Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-12-14
PROSECUTION HITS
HARDMAN HARD
Fellow Prisoner Gives Damaging
Testimony Against Accused
- In Kenaker Murder Trial.


aker was dealt, Scobee Hardman
told him in the Clark county
jail, John Schumacher, a prison
er. confined in "the cage" with
Hardman at the time, testified
as a witness for the prosecution.
Talkative, fter drinking
whisky given to him in the jail
by IKE" Miller. Fayette county
farmer now under sentence for
violation of the federal prohibi-
ticn act, and boastfuI in the be
lief that keys filed by him in his
cell would make possible and es-
cape preparatory to flight to
France, <Schumaker said Hard
man declared he didn't give a
damn now" who knew about
the Renaker murder.
Hardman did not. Schmuakcr
said, ever say definitely that he
killed Leon Renaker, but he did
say. according to the witness,
that it was a blackjack. not a
lead pipe or automobile jack.
with which Renaker was killed
and added that he knew about
it and Reese Fox didn't. because
"Reese stayed on the outside
Schumacher declared Hardman
told him that when he and Fox
crossed the kentucky river that
night" the ferryman could not
have told who they were; that
on the other bank they walked
down the stream for d snort dis
tance and threw the 1eath in
strument into the water.
Schumacher. now under d pen
itentiarv sentence for the mur-
der Of his father, under a rigid
cross examination, denied that
he turned states evidence under
premise OF assistance in his own
case or with that in view.
Declaring that with IKE" Mil
Ter and Hardman. he discussed
the jail delivery. Schumacher said
he told of Hardman's declara-
ton to him the first time, when
AT a court Of inquiry held after
keys to the doors of the Jail
were found in the hands Of pris
oners. he was asked, when un-
der oath. if Hardman had talked
to him of the Renaker cas-.
A death pact, formed at night
and entered into in the belief
that both soon would leave New
York separately as fugitives
from Justice, headed for Frauce.
was agreed to at Hardman's de-
mand when the key plot was be-
ing formulated, Schumacher said.
If either man broke that pact,
Schumacher said, the other man
was to kill him.
He sad he didn't want t
tell" but when under oath and
after vigorous questioning, he
didn't know what to do but tell
everything he knew.
Oliver Davis, friend Of Hard
man, and at whose home the de
fendant attenIed a birthday par
ty the night of July "a. the eve
of the murder testified, prior t.
the introduction of Schumacher
that il was he who had take
three files, d knife and apiece o.
steel to IIardman for use il
making keys. He said Hardman
had in his possession impress
sicns OF the keys of the jail.
Schumacher. to whom Jailer
Carroll Az5ill had shown kind
ness while a prisoner, declared
he gave the jailer one key and
warned him Of the jail delivery
plot, because he didn't want t"
see the jailer get in trouble"
The cross examination became
so heated during the afternoon
that frequent objections, pro-
\tests to the court and delays for
conferences with Judge Shackel-
ford resulted.
The defense laid particular
stress on questions to Schuma-
ker as to the fact that he was
under life sentence for murder
his case now being before the
court of appeals. and that Com
nonwealth's Attorney VIII am
Baxter and County Attorney Ii.
II Moore, prosecutors in this
case, prosecuted Schumacher.
The defense. also, IN questions.
left no doubt that they were at
tempting 20 make it appear that
no jail delivery plot was neces-
sary and no improvised keys
were needed to escape f:om the
Winchester Jail. One witness
Oliver Davis. was asked if "all
anybody lad TO do to get a pris-
oner cut was to borrow the
keys"