Return to death row OK'd for convict in Atlanta

Condemned murderer Jack Potts assured a US District Court judge here Tuesday that he was aware of the consequences of withdrawing his final appeal of his death sentence, Monitor correspondent Bob Press reports. Judge William O'Kelly granted the withdrawal request.

A new execution date must now be set for Potts, originally scheduled to be electrocuted last Thursday.

The condemned man's last attorney, Millard Farmer, said he was still convinced that conditions on death row contributed to the request that Potts be executed. After last week's execution was stayed by Pott's last-minute appeal, guards shaved both sides of his head and broke religious articles in his cell, Mr. Farmer said here Tuesday.