Las Vegas Age

Northcott In Second Victory As Sanity Test Is Granted

NORTHCOTT IN SECOND WIN FOR FREEDOM

JUDGE APPOINTS BOARD TO TEST SUSPECT'S SANITY

RIVERSIDE, Jan. 3, (AP) Judge Freeman appointed a commission today to examine Gordon Stewart Northcott, charged with the murders of several small boys on the Wineville "murder farm" near here.

The court granted the motion of Norbert Savay, Northcott's counsel after a bitter clash between the court and Savay in which the judge threatened to place the lawyer under arrest for contempt of court.

The clash grew out of an attempt on the part of Savay to read an affidavit charging insanity against the defendant while the jury was in the room.

The court ordered the jury to leave and Savay objected.

RIVERSIDE, Jan. 2, (AP)—Gordon Stewart Northcott who went to trial this morning for the murder of three small boys whom he is accused of first mistreating, won a victory when Judge Morton, before whom the trial was to have been heard disqualified himself for prejudice and named Judge George Freeman to try the sensational case.

From San Quentin penitentiary, where she is serving a life sentence for the murder of little Walter Collins, Mrs. Sarah Louise Northcott, Gordon's mother, sent a telegram to the court confessing all the crimes for which her son must answer.

Despite this gesture on the part of the mother, District Attorney Redwine declared that he will proceed with the prosecution of Gordon Northcott.

The removal of Judge Morton followed the motion of Northcott's counsel supported by affidavits citing the tilt between the Judge and Northcott when the youth was arraigned. Judge Morton was declared in the affidavits to have used language toward the defendant indicating that he had formed an opinion and was prejudiced ab initio.