The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-13
TESTIMONY IS
CONCLUDED IN
SHOOK TRIAL
Police Chief Denies Use
of Third Degree on
Professor.
DEFENDANT Is WORRIED
Spirited Exchange Marks
Cross Examination
by Defense.
DEFENDANT IS WORRIED
BY MORRIS DE HAVEN TRACY
United Press Staff Correspondent

u
COLUMBUS, O., Aug. 13.-The
state ended its rebuttal testimony
in the Snook-Hix murder case at
11:40 a. m. today.
Chief of Police Harry E. French
was the concluding witness and he
spent the entire morning in a spir-
tied exchange with E. o. Ricketts,,
of defense counsel, his cross-exam-
iner
Court recessed until 1870 p. m.
after the state rested when the de-
Tense promised to offer brief sur
rebuttal.
DR.. Shook smiled and seemed to
be enjoying himself immensely
throughout the many hours of queS-
tioning which followed his arrest
for the alleged murder of Theodore
Hix, French testified.
"He seemed amused by it all"
said French. Nothing seemed to
break his calm demeanor. He was
the most unruffled prisoner I have
seen questioned in twenty-nine
years of police work.
French was called to resume his
testimony in rebuttal for the state.
The defense has charged that third
degree methods we're used in the
examination.
Shook Shows Strain
DR.. Shook looked worried and
strained as he sat in court today
listening to the closing phases Of
the evidence.
French testified Shook asked that
the confession story be withheld
from newspapers until Mr.. and Mrs.
Melvin TIix left for Binghampton,
N. Y, with Theora's body.
French testified that after the
alleged confession had been made
Shook shook hands with him and
with Prosecutor John Chester.
Chester apologized for striking
DR.. Shook" said French "and the
doctor said that's all right Jack,
there's no hard feelings"
Although the examination Of
French was stormy, he and Ricketts,,
both elderly men, we're laughing at
each other between storms.
French told the court that finally
Snook's nerve broke and he paced
the chiefs office where they we're
alone, weeping, and then asked to
see his attorneys, said French.
80 communicated with Mr..
Chester and he said to call the at
torneys and 1 did" said French.
Q-And was that at the first or
second grilling? Al don't know
what you mean by grilling.
Q-Third degree? Al have never
seen the third degree. I've been told
about it, I've seen it in the movies,
and I've read about it in books, but
I've never seen it.
French described the preparation
of the now repudiated confession.
"As God is my judge said the
chief, Il want to put you right about
this confession"
Praises Police Methods
He then said Shook had dictated
until he came to mention his al
legged relations with Miss Hix. Shook,
he said, ther appealed to Chester
to furnish a polite term. Chester
provided it.
Or. Shook said that's happy
thought and he went on said
French.
The chief denied any threats were
made against Shook, but he heard
him called "a dirty rat and a dam
liarr.'
French revealed that Shook asked
once to see the body of Miss Hix.
''I don't see why you took Mr..
Meyers (dsrion T. Meyers, who also
once was held for the murder). to
see the body and did not take me-
he quoted Shook as saying.
The chief quoted proudly Russell
Sage foundation report as saying
police methods in Columbus were
the most humane of any city of the
United States.