Lawyers to Put Prison on Trial

COLUMBUS Lawyers for the killing of another inmate have announced they will try to put U.S. prison conditions on trial instead of their client.

Twelve U.S. senators, members of a Senate committee that studied prison conditions in 1969 and 1970 have been asked to testify during the trial.

"This killing was the direct result of conditions

within the penal system which permit homosexual practices and rule of the strong over the weak," said Roy F. Martin, executive director of the public defender's staff which will represent Shelby T. Willis, 51, when he goes on trial here Sept. 25.

WILLIS IS CHARGED with first-degree murder in the April 10 stabbing death of another inmate. Martin

said the killing occurred after the inmate made homosexual advances to another inmate in Willis' presence and that the killing was self-defense.

Willis is serving a sentence from Hamilton County for armed robbery.

The invitations to the 12 senators were sent to Sen. James O. Eastland,