including a special committee appointed by the American Psychological
Society, testified that-he-had-the mentality of-a-child who was only —
eight years old, In spite of the testimony concerning Oxnam's mentali-
ty, both were convicted and sentenced to die. Their cases were appeal-
ed to the California Supreme Court and affirmed.. The basis for Oxnam's
appeal was that, as he was only 17 at.the time of the crime, he should
have been tried in a.juvenile court but the Supreme Court filked against
him, stating that the issue should have been raised by his attorneys
before and not after the trial, On the orders of the Governor, the
Supreintendent of the State Hospitals visited Oxnam in his cell the
day before the scheduled executions and when he pronounced him sane,
the Governor refused to commute either sentence, Oxnam was hanged at
San Quentin on March 3, 1916, while Witt was hanged at Folsom Prison
on the same daye Oxnam went to his death quivering and crying and
wept continuously until the frop fell while Witt's last words were’
"I shand here innocent. I have been railreaded from life.
LOS ANGELES TIMES, Los Angeles, Calif., March 3 and March hy 1916e
ng PACH 265 (Os Apobohut Cobo
19 PACIFIC 165 (Oxnam) FAG Aner
G9 -ctAB Ace frrawce “Dossy” ALL ~ Dies
‘including a special conmittee appointed by the American Psychological
Society, testified thatthe had-the mentality of-a-child-who was-only—
eight years old, In spite of the testimony concerning Oxnam's mentali-
ty, both were convicted and sentenced to die. Their cases were appeal-
ed to the California Supreme Court and affirmed.. The basis for Oxnam's
appeal was that, as he was only 17 at.the time of the crime, he should
have been tried in a.juvenile court but the Supreme Court filked against
him, stating that the issue should have been raised by his attorneys
before and not after the trial, On the orders of the Governor, the
Supreintendent of the State Hospitals visited Oxnam in his cell the
day before the scheduled executions and when he pronounced him saney
the Governor refused to commute either sentence, Oxnam was hanged at
San Quentin on March 3, 1916, while Witt was hanged at Folsom Prison
onthe same day. Oxnam went to his death quivering and crying and
wept continuously until the frop fell while Witt's last words were?
"I shand here innocent. I have been railraaded from life.
LOS ANGELES TIMES, Los Angeles, Calif., March 3 and March hy 1916e
18 PACIFIC 928 (Witt) ol ohet- N
19 PACIFIC 165 (Oxnam) 3 S
“Dordsy” AMA Oo ter
including a special committee appointed by the American Psychological
Society, testified that he had the mentality of a child who was only
eight years old, In spite of the testimony concerning Oxnam's mentali-
ty, both were convicted and sentenced to dies
ed to the California Supreme Court and affirmed.. The basis for Oxnam's
appeal was that, as he was only 17 at.the time of the crime, he should
have been tried in a.juvenile court but the Suprene Court fitted against
him, stating that the issue should have been raised by his attorneys
before and not after the trial, On the orders of the Governor, the
Supreintendent of the State Hospitals visited Oxnam in his cell the
day before the scheduled executions and when he pronounced him sane,
che Governor refused to commute either sentences Oxnam was hanged at
San Quentin on March 3, 1916, while Witt was hanged at Folsom Prison
onthe same day. Oxnam went to his death quivering and erying and
wept continuously until the @rop fell while Witt's last. words weret
"T stand here innocent, I have been railraaded from life,
10S ANGELES TIMES, Los Angeles, Calif., March 3 and March l, 1916.
18 PACIFIC 928 (qitty
149 PACIFIC 165 (Oxnam) nl ohut- Cb
0c wiefaawe “Doudy AWE ~ Za VD
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i pe ty taohel, bg |
sup rari 365, (ome)
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Me fnmsoe "Otay ”
OXNAM, Charles E, T, and WITT, Charles Mar, 3, 1916
Oxnam, a white youth, born in May, 1897, was considered mentally de=
ficient and had only Zone,as far as the fourth grade in school though
he regularly attended,, Orpahned and out of work, he went to a Los
Angeles employment agency on Dec. 22, 191), where he met the 23-year=
old Witt, also white and a native of El Paso, Tex, Witt persuaded
him to accompany him to the home of William M, Alwxander, a retired
Los Angeles capitalist, for the purpose of burglarizing the residence,
They entered the house through a downstairs window around 2 o'clock
the next morning, with Oxnam armed with a pistol and Witt with a
chisel, While they were in the Alex ander's bedroom, Mr, and Mrs,
Alexander were roused from their sleep and Oxnam attempted to hold
the couple at bay while Witt searched for valuables, Mr. Alexander
grappled with the boy who shot and killed him. They were captured
shortly afterwards in a room in which they had taken refuge and both
confessed. At their trial, Witt testified that he was broke, out of
work, had no place to sleep and no food to eat. He admitted that, even
though he was not the actual triggerman, he had persuaded Oxnam to
accompany him and testified that when they reached the house @xnam
was so terrified that he had fo force him to enter. Oxnam's defense
was one of mental df®ficiency and psychiatrists who had examined him,
OXNAM, Charles E, T. and WITT, Charles War. 3, 1916
Oxnam, a white youth, born in May, 1897, was considered mentally de-
ficient and had only fone,as far as the fourth grade in school though
he regularly attended,, Orpahned and out of work, he went to a Los
Angeles employment agency on Dece 22, 191, where he met the 23-year=
old Witt, also white and a native of El Paso, Tex, Witt persuaded
him to accompany him to the home of William M, Alwxander, a retired
Los Angeles capitalist, for the purpose of burglarizing the residence.
They entered the house through a downstairs window around 2 o'clock
the next morning, with Oxnam armed with a pistol and Witt with a
chisel. While they were in the Alex ander's bedroom, Mr, and Mrs,
Alexander were roused from their sleep and Oxnam attempted to hold
the couple at bay while Witt searched for valuables. Mr. Alexander
grappled with the boy who shot and killed him, They were captured
shobtly afterwards in a room in which they had taken refuge and both
confessed. At their trial, Witt testified that he was broke, out of
work, had no place to sleep and no food to eat. He admitted that, even
though he was not the actual triggerman, he had persuaded Oxnam to
accompany him and testified that when they reached the house @xnam
was so terrified that he had fo force him to enter. Oxnam's defense
was one of mental @®ficiency and psychiatrists who had examined him,
OXNAM, Charles E, 1, and WITT, Charles 3, 1916
Oxnam, a white youth, born in May, 1897, was considered mentally de-
ficient and had only one.as far as the fourth grade in school though
he regularly attended,, Orpahned and out of work, he went to a Los
Angeles employment agency on Dec. 2%, 191), where he met the 23-year-
old Witt, also white and a native of El Paso, Tex. Witt persuaded
him to accompany him to the home of William M, Alwxander, a retired
Los Angeles capitalist, for the purpose of burglarizing the residence.
They entered the house through a downstairs window around 2 o'clock
the next morning, with Oxnam armed with a pistol and Witt with a
chisel, While they were in the Alex ander's bedroom, Mr, and Mrs.
Alexander were roused from their sleep and Oxnam attempted to hold
the couple at bay while Witt searched for valuables, Mr, Alexander
grappled with the boy who shot and killed him, They were captured
shobtly afterwards in a room in which they had taken refuge and both
confessed. At their trial, Witt testified that he was broke, out of
work, had no place to sleep and no food to eat. He admitted that, even
though he was not the actual triggerman, he had persuaded Oxnam to
accompany him and testified that when they reached the house @xnam
was so terrified that he had fo force him to enter. Oxnam's defense
was one of mental dfficiency and psychiatrists who had examined him,
‘OMUN, Chartes E, T, and WITT, Charlee
i yh An Hy FT ter
