Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-07
Wife, MOTHER
ON STAND In
SLAYINCTRIAL
Former Ohio Professor
Remains Cool While
Telling Rela tions
With Theora Hix

COLUMBUS. Ohio, Aug. 7.-tPl-
DIR. James II. Shook today told the
Jury in his first degree murder trial
the story of his three-year love af-
fair with Theora Hix. the medic CO.
ed he killed last June IS.
It was a story that detailed their
meeting in June 1926, ripening
friendship that grew to intimacy
and ended on a lonely rifle range
near the edge of the city where the
girls body, battered and slashed
was found the day after she went
there for her last tryst with the
49-year-old former Ohio state pro-
fessor. DR.. Shook testified in cool
unruffled voice.
He went to the witness chair after
his wife, Mrs. Helen M. Shook, and
his 67-year-old mother. Mrs. Abner
Shook, had faced the crowded court
room to tell their belief that in the
last few years DR.. Shook had
changed.
Both women kissed him before
they took the stand and his wife re-
mained at the defense table until
he started to testify. Then she
left.
Wife Testifies
The wife who refused to desert
him after he was arrested for the
killing of "the other woman" testi-
fled that she had no knowledge Of
the affair between her husband and
the girl.
Both the wife and mother testi-
fled that recently DR.. Shook had
displayed mental unrest that had
been in contrast to the calm and
placid disposition that had been his
before he met Miss HiX.
DR.. Shook saic he did not recall
how he was introduced TO Miss HiX
II frequently had conversations
with her at certai times of the day
when / had to go to her office to
have some stenographic work done.
AT first We talked about how she
happened TO come to the veterinary
building to work. She said she did
not have enough money for her
school work and consequently was
forced to accept employment part
Of the time.
Talked of Boy Friend
In general out conversation was
discussion Of her affairs. She spoke
OF being left alone then (during the
summer Of 1920. Most of the stu
dents had gone away and she men
toned that her boy friend had
gone also. She cid not speak much
about her boy friend at that time
dater DR.. Shook learned that the
friend was Marion T. Meyers. Cwho
was employed in the horticultural
department at the university.)
During the first two weeks of
our acquaintance we talked about
companionRte marriages. She said
she thought companionate marriage
was all right, but when YOU lost
your companion, 1t wasn't"
DR.. Shook said that after the first
automobile ride he proposed to drive
the girl out a country road and She
agreed.
Taught Her 10 Shoot
ON the way back some remark
was made about my being married !
DR.. Shook said. "and she got out
OF the car four blocks from where
she lived"
Rs said he talked to her az in
tervals during the next four or five
weeks ana shortly after they began
discussing books on sex and three or
iour weeks after, their intimate re-
lations began.
Or. Snook said Miss Hix often
asked MS advice about personal
matters. During the summer OF
1926. he said he taught her to shoot
and gave her the gun he later
claimed he thought she had with
her the night she was slain.