The Indianapolis times., 1929-08-07
SHOOK TAKES STAND;
BARES DETAILS OF FATAL
LOVE AFFAIR WITH COED
Met Theora Hix Two Years
AGO: Illicit Romance
Began at Once.
WIFE. MOTHER TESTIFY
Companionate Marriage
One of First Subjects
They Discussed.
BY MORRIS DE HAVEN TRACY
limited Press staff Corresnondent

United Press STAFF Correspondent
COLUMBUS, O., Aug. T.
After his wife and mother had
come to the witness stand to de-
fend him today, DR.. James
Howard Shook was called as his
own witness to defend himself
against charges of having mur-
dered Theora Hix. RI
Mrs. Shook, the wife, was a
pathetic figure In white as she told
how her husband had changed in
the last three years and had become
restless and silent.
The mother, a tall, slim, digni-
fed woman of 73, told of his boy
hood so asgressiyely the court had
to stop her. She stamped him a
loving and conssderate son.
Then the two women nearest to
him having made their sacrifice DR..
Shook took up the burden himself.
He stood tall and erect with
military bearing as. he swore to tell
the truth. On the witness stand he
was calm, but little flushed. His
answers were spoken in firm voice
and we're definite.
Mrs. Shook listened intently. The
doctors mother had wept on her
sons shoulder as she left the witness
stand and had been escorted from
the room.
DR.. Shook described his education
and his work as a member OF the
faculty of Ohio State university.
His manner srnacked of the class
room.
Champion Rife Shot
During the war, the doctor said,
the army required veterinary IN
struction to continue so he went on
teaching at the university and In
addition taught Workmanship to
soldiers and took a course In the
aviation ground school.
Odd you ever go abroad? A
In 1920 was elected & member OF
the American Olympic team and
took part in the revolver champion
ship at Antwerp.
Glow we're the members OF the
team chosen? A-By competition.
The American team won the cham
pionship.
Q-What championships have you
held? A-The revolver and pistol
national championships seven or
eight times, both rapid and slow
fire, and the national rife associa-
ton championship three or four
times.
Tells Of Meeting Theora
Q-When was the first time you
met Theora Hix? About two
years ago. She came to the veter-
mary department as a stenographer
He could not recall If he were
formally introduced to her.
Mrs. Shook, just as this testimony
began, quietly arose and almost un-
noticed, slipped out of the room.
Q-What were Miss Hix's duties?
A-Stenographer for the department.
She worked 8 to with an hour
of at noon.
Q-When did you have CONVEX
sation with Miss Hix after first
meeting her. A-The first 1 recall
was one day 1t was raining and ]
oSKod f1ef~ fn ride horne
Q-Did Miss Xix then know you
were married man? Aim not so
sure she did.
Another girl accompanied him and
Theora on the night in question.
He had taken Miss Hix to Mack
hall, girls dorn1itory at the uni
versity and the other girl to a street
car, he said. After that, he testi-
fed, they had frequent conversa-
tions.
Discuss Conhpanionate Marriage
Q-What was discussed in your
earliest conversation? Ave dis
cussed why she was working. It
seemed they had had financial
trouble. She told me of the difi-
Guilty and how the other girls had
gone home for the summer and she
was almost alone on the lower floor
Of Mack hall. There was much said
about her being alone. She said
her boy friend had left also. He
had left at the close of the school
year.
Q-What else did you say about
her hoy friend
Al don't recall.
Q-What was said about reading