Shelest

Shelest was indicted jointly with Adam Blaszyk and Valentine Radeeki for the crime of murder. After a trial Shelest was convicted. The penalty was fixed at life imprisonment and from the judgment duly pronounced by the court and an order denying him a new trial he appeals. The general ground relied upon for a reversal is that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict in that it does not connect him with the commission of the crime except through a certain statement which it is claimed was improperly received.

It appears that Nancy Wheelock, the proprietress of a lodging-house in Los Angeles, was murdered through strangulation on the afternoon of April 291, 1922. The evidence intended to connect Shelest with the commission of the crime other than the statement to which reference has been made was as follows: Evelyn Shellhouse, who lived in the rooming-house, testified that Blaszyk and Radecki and herself occupied an apartment together; that Shelest did not live at the house, but called to see Blaszyk and Radecki several times, but that the robbery of Mrs. Wheelock was not discussed when he was present. Shelest was arrested about midnight on April 30, 192-2, and denied…