The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-21
KILLED COED
TO Save Wife,
Says TEACHER
Girls Threats to SIay
Family Caused Murder,
Professor Declares.
QUARRELED ABOUT TRIP
Only Meant to Stun Para
mOur, Dr.. Shook Claims
in Confession.

Eu nffrd Pr0ss
COLUMBUS. o., June 21-The
law set a swift pace today in its at
tempt to accommodate Dr. James
r. Shook, confessed murderer Of
Miss Theora Hix, who wants to get
ll over quickly
The SnOok case was dOcketed first
on the calendar of the grand jury
convening today
The former professor of veteri-
nary at Ohio State university said
he would plead guilty, and it was
likely that his trial Will be set for
the new term of court opening
SEPT. l6
Burial of Miss Hix will be in
Binghamton N. Y, her former
home. it was announced by Melvin
i Hix. the girls father.
Says Girl Made Threats
The confession obtained from
Snook Thursday, after twenty-four
hours of questioning, revealed
SnOok killed the girl because she
had threatened to kill his wife and
child if he went through with plans
TO take a weekend trip with them.
Miss Hixs body was found a week
ago on the New York Central rifle
range. She had been killed the
preceding evening.
Miss Hix demonstrated with me
against leaving the city with my
family as I previously had planned
10 do" SnOok's confession, as given
to Prosecutor John Chester, said.
She threatened that if did go she
would take the life Of my wife and
baby"
Shook said he drove Miss Hix to
the rife range and discussed the
proposed trip.
Intended to Stun Girl
They quarreled. he said, and the
girl reached for her purse in which
She carried a .4l-caliber Derringer,
a gift from Shook.
In the struggle I hit her on the
head with a hammer which was in
the back of my coupe" the veteri-
marian said. Il intended to stun
her.
She continued to fight desper-
ately and an increased number of
blows Of increasing force was neces-
sary to stop her.
Realizing then, no doubt, that
her skull was fractured and, to re-
lieve her suffering. I decided to fin
ish her. I severed the jugular vein
with my pocket knife"
The hammer and the knife were
found in packing boxes in the base
ment of the Shook home Thursday,
although previous search had
failed to disclose them.
Weeps Telling Story
Shook wept as he described his
movements after the murder:
L proceeded to pick up the things
that had been scattered about dur
ing the struggle and hurriedly left
the scene Of the struggle, leaving
her body at that point.
after leaving the rifle range I
proc eded to go home, tossing the
purse into the Scioto river on my
way. After the struggle was over
I discovered the gun was not in
the purse.
I met Theora HiX about three
years ago. The friendship contin-
Ued in a very intimate way ever
since, inasmuch as she was a very
good companion.
I have been living with my wife
all during this three-year period
and regard my wife very highly and
respect her very much as wife. But
she lacked some Of the companion
ship afforded by Miss HiX"
will you plead guilty to first de-
gree murder?" he was asked.
What else can I do?" he
ans ~ered.
However. that is not my busi-
ness he continued quickly, infer
ring a consultation with his attor-
peyS.
C.II