James Moore

One of two men convicted of murder in the stabbing and strangulation of 14-year-old Ashley Nicole Mason nearly two years ago was sentenced to life in prison yesterday, but a Howard Circuit Court judge left open the possibility for the man to one day be released. Judge Raymond J. Kane chose not to impose the harshest penalty he could have on 23-year-old Frederick James Moore - life without parole - saying he was not "prepared to foreclose" on the possibility that the Baltimore man might one day reform himself enough to convince state officials that he is worthy of freedom.

A Howard County jury of seven women and five men will begin hearing testimony this morning in the murder trial of Frederick James Moore, the second of two men accused of fatally stabbing 14-year-old Ashley Nicole Mason more than a year ago. Attorneys for both sides spent the bulk of yesterday selecting jurors to hear what is expected to be a week of testimony from up to 18 witnesses. But although forensic evidence, including DNA testing, is expected to link Moore to the crime scene, it was unclear yesterday how prosecutors plan to tie the 22-year-old Baltimore man to the stabbing itself.

James Allen Moore, a retired Domino Sugar Corp. plant manager and a longtime volunteer, died Thursday of complications from pneumonia at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was 83.In 1937, just out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Moore started his 41-year career with Domino Sugar as an intern. After six months, he moved into a paid position and soon transferred to the company's Baltimore refinery.In Baltimore, he set out to learn every aspect of the business."He worked in accounting, he worked in quality control, he worked in manufacturing, he worked in the marketing department," said a son-in-law, Gregory Pinkard of Lutherville.

Aubrey 'Buck' Slade, 88, Martin Marietta managerAubrey "Buck" Slade, a retired Martin Marietta Corp. manager who was active in Masonic affairs, died of Alzheimer's disease April 20 in Venice, Fla. He was 88.Mr. Slade went to work for the old Glenn L. Martin Co. in Middle River in the early 1930s and retired in 1967 as manager of the plant layout and equipment department. He lived in Northeast Baltimore before moving to Venice 30 years ago.He had been an active member of the Boumi Temple and Scottish Rite.

A 31-year-old Baltimore man was charged yesterday with the fatal shooting Sunday morning of another man during an argument over a woman, police said.Police said Warren Nixon, 32, of the 1500 block of Madison Ave., was shot once in the head about 4:50 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of McMechen St., near Druid Hill Avenue in West Baltimore.He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.James Moore, of the 900 block of N. Mount St., was reportedly arrested in that block by police about 11:30 a.m. yesterday.

Dutch Holland says he's almost ready to stop campaigning against Buddy Ahern.It's been 10 months since the upstart Republican soundlyswept the Democratic incumbent out of office and apparently off the side of the planet, and Holland says he's almost ready to stop attacking Buddy in every speech before every civic association in Pasadena."