The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1919-11-14
THE BLOOD MURDER TRIAL
Continued from page 81

command to halt while the three were
still on railroad track. AS he and
Lawrence went over the fence after
crossing the road witness stated he
heard shots, but admitted that auto
had not vet come abreast of spot
where he was. On cross examination !
witness took advantage of his rights
by refusing to answer many questions
propounded by the state He ad-
mitted, however, of having heard COM
mand to halt before any shots had
been fired. Identified the gun he was
carrying on the night of the robbery,
but couldn't identify the 3S-cal. found
on Blood
| Claud Blood, defendant, was put up
on stand and denied that he had ever
been arrested in Orrville, admitting |
though that he had suffered this pun
ishment in Columbus on the charge OF
having committed a nuisance in one OF
the city parks. Testified he had quit
school at the age of 49, Admitted ar
rest in New York state for theft OF
gun, and admitted shooting six
times after having heard the command
to halt when the three lads were es-
Gaping up the railroad track beyond
Pawnee, but denied that he was trying
to hit anybody. Told of reloading gun
on run and of hearing some one say
machine is coming" Testified he
had heard occupants of the machine
shout "halt" and then heard shots.
Claimed to have run up to fence and
being unable to get over, had fired
I four shots, once while in the ditch
near the road, the other three as he
was running up near a tree. Denied
that he was seeking tree for shelter
and stated he shot his gun from the
hip without aiming. Also denied
| threatening companions and denied
I knowing that he had shot Knapp un-
til captured; denied that Lawrence or
! Hulderman had begged him not to
shoot. Stated he would not have fired
if officers had not started it.
On cross examination witness ad-
mitted that he had sworn he was IL
\ when arrested in Columbus; that he
had done likewise when he enlisted.
s Admitted arrest in New York state
i and admitted theft in Orrville, but
n stated that he had never been ar
{ rested at the latter place. Admitted
that Marshal Youngblood, of Orrville
. had searched him several times fol
1 concealed weapons and had warned
him that he would get himself ir
trouble some day. Witness claimed
I he did not know which boy had hidder
l the neckties following the robbery
I but later broke down and admitted hi
was the guilty person, as we'll as ad
J mitting that the only gun he carried
was 38-calibre. Denied having an!
idea as to whom the "halt" command
was meant for, and claimed the reason
he did not halt was that he feare'
for his life. Denied shooting at ma
chine, but admitted seeing one of hi
bullets hit light. Claimed he was ex
cited and didn't know where he wa
shooting. Told of taking gun ava,
: from Hulderman following shootin,
: for fear latter might use it, and de
= MED that it was because his own am
4 munition was running low.
Z Here the defense rested it's cas-
= and many who were in the crowde'
. court room waiting to hear the plea
!. of attorneys for both sides were dis
: appointed when the judge announce,
= that court would be adjourned unit
K Tuesday morning at o'clock.
= With the converting of court Tues
q day morning at 9 o'clock, Prosecuting
( Attorney Stine began the states pre-
- Of he tH
Z jury. Mr.. Stine declared that after lis
!. tening to the presentation of the cas-
Z the only verdict which the jury coul
= rightfully bring in would be murde
2 in the first degree, and dwelt upon tn
: fact that the state had proved it
y case that the murder was committe
= in the perpetration of the crime @
J. burglary, as we'll as with forethough
= and malice. The prosecutor also com
= mented upon the fairness which al
!. torneys for both sides had show
Z during the course of the trial and too
= shot at the attorneys for the de
\. fense who in their opening statemer
z would neither deny nor admit ths
= Blood was guilty of the charge agains
e him. Stine declared that the state ha
!. gone into many details from a Mt
y cessity as the state was unable to a
e tempt any guess as to what line {
< defense the defendant might wo1
z upon. He took the jury with hi
y from the time the boys left Orrvill
Il reciting events as they happened up
Z and including the fatal shooting, ar
- called attention to the statute whit
e does not require premeditation pr
z viding murder is coupled with or
y the perpetration of a robbery. La
e was cited in an attempt to show tn
:. any citizen would have been justifi'
= in making an arrest in an affair sir
= liar to that in which Way Knapp w
4 a participant, and declared that Il
z question as to whether the pursue
- or defendant shot first had no bearil
- on the case. Contended that defen
Z was endeavoring to show that offic
- must wait action by the pursued
t> making an arrest and stated that
: sincerely wished that Blood had ]
y mained in Randolph, N. Y, whi
e fact would have precluded the nec'
\ sity of the widows weeds now VIC
z by Mrs. Knapp. Asked jury to sh
- Blood the same amount of sympat
u Blood had shown Way Knapp, q
z and ased for first degree murder v
dict.
<> Jos. Seymour, Jr., for the defer
: next his addressed his remarks to
- jury and recalled to their attent