The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1946-10-17
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reached for the keys Of the car,
but McElroy pushed his hand a.
way. McElroy kept possession of
the car the rest of the time they
were out, and whenever they left
the car, McElroy took the keys
with him
Three or four times, Mayhugh
said, McElroy stopped the car and
got out for brief conferences with
Ridgeway. Always, McElroy would
take the keys with him.
After a short time, Mayhugh
felt Ridgeway trying to reach in
his left pants pocket where he had
put his pocketbook. 1t was about
this time that Mayhugh began to
realize his predicament.
"Plumb Scared"
Il was plumb scared all. the
time" he told the Court. He said
he knew Ridgeway's reputation
was bad and McElroy's was as
bad as it could be-"
Despite Mayhugh's pleas, Nc
Elroy continued driving west, un-
til they reached SomerSville. Here
they turned north on Route 81,
finally turned west on a Sideroad,
a strange one to Mayhugh, and
ended up in York Center McElroy
and Ridgeway held their first con-
ference outside the car north of
SomersVille. and then told May
hugh it would cost him $50 to get
back to Redwood. He gave the
$40 to McElroy.
In York Center, they stopped
at a filling station operated by
Mrs. Virgie Toby and her daugh-
ter, where they ordered five gall
Ions of gasoline. Mayhugh got out
of the car while the gas was be-
ing put in but when he went to
pay for it, found he had only sc
cents left. Ridgeway then gave
Mrs. Toby a dime, telling her to
keep the change.
On Several Different Roads
From York, they drove on "sev-
eral different roads," the only one
of which Mayhugh could remem-
Der being the Stahl rd. He could
also recall stopping at Oscar
StahlS home for about half an
hour Somewhere between York
Center and StahlS, they stopped
for three bottles of beer at a farm
home.
All the time they were out, May
hugh kept protesting that he want
ed to get back home, and finally
after another conference the other
two agreed to return to Redwood
but demanded another $40 to do
so. Mayhugh told them he had no
more money but would have to
get it for them after he got home
Once back in Redwood, McEl-
roy let Ridgeway out at his home,
and then drove to the Fletcher
home at 100 E. Blagrove St, where
Mayhugh resided. He stopped the
car on the left hand side of the
street, so that the drivers side
was toward the house.
Again Tried For Keys
Mayhugh made one last effort
to take the keys, but McElroy
kept him from getting them, so
Mayhugh went into the house, he
said, to borrow $40 to pay off Nc
Elroy. Unable TO find the person
from whom he intended to borrow
the money, Mayhugh went into his
own room and got his revolver,
thinking he could use it to force
McElroy out of the car.
He quoted McElroy as telling
him IF l keep this car, you may
have a hell of a time finding it"
Instead of relinquishing the car
when Mayhugh returned with the
gun, however, McElroy said, "Tll
shove that damned gun down your
throat" and started out of the car
At this point in his narrative,
Mayhugh partially broke down. He
hesitated a minute, as if having
trouble speaking, then told about
pulling the trigger.
Afraid OF Consequences
Il was scared" he declared. I'm
all crippled up, and with Steve's
reputation, 1 was afraid of what
he might do"
After the shooting, Mayhugh