home at 832 North Independence, last Mav. He was also wounded in the affair and spent several morths in Tipton and Indianapolishospitals.Onlookers credited the testimony of 7 year old Richard Dellf son of Mr. and Mrs. William Dell, 836 North Independence, with casting the needed shadow of doubt on the s’'tying. The youngsters related atale which collaborated Pickett’sstory of two men entering the Smith house and wielding the shotgun on the fatal morning.The 42 year old Pickett told reporters that he “thanked God for this decision and thanked th? jury and lawyers for giving him a fair trial.” He was reunited with hiswife and five children ranging in age from 4 to 15. The couple, who now live in Tipton, planned to “gohome to stay and try to forget,” according to Pickett.
Newspaper Details
Tipton Daily Tribune
Tipton, Indiana, US
Fri, Mar 06, 1959
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Tipton C.
Indiana, USA 17 Nov 2021
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