A Colville Man Sentenced to Life for His Wife's Murder
George L. Pepoon, convicted of killing his wife Edith, hears a life sentence in Judge Kennan's chambers — then his lawyers file notice of appeal.
Colville, May 31. — George L. Pepoon, convicted of the murder of his wife, Edith Pepoon, must spend the remainder of his life in the state penitentiary at Walla Walla, if the sentence imposed by Judge Kennan Tuesday morning is affirmed by the higher courts.
Standing within the judge's chamber, with no other witnesses but the court officials and the attorneys for the state and defense, Pepoon, with bowed head, listened to his sentence.
Attorneys for the defense immediately made a motion for arrest of judgment and asked for a new trial, both of which were denied. Following this ruling by the court, notice of appeal was filed by the attorneys, and Pepoon was remanded to the county jail until action was taken by the higher court.
“Standing within the judge's chamber, with no other witnesses but the court officials and the attorneys for the state and defense, Pepoon, with bowed head, listened to his sentence.”
A century later, the mechanics of this case still feel familiar: a conviction, a life sentence, and an immediate appeal that keeps the defendant in county jail while higher courts weigh in. What has changed is the conversation around domestic violence — today Edith Pepoon would be named as more than a victim in a courtroom procedural, and advocates would be asking what the system missed before the killing.
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