The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-15
JUSTICE MCCANNON OF
CLEVELAND BEGINS HIS
DEFENSE IN kAGy CASE
Hearing Opens Before tho
Bench Over Which Pris-
oner Has Presided.

a
Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 15.-(Unit-
ed Press) All the elements Of IN
absorbing mystery drama promise
to come TO light in the second de-
gree murder trial here Of Judge
William H.. McGannon, chief justice
Of Cleveland's municipal courts. 1t
promises to be the second and last
act in the mystery known to this
part Of the country as "WhO killed
Harold Kagy?"
Ranking next to McGannon In
the interest in the case is Miss May
B. Neely, an attractive woman In
the late sos, whose testimony be-
fore the county grand jury was said
to have been instrumental in the
arrest OF the judge. John w. Joyce.
. well known political figure. who
was tried TOR the Kagy murder was
acquitted, holds the spotlight with
the two leading characters.
Kagy, garage proprietor, was
shot and killed last May after IN
afternoon spent with McCannon and
Joyce. At the Joyce trial there
was repeated reference to q mys-
terious third man ON the scene Of
the shooting when Kagy was shot
McGannon testified he was not
there when the shot was fired.
Joyce testified he himself could mot
do the shooting. contending he was
leaning drunk and helpless against
q tree when Kagy fell with his fatal
bullet wound.
Other witnesses said the third
man resembled McGannun xnd one
witness said he was sure the
sought-for man was McGannon.
Interest centers about the motive
in the case. The Joyce trial failed
to develop one. That woman. and
perhaps two. will appear seems
certain. A valuable diamond ring
also is said to be one of the factors.
Before Own Bench.
] Judge McGannon is sitting ct the
bar Of justice as, the accused in .
lcourt room where he, for many
years. sat IN judgment and imposed
sentence on hundreds OF breakers
OF the law. On the bench, facing
him. is Trial Judge Bermon. an as
sOciate Of many years, upon whom
will rest the duty Of imposing the
sentence in case OF conviction.
Across the narrow table from
McGannon are Prosecutor Baskix
and his assistants. political and
personal friends OF the accused. In
the past they prosecuted numerous
criminals before him and today
their energies are bent to the tasI
of jailing him for life.
! McGannon is SO years old. sil
feet one inch in height and weighs
about 250 pounds. He served on
the bench for the last Is years end
won his elections rather easily.
Powerful influences are at work
lin McGannon's behalf, Prosecutor
Baskin said. Baskin issued q
statement several days ago to the
effect that he would ask the grand
Jury to take action on reports that
several witnesses for the state hays
been approached. The defense i'm
me6iately announced a reward Of
$1,000 would be paid to any person
who could show that the witnesses
had been tampered with.
1t was understood the defense 10
prepared to further complicate the
case by producing evidence that .
second third man" resembling Nc
Cannon, was the actual slayer.
( Indeed Nov. II.
! Cleveland, Dec. 15.-(Assoc1ated
'Press) An indictment charging
Judge McGannon with the crime
was returned by the Cuyahoga
couAty grand jury on Nov. q after
q s-d2y investigation OF the case.
Judge McCannon pleaded not guilty
and was released on $4,000 bond.
John W. Joyce. former downtown
saloonkeerer. indicted for second
degree murder for Killing Kagy
was found not Euilty by Jury on
!. Nov. II. The next day the grand
Jury started a second investigation
Of the case, resulting in McGan-
mons Indictment.
Judge McGannon was one Of the
principal witnesses for the prosecu-
tion at the Joyce trial and it Is ex-
pected that Joyce will be one Of the
states principal witnesses against