Potigian

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction (murder in the first degree) and from order denying defendant’s motion for a new trial.

Appellant insists that the court erred in denying her motion for a change of venue. It is made manifest by uncontradicted affidavits that immediately following defendant’s arrest and frequently thereafter, several newspapers printed and largely circulated in Fresno County, published articles seriously derogatory of her. These publications are thus epitomized by appellant’s counsel: “Defendant was accused of eight separate crimes, and was constantly referred to by such terms as ‘triple murderess,’ ‘Bluebeard woman,’ ‘poison woman,’ ‘woman murderer,’ ‘mystery woman,’ ‘modem Borgia,’ ” etc.

“The alleged facts in the case were printed time and time again, being vouched for according to the newspaper statements by the District Attorney, the Assistant District Attorney, several Deputy District Attorneys,” etc. “It was further shown among the Armenians themselves [appellant being an Armenian] there had been passionate attacks directed against the woman, she having been excoriated in public sermons and in street talk.”

We must conclude that the trial…