WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1956

Wednesday, March 28, 1956

HEADLINE: J. TAYLOR TRIAL IS POSTPONED TO APRIL 16TH

Judge Nordbye Grants Request of Defense Attorney I. Nemerov

Judge Gunnar Nordbye Monday in Minneapolis federal court granted a defense motion for delay and postpones start of the federal court trial of James P. Taylor from April 2 to April 16.


Taylor, a Detroit ex-convict, is charged with slaying Kenneth Lindbergh, 44, Thief River Falls bank cashier who disappeared November 12. Lindbergh’s beaten body was found two weeks later near Clear Lake.


Taylor also is charged with theft and cashing of some of the $14,000 in traveler’s checks missing from the Thief River Falls bank.


In asking for the delay, Irving Nemerov, court appointed attorney for Taylor told the court this will be the first murder case he has defended and that there are many aspects of the case with which he is not familiar.


George MacKinnon, United States district Attorney who last week gave Nemerov a list of 533 prospective witnesses, ordered subpoena is issued for 190, including an undisclosed number of Thief River Falls residents.
He told Judge Nordbye he had scaled the list down after Nemerov said certain phases of the government case would not be contested. The district attorney said the new list by name and address of the witnesses would suggest what testimony each might have.


In asking Saturday for a delay, Nemerov described prosecution’s list of 533 potential witnesses as a sham and frivolous.


The list was given to Nemerov Wednesday by United States District Attorney George MacKinnon. In the affidavit accompanying his motions, Nemerov said the list was the longest he had ever heard about and criminal trial. He asked that MacKinnon ordered to produce a more realistic list. Nemerov explained that the defense must examine the prospective witnesses before it can conduct its case and added that the time allowed is much too short.


He also suggested at trial date be delayed until the snow has melted in the south shore of Lake Crescent near Clear Lake, Minnesota where Lindbergh’s body was found. This would make it possible to search for a murder weapon.