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By PATRICIA MASTERMAN Globe News Staff Writer A 16-year-old boy today faces a murder charge in the stabbing death of a 75-year-old man. David Michael Powell, 4307 Arlington, was brought to the courtroom of District Judge George E. Dowlen yesterday during a recess in a civil jury trial The bespectacled teenager wore the khaki trousers and shirt of the Potter County Correction Center. His brown hair hung to his collar, and his shirtsleeves were rolled Judge Dowlen informed him of the charge against him. Powell, accompanied by his lawyer, waived a two-day wait permitted before action in the case The judge proceeded “How old are you, Mr. Powell?’ Judge Dowlen asked. The boy said he’s 16 Student Charged With Carrying Gun At Palo Duro A charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon has been filed against a 17- year-old Amarillo youth in connection with an incident at Palo Duro High School. Benjamin Keith Harrison of 2002 Angelus was free on $500 bond yester day following arraignment before Judge Richard Dambold of Potter County Court-at-Law No. 2. Harrison, a student at Palo Duro, also faces suspension from the school, Principal James Garrett said. Garrett said Harrison told him he found the pistol on the way to school Monday, hid it in a restroom, and had indicated he would take the gun home with him. “The mistake he made was that he didn’t give it to someone here, ’ Garrett said. “I don’t think he was mad at anyone,” the principal said. ‘“‘He was just in the wrong place with the wrong thing Amarillo Independent School District policy calls for the expulsion or suspen sion of students bringing weapons into schools. This is just something that shouldn't happen in the public schools,’’ Garrett said. ‘“‘It is just not the type of thing to have around with a lot of people.” Judge Dowlen then advised him of his rights—to remain silent and to ter minate an interview. Judge Dowlen noted that the boy was represented by his retained attorney. At the lawyer's request, Assistant District Attorney John Lcudder Davis read to Powell the complaint against him The complaint accuses Powell of “knowingly and intentionally” causing the death of William Burton Hamilton “by stabbing him with a knife. Judge Dowlen set bond of $100,000 for Powell Judge Dowlen said the mandatory examining trial for Powell, which will “perhaps” also be the examining trial for a 16-year-old girl, will be held probably week after next. The girl is Patricia Ann Collins, an in mate of the county's detention facility on Willow Creek Road, who appeared before Judge Dowlen yesterday. She, too, is charged with noncapital murder in the Hamilton death and held in lieu of $100,000 bond. Both 16-year-olds appeared last week before Judge Jerry Shackelford of Potter County Court of Domestic Relations in separate closed hearings. After the closed hearings, Judge Shackelford certified the 16-year-olds as adults and waived the jurisdiction of his juvenile court. Judge Shackelford transferred both Powell and the Collins girl to Judge Dowlen’s 181st District Court in documents filed last week. Judge Shackelford ruled that both Powell and the Collins girl are ‘‘of suf ficient sophistications and maturity” to be tried as adults and to aid their at torneys in their defense. The lawyers for Miss Collins, and Powell said they will appeal Judge Shackelford’s rulings to the 7th Court of Civil Appeals here. Powell and the Collins girl are two of five suspects in the Hamilton death. The adults—Dale Mulkey, 23, Robert Bynum, 18, and Wanda Huddleston, 19—were named Jan. 20 in a capital murder indictment by a Potter County grand jury. The three are accused in the indict ment of ‘stabbing him with a knife” while committing or attempting to commit robbery. Miss Collins and Powell are charged with noncapital murder. Miss Collins’ lawyer said a Texas law prohibits assessment of the death penalty for a crime committed while a defendant was under 17 years of age. —Staff Photo by RALPH DUKE Charged with murder . . . Powell, left, with bailiff Barney Ritchie.
Newspaper Details
Amarillo Globe Times
Amarillo, Texas, US
Wed, Mar 09, 1977
Page 47
Full Page
Clipped by
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USA 09 Jul 2026
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