The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-01
BY HARRY WILSON SHARPE
ITuffcd Prnae Cf,A RorrazrOudart

COLUMBUS, O.. March DIR
James Howard Shook was host at
a dinner Friday night to his wife
and three guests in a steel-studded
cell, lighted by single, dim electric
light.
Two hours later. after his hyster-
ical wife virtually had been carried
from his cell, following their fare
well, he walked through the cell
door into an adjoiningk room and
paid with his life for the murder of
his Illicit sweetheart. Theora Hix.
Ohio State university student.
Shook was only shadow of the
Stoical, rugged and sun-tanned pro-
lessor of veterinary medicine, as ne
sat down in the electric chair. Guards
adjusted the straps, a black death
mask was drawn and the current
was sent through his body at ITO
p. m. Four minutes later physi-
clans pronounced him dead and his
body was removed.
Suit Ill Fitting
He was brought into the death
chamber in an ill-fitting suit, one
of his own. The pants capped at
the waist, and the coat hung wrin-
kled and loose from his gaunt
shoulders.
Two guards supported him on
either side, though he walked with
firm, but confused. tread. 1t was
his first view of the place of his
death.
He sat down in the chair and
closed his eyes. Guards quickly
adjusted the clamps. Ills eyelidS
flickered, but remained closed. A
guard graSped his chin to adjust
the head electrode. He moistened
his lips and the next instant the
black. leather death mask was
dropped and the current was tear
ing his through his body.
Shocks dry lips remained mute
and his requiem was the heavy
breathing of tense witnesses and
four words murmured by a minis
ter:
God be with you"
The minister, the Rev. Isaac Mil
Ter, Mrs. Shocks spiritual counselor,
said Shook made peace with his
God" before he was brought into
the death room.
No Restraint at Meal
Five persons. Mrs. Shook, Mr..
Miller, the Rev. K. H. Wall, prison
chaplain: Oscar Roedell of Pomeroy,
a classmate of Shocks at college,
and Mrs. Frank Landrum. Mrs.
Shocks cousin. sat down with Shook
for his last meal.
There was no restraint" Mr..
Miller said. I'VE might all have
been at a picnic"
The meal, a chicken dinner. was
prepared by Warden Preston ThomS'
wife.
Mrs. Shook, weeping unrestrain-
edly. was left alone with her hus-
band as his last moments Of life
ebbed away. He did not get to see
their Swear old baby girl, who was
born about the time the professor
met Theora.
After their last farewell, Mrs.
Shook was taken to the warden's
office where she collapsed. and Mr..
Miller re-entered the tiny cubicle to
remain with him until his death.
Lights Flicker
Outside, twenty PAGES from the
death house, in a prison shop,
squads Of convicts clustered at win
dows. laughing and tossing quips
at timid newspaper men who re-
NAMED in the open death house
door.
They fell silent as the prison
lights suddenly fiickered.
Shook had been put to death.
Shook was convicted on Aug. IA,
the jury celebrating only twenty
eight minutes and was sentenced to
die on Nov. 2e.
Snook's conviction was appealed
successfully to high Ohio courts and
finally TO the United States supreme
court without avail. His last appeal,
TO Governor Myers Y. Cooper, met
q similar fate.