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| MURDER CONFESSION ADMITTED AT TRIAL The San Diego Union April 19, 1949 |
| Jury Hears Statement of Guilt Made by Alleged Killer in Latham Slaying A detailed confession signed early this year by Robert Sewell, A Negro, was admitted in evidence yesterday at Sewell's trial for the 3-year-old murder of John H. Latham, salvage yard operator who employed Sewell until a few days prior to the killing |
| The confession was read to the jury after Superior Judge William A. Glen ruled the defense had failed to present evidence to substantiate it's claim that the confession was forced from Sewell by beating him. ACTION DENIED Sewell took the witness stand for the second time, denied participating in the murder and again testified he was beaten by a police officer to force the confession from him. Police Sgt. Frank Logan testified personnel records disclosed the officer named by Sewell did not work the day of the alleged beating. The officer previously denied beating him. Those present at the time Sewell made his confession -- Detective Sgts. Anthony Maguire and Russ Ormsby and Helen Bohn, secretary in the police homicide bureau-- all testified Sewell made the confession freely and that he bore no cuts or bruises. Sewell had claimed his face and other portions of his body were cut and bruised. The prosecution also introduced a picture of Sewell taken at the County Jail 2 days after the alleged beating. in which no cuts or bruises were evident. WIFE GOT MONEY In his confession, Sewell said he retuned home after the robbery slaying and told his wife he had "struck it rich". He gave most of the money to his wife, and they made a trip to Los Angeles with it a few days later. Although Sewell traced his movements in detail the night of the murder in his confession to police he testified on the witness stand he could not remember what he did that night. He denied ever going back to Latham's tire shop. **************** HOME INDEX SCOTT LATHAM INDEX PETERSON INDEX PETERSON TREE LACI |
| NOTE: Article is transcribed exactly as written in the article from April 19, 1949. Any reference to race, is how it was stated and is not meant to be taken out of context. If I were to remove any terms that are now "racially incorrect", I would be changing history CindieC |
| LACI & CONNER FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS |
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| Note: Last section of article is transcribed by SabreenaKatz as it was cut off in scan |