Son sought as skeleton of slain father is found

International News Photos (New York, N.Y.) · February 23, 1950

Pontiac, Mich. Officials today identified the skeleton recovered from a barnyard grave as the remains of Stanley James, 52-year-old auto worker (left) whose alleged slaying two years ago was kept secret by his family. Marine Sgt. Carson James, 28 (right) son of the dead man is now being sought for questioning. The identification climaxed a story by one of the elder James' daughters who said he was shot by a son, his body buried behind a cowshed by four of her brothers and the family sworn to secrecy. The daughter, Muriel Hockersmith, 26, of Washington said her father was killed on Thanksgiving day, 1947 after an argument. There are seven children in the family, all college trained. The story told by Mrs. Hockersmith was corroborated, authorities said by the man's widow, Mrs. Ruth James, 54, and two other children. Sgt. James is said to be on his way from Washington, D.C. to his post in California.