Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-03
TELLS OF RENTING,
ROOM TODR. SHOOK
t.|oman Characterizes Pro.
lessor and Girl as One of
"Nicest Couples"

James H. Shook and Theora Xix was
introduced by the State today in the
trial of the former Ohio State pro-
.assor for the killing of the 24-year-
Old medical student
Mrs. Margaret Smalley, from whom
DR.. Shook rented the room last Febru-
cry under the name OF Howard
SHOOK told in detail Of the occupancy
of the quarters by Shook and the girl
who was represented as his wife.
She characterized Shook and the
girl as one of the INCEST couples" that
ever lived in her rooming house.
Mrs. Smalley's story included the fact
that on June IA. the day after the girl
was killed. DR.. Shook paid her for the
room, saying that he was leaving the
city. She quoted him as saying his
wife" would remain two days. The
next day, she said, she went to the
room and found the two keys she had
given DR.. Shook when he rented the
room Everything in the room but
woman's felt hat had been removed.
Gives Account Of Arrest.
Detective Larry Van Skaik put into
the record the account of DR.. SHOCKS
arrest and DR.. Oscar w. Brumley, pro-
fessor of veterinary surgery at Ohio
state. identified two emotional excitapts
which the State maintains DR.. Shook
gave the girl on, the night she was
killed. DR.. Brumley said that one jar
was found in DR.. Shocks ONCE and
that the other came from the drugroom
at the veterinary department OF the
university.
van SSaik testified that he took The
former veterinary professor into CUSTODY
at his home on June Is, two days after
the murder. Later the detective was
sent to the New York Central ZINE
q Range, where the girls battered body
had been found, He said he discovered
in the weeds on the range the giris
broken keyring, from which had been
taken Miss Hixs@ key to the apartment
house room, which she sometimes shared
with Dr. Shook. The broken ring and
the missing key figured chiefly In break
ing down the alibi the former professor
offered after his arrest and resulted IN
his alleged confession to city and county
authorities.
Paul C. Hicks, assistant prosecutor,
f, who conducted the examination OF Mrs
Smalley, asked her to look at the de-
PENDANT.
DO you know this man. Hicks
asked.
Il knew him as Howard Shook" she
answered and then related that on last
FeOrudry IL he IldV 1SLLICu q AOOiii A'OAA
her Tor himself and wife" The room
was not Immediately available, she said.
and it was not definitely engaged until
two days later.
Gave Shook Two Keys.
Mrs Smalley said she saw Mrs
Shook" only once when she ran into her
by chance in the room. She related
that later she identified MRS. Shook
as Miss Hix. from photograph
Mrs. Smalley said she gave Shook TWO
KEYS to the room On June IA, she con-
tinued. Shook informed her he was leaV-
ing for Washington Court House. but
that his wife would remain aWo days
longer. She said that on June Is she
found the two keys she had given Shook
on table in the room.
Mrs. SmaIIey Cross mined.
Mrs. Smalley said Shook had never
Z told her he was married, but that in
signing the register he identified him.
! self and the girl as Howard Shook and
wife"
, Cross-examination of Mrs. Smalley
was taken over by Defense Attorney
Max Seyfert.
Seyfert, following out the claim of the
defense that Miss Hix secretly fed DR..
Shook narcotics in sandwiches. asked
Mrs Smalley If she ever saw any sand
wiches about the room which the couple
occupied.
mo, 1 never did" replied Mrs.
Smslley.
Mrs. Smalley also denied that she
ever found any pop or ginger ale bottles
or any traces OF luncheon in the room.
Veterinary Professor Testifies.
DR.. Brumley followed Mrs. Smalley.
Tic he
that he had been acquainted with
Theora Xix since she had come to the
veterinary department as Stenographer
in June, 1925. "Once or twice." he said,
he had seen Miss Xix getting into DR..
Shocks automobile.
Dr. Brumley identified two excitants
which the State alleges DR.. Shook gave
the girl shortly before the killing. A
glass jar containing a dry concoction of
this kind was. he said, in DR.. Snook's
office when detectives came there after
the killing. A bottle of liquid prepare
ton was identified as belonging in the
drug room at the veterinary depart
ment.
Cross examined by John F. Seidel.
DR.. Brumley said the bottle contained
sample used in classroom lectures
by DR.. Shook. He said it was bought
a number of years ago, possibly Is.
he OLD not know WneUNer IL IlaQ lOSL
its therapeutic value, but did not think
1t had.
DR.. Brumley said he had cautioned
Miss Hix about going out" with MEM
bers of the veterinary staff and that
she seemed to take it all right"
DIR. BrumIey said that no narcotics
were kept in the drug room but in his
desk under lock and key and given out
only on prescription.
Quizzed on Cause Of Death.
Testimony for the most part yester-
day was devoted to the primary task
of establishing the fact of the killing
and the defense attempt to gain from
Coroner j. A. Murphy an admissian
that would have damaged the States
claim of generalization in the Killing
that the girl may have died from ham
Der blows and not knife wounds, which
Shook said he inflicted after he had
struck her over the head.
Murphy said the hammer wounds
might eventually have caused death,
hut laid the immediate cause to q sew
cred artery. The State has maintained
that after rendering her unconscious
with the hammer, DR.. Shook, with
reconciliation" slit her throat. 1t Is
necessary, under Ohio law, to prove
reconciliation to obtain conviction of
first-degree murder and the death pen
atty.