JULY 5 AND JULY 9, 1956

July 5, 1956

HEADLINE: LINDBERGH SLAYER GETS LIFE SENTENCE

Motion to Summon Jury to Determine Fate of James P. Taylor Withdrawn


James Taylor, confessed murderer of Kenneth E. Lindbergh, cashier of the Northern State Bank following a kidnap/robbery episodes last November 12, in Thief River Falls, was sentenced this morning by Gunnar H. Nordbye, in federal court in Minneapolis to serve the rest of his natural life in prison.


L. W. Rulien, Pennington County Attorney, who was in Minneapolis today, for the court session, notified the Times that the government had moved to withdraw its motion to submit the case to the jury which would have had the power to impose the death penalty.


Judge Nordbye sentenced Taylor to serve 10 years in federal prison on the third count of the indictment, involved the interstate transportation and 10 years to run consecutively on the fourth count, also involving transportation.


On the first count involving the murder of Lindbergh, he was sentenced to serve the rest of his natural life in prison, this sentence to begin after the other two terms have been served.


In passing sentence, Judge Nordbye stated that the murder was the most heinous and cold-blooded offense in his long experience as the Jurist and declared that Taylor should never again be allowed outside prison walls.


The government also moved to dismiss the second count of the indictment, involving bank robbery, on the grounds that there was a conflict of jurisdiction as to where they case should be tried.


Taylor made a brief statement at today’s session, saying that he planned the crime while confined in an Indiana prison for a previous offense, adding that he didn’t know Lindbergh until the day he met him at the Northern State Bank late in the afternoon of Saturday, November 12. He also expressed his sorrow at having committed the crime.




Monday, July 9, 1956

HEADLINE: ATTORNEYS ASK PSYCHIATRIC AID FOR TAYLOR

Nemerov Asks that K.E. Lindbergh Murderer Be Treated While in Prison


A plea that federal judge Gunnar Nordbye use his prestige of his court to obtain psychiatric assistance for James P. Taylor, given a life sentence for the slaying of Kenneth E. Lindbergh, during his prison term was made by the defendant’s court appointed attorneys Thursday.


Irving Nemerov and Walter E. Riordan told the court there is reason to believe mental guidance could enable Taylor to make a substantial contribution to society.
Taylor himself asked for mental assistance, guidance, and counseling. They pointed out that three psychiatrists who examined him found no objective evidence of organic brain damage the attorney said. Although they felt further tests should be conducted by government psychiatrists.


The attorneys reported Taylor had been fully cooperative with them and the government although they found many weaknesses and defects in his character, they said, they also found many traits of merit. He is sincerely remorseful they said and understands the wrong he has done and is willing to accept the consequences.


If at some time in the past his energies had been properly directed, they said we feel that he would have been a responsible citizen. It is our hope that the Federal Bureau of Prisons will discover, direct, and develop these energies.


The two lawyers, who served without compensation, added criticism of the position of the court appointed attorney.


For the last eight months the consuls for the defendant have devoted a great deal of time to this matter. The court knows it has been difficult working without compensation. We know that this court desires federal legislation providing for payment to those who have devoted a great deal of time to this matter.


In order to carry out the letter, if not the spirit of the constitutional provision for the right to consult, the attorney must treat the defendant as he would his wealthiest client. He must take the same action and expand the same investigative funds. Only in this way can the bill of rights be given its full impact.


This defendant was given every advantage of his right to counsel. And not one instance was he treated differently than he would have been if he had unlimited funds. However, future defense may not have attorneys appointed who are financially able to carry on the burden of this task as we were in the circumstances and the right to consul becomes meaningless.