FULL TEXT: Mercer [Pa.],
Sept. 19. – Judge George H. Rowley shortly before noon today sentenced Mrs.
Frances Hoffman Day, 29, plumpish blonde from Oil City who entered a surprise
plea of guilty last Friday for her part in the 1935 killing of Howard Sidley,
gasoline station operator, to life imprisonment at the state’s Industrial Home
for Women at Muncy, Pa.
~ First Degree Murder ~
He
imposed sentence after establishing the degree of her guilt at first degree
murder and after declaring that laws of the state automatically fix the life
sentence inasmuch as she had entered the guilty plea.
When
sentence had been pronounced. Judge Rowley asked her: “Have you anything to
say?”
“Nothing
to say,” Mrs. Day quickly replied in a low voice that was hardly audible in the
packed courtroom.
~ Redfoot Gets 10
Years ~
William K. Redfoot, 29-year-old Harrisville farm hand
admitted wielding the axe that killed Sidley, was sentenced by Judge Rowley to
from 10 to 10 years in the Western penitentiary at Pittsburgh. His guilt had
earlier been determined by Judge Rowley at second degree murder.
Redfoot pleaded guilty after giving police a confession in
which he painted Mrs. Day as the “brains” of the plot. He appeared as the chief
commonwealth witness against her at her trial.
~ Third Trial Delayed ~
The
third defendant in the case. Fred Goodwin, 47-year-old Sandy- Lake miner,
indicted for murder, manslaughter and robbery, will not come to trial until the
December term of criminal court.
Goodwin’s
attorney this morning asked Judge Rowley to delay his trial until the December
term of criminal court, and the request was granted.
[“Life
Sentence Is Given Woman In Mercer Case - Mrs. Frances Hoffman Day Is Sentenced For Gas Station Murder -
Redfoot Is Given Ten To 20 Years - Trial Of Third Defendant, Fred Goodwin, Is
Delayed To December,” New Castle News (Pa.), Sep. 19, 1938, p. 1]
***
***
For more Violence by Women cases involving axes and
hatchets, see: Give ‘Em the Axe
***
[866-12/9/21]
***
No comments:
Post a Comment