Man Convicted in ’71 Murders

ELIZABETH, N.J. — John Emil List, the pious accountant who was afraid to let his family live in an evil world, was convicted today of murdering his wife, mother and three teen-age children 18 years ago.

Jurors deliberated less than nine hours over two days before convicting List, 64, a mild-looking former Sunday school teacher who evaded police until he was captured last year on a tip generated by a television show.

The jury rejected the claim by List’s lawyer that the devout Lutheran was “sick” and compelled to kill by a religious obsession that made him believe that he was saving his children’s souls and keeping them from poverty.

List jerked his head when the first guilty verdict was read and the back of his neck flushed. Otherwise, he sat impassively as he had during the trial.