Guard Freed Over Killing.
GUARD FREED
OVER KILLING
_______
Jury Votes Acquittal for
Skating Rink Employee
Who Slew Patron
_______
Harry J. Gold, watchman and guard at a skating rink at 126 West Slauson avenue, yesterday was acquitted by a Superior Court jury of the murder last October 27 of Lester Wynkoop, a patron of the amusement hall.
After a scant hour's deliberation the jury in Superior Judge Willis's court returned a not guilty verdict, largely on the basis of testimony of witnesses who declared that Wynkoop's last words were:
"I shouldn't have tried to get him."
The victim, according to Gold's story told under questioning by Defense Attorney A. J. O'Connor and Dep. Dist.-Atty. Crail, had entered a quarrel between the guard and Sam Nen. When Gold ordered him to desist, Wynkoop seized a signboard and started toward the guard.
Gold pleaded self-defense, stating he fired two shots into the wall to warn Wynkoop, who failed to heed him.
Source:
Unknown, "Guard Freed Over Killing, Jury Votes Acquittal for Skating Rink Employee Who Slew Patron," The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Friday, 13 December 1935, p. 10.
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