More in Sorrow

After ten days of hearings, including last-minute testimony from a girl friend of 17-year-old Nancy Hitchings that Nancy did not seem to be drunk when she saw her a couple of hours before she drove off into the night with Michael Smith to her death, Judge Rodney Eielson found Michael guilty of reckless driving and negligent homicide. The judge concluded that Michael, not Nancy, was driving, on such simple physical evidence as the discovery of Nancy's blood on the right side of the car roof. He sentenced him to six months in jail on the homicide charge, to be suspended after 60 days.

Then it was the parents' turn. The four couples who had given the two parties attended by Michael and Nancy turned up at Stamford circuit court to stand trial for serving liquor to minors. Francis Dutcher, a vice president of Johns-Manville Corp., and his wife Nancy pleaded nolo contendere; he explained that he and his wife had given a small dinner before the dance for his teen-age daughter, who had been away at school for two years. "We thought long and hard before we held the party because we had never served alcoholic beverages in our home to young people before. Had we known it was against the Connecticut law, we would never have done so." He ordered extra-large glasses, told the bartender to make sure that the drinks were very light. Soft drinks were available, and the highballs were served only before dinner. Concluded Dutcher: "I am particularly concerned about the bad publicity that has been given our town. I have lived in many parts of the country, and I can assure you that the residents of Darien are among the finest people that I have ever known."

Judge Alfred Toscano, seemingly more in sorrow than in anger, then imposed a fine of $250 each. Dr. George Hughes, on whose lawn the main party had been held, chose to fight, along with the two co-hosting couples. Their lawyers filed various demurrers and motion for dismissal, and the judge set hearings for next week.

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