Just last week she received word from officials at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City that she could begin her training with them. She was to leave tomorrow morning.

Miss Curtiss started working in the Auburn City Hospital when she was 16 years old and still in high school to save money for her training.

Worked all year

Then, in September, 1948, she rejoined the nurses aid staff at City Hospital where she worked until last Thursday when she received word that she had been accepted by St. Luke’s. Fellow workers gave her a going-away party.

Last night Miss Curtiss was at home when her brother was stabbed. She notified the police. She hasn’t decided what to do about her nursing course now, but it is doubtful that she will be able to leave for New York tomorrow as planned.

Note: Margaret Curtiss graduated from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1955.

The slaying of Curtiss, an Air Force corporal home on leave from Mitchel Field, took place at the Curtis residence about 12:30 a..m. Feb. 5. The victim and the accused had known each other for years and so far as could be learned had apprently been on friendly terms.

Authorities say Tilkins admitted the slaying, but gave no reason for the act. The two young men had been in the kitchen of the Curtiss home for some time when Tilkins hastily left the house without speaking to anyone. Less than an hour later, he was taken into custody by the police.

In the meantime, Corporal Curtiss had staggered from the kitchen and collapsed. He had a knife wound in his chest, doctors discovered. He lived only a short time.

Plea of innocent to the charge of murder in the second degree was withdrawn with the permission of County Judge Gerald S. Hewitt. A plea of guilty to the lesser charge was then allowed by the judge, who said manslaughter in the first degree carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

In reply to questions from deputy county clerk Holdridge Sinclair, Tilkins gave his age as 23, said he was a merchant seaman by trade, and that he drank “moderately.”

The order, obtained by George M. Michaels, Tilkins’ attorney, is for the purpose of bringing Tilkins before the county judge, April 9, “for the purpose of inquiring into the sentence imposed on Hugh Basil Tilkins” on June 23, 1952, in connection with the slaying of Charles Curtiss, another Auburn youth.

Curtiss was killed in his home in this city on Feb. 5, 1952. Tilkins admitted the slaying, motive for which was never divulged. The two youths were alone when the slaying took place. Judge Hewitt sentenced Tilkins to not less than 18 years or more than 20 years in Attica State Prison. The order to bring Tilkins back to Auburn was filed today in the Cayuga County clerk’s office.

Judge Hewitt gave Tilkins an indeterminate sentence of 10 to 20 years for manslaughter, first degree, to which Tilkins pleaded guilty two years ago. Tilkins’ original setnence, pronounced here in June, 1952, was 18 to 20 years. The change was made to comply with the law.

Judge Hewitt directed that all time spent by Tilkins in the County Jail and in Attica Prison apply to the sentence.

He bases a coram nobis proceeding on a claimed discrepancy in the coroner’s report, which says that Curtiss was stabbed once, and the indictment, which alleges that he inflicted diverse wounds.

Coram nobis is a petition to the court to re-examine a previous proceeding in which, according to the claimant, there was a mistake or in which his constitutional rights were violated.

In a decision dated Sept. 2, 1960, County Judge Gerald S. Hewitt denied Tilkins’ application. The prisoner then appealed Judge Hewitt’s decision to the Appellate Division, claiming to be poor and asking that counsel be assigned.

Hearing has been set for May 9 in Rochester. The appeal will be reviewed by a panel of five judges.

According to official reports published at the time of the killing, Tilkins, then 23, went to the home of Air Force Cpl. Charles Curtiss, 56 Walnut St., on Feb. 5, 1952 about midnight and conversed with him quietly in the living room for about an hour. Although not really friends, the two men had known each other since they went to East High School together.

Tilkins left the house hurriedly and Curtiss staggered into the kitchen where his family was assembled. He died of a stab wound by the time the police arrived. The knife with which Curtiss was stabbed was found later in the driveway.

No possible motive for the killing was ever advanced by officials.

He asked County Judge Gerald S. Hewitt to be allowed to stand trial before a jury.

Mr. Tilkins, charged with killing a former classmate, Air Force Cpl. Charles Curtiss at Mr Curtiss’ home at 56 Walnut St. on the night of Feb. 5, 1952, had been returned to Cayuga County Court from Attica Prison for resentencing.

Judge Hewitt imposed a sentence of 10 to 20 years in Attica, the identical sentence Mr. Tilkins is now serving, but arrested judgment until Tuesday so that Mr. Tilkins could consult an attorney.

The judge assigned Joseph E. Lynch as counsel for Mr Tilkins and set the new hearing for 10 a.m.

Originally represented by George M. Michaels, Mr. Tilkins had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 to 20 years by Judge Hewitt.

Cpl. Curtiss died of a stab wound in the abdomen after the two men had been talking in a front room [kitchen]. It was reported at the time that other members of Mr. Curtiss’ family had not heard any argument and that the men had not been drinking. No reason for the stabbing was ever advanced by Mr. Tilkins, who was 23 at the time.

The original sentence of 18 years was vacated in April 1954 when Mr. Tilkins was re-sentenced to 10 to 20 years. Mr. Tilkins was returned to the Cayuga County Jail from Attica this week for another re-sentencing on order of the Appellate Division.

Mr. Tilkins said today that he felt he “could get a fairer shake from the state by standing trial for murder.”

He also stated that details in the indictment did not correspond to a coroner’s report.

Judge Hewitt said there was no reason why the case should be reopened and the accused be allowed to change his plea after more than 11 years.

But he granted Mr. Tilkins, who said at the beginning of today’s hearing that he did not wish to be represented by an attorney, five days to discuss the matter with Mr. Lynch. He will remain in the custody of the sheriff until Tuesday.

On questioning by the judge, Mr. Tilkins said that he had been free on parole but had been returned to prison eight months later for violation of probation. He said he had been charged with drunk and disorderly conduct. He said this happened four years ago.