Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-12-15
HARDMAN DENIES
NEARLY EVERYTHING
Man Accused of Murder of Leon
Renaker, Tells His Story
on the Stand.

cXaination yesterday Afternoon
when he took the stand as frs
defense witness in his trial 70
the murder of Leon Renaker
wealthy produce dealer, last Ju
iy "a, Scobcc Hardman under.
went three hours and twenty
minutes OF grilling by Maury
Kempcr, commonwealth attor.
ney. at last nights session ot
court without material change
ir his recital.
IIardnan fatty and directly
denied allegations of John Schu-
maker, convicted patricide, ant
his former cellmate, that Hard
man had said he knew more thar
anyone else about Renaker',
death, that Renakcr had beer
slain with d blackjack, and that
the instrument had been later
thrown into the Kentucky river
Hardman also declared that he
had not crossed the Kentucky
river that night and that he had
not seen Hardin Smith, ferry
man at Boonesborc, star witness
for the state in the prosecution
effort to show that Hardman and
keese Fox. also indicted in con-
rectior with Renaker's death
had crossed the river, leaving
Winchester after the time the
murder is supposed to have been
committed.
While iiardman testified thai
he had not been alone with Mrs.
Renaler on any drives, in his dl-
rect examination. he SAID last
night that once at Austerlitz he
had been alone with her for
about half an hour. He also de
MED he had purchased groceries
for Mrs. Renaker, or that he had
been alone with Mrs. Rcnaker
alone in a car on North avenue
at night, as state witnesses ha6
said.
That alibi tactics had been ia
ken as basis for the defense was
apparent at the conclusion oi
direct and cross examination
Every bit Of testimony concern
ing his activities that Monda!
night led away from the Rena-
ker home. and denial Of Schuma-
ker's accusations concerning re
marks in ;ail were just as point
ed.
Scobee Hardman, the first
witness called by the defense.
took the stand at 2 o'clock ii
the afternoon.
He said that he was p year,
old; that he was son OF Lee
Hardman, of Austerl;tz, Bourbon
county, and that Mrs. Clyde
Douglas was his sister.
He said his father was in mer
chandise business and moved t
Austcrlitz from Wincheste
where he was in the grain anc
feed business four years ago.
He went to the county hlgi
school until he was Is years old
he said. He then weLt 10 work,
he said. in Dayton and later j"Ia
cd the army. being in the avia-
ton division. He sailed June y,
1918. he said, and was in France
one wear. He was discharged
June IA, at Camp Lee, Va, he
said.
lie then returned to Auster-
litz and lived with his father.
working in his fathers store.
He married Mrs. Butler. Il Sis
ter of Emery Kimball, Novcm-
Der p, 1910. he said. He was
living with his father. but went
tc her home and lived there for
a \ wear. he said, but later there
were domestic troubles and court
proceedings. They separated and
he lived with his father for a
while.
In November. 1920, he return
ed to France. landing about the
first Of December In France,
where he went to obtain work,
he said, he became a chauffeur
for the American Graves regis
tration service. He identified a
letter as one given him by an Of
hcer of the service. He return
ed to this country in May, 1921,
he said.
.Afte returning to this country
he worked again for his father,
being employed as clerk, and
also drove truck. he said. Haul
ing and road work were done
with the truck. he said. He said
while at the Douglas home he
saw Mrs. Renaker at his sisters
sometimes two or three times a
week. She came to see his Sis
ter. he declared.
EIe was aSkeI If while staVin0