The Key West citizen., 1954-12-14
Cross-examination OF Sheppard
Ends With Accusation OF Guilt
BY RELMAN NORM


examination of DR.. Samuel Shep-
psrd ended today with an assertion
by the states attorney that he
killed his wife and inflicted his
injuries on himself.
THAT is absolutely untrue-and
unfair" Sheppard replied
This was the only time in the
long cross-examination that the ac-
cused man raised his voice.
The states attorney John J.
Mahon, had asked Sheppard.
snow. those injuries you re-
ceived, doctor. didn't you receive
those from jumping off that plat
form onto the. beach?"
'No, SIR" Sheppard answered
II think that would be impossible. )"
As a brain surgeon he gave his
reasons for that answer. He said
there would have to be an injury
to the top of the head as well.
The top of his head was not in
jured, although he claimed to have
damage to the vertebra in his
neck.
isn't it fact that you beat
your wife that morning" Mahon
thundered, "and after you killed
her you rushed down those steps
toward the beach and fell or
jumped and injured yourself?"
Sheppard delivered his emphatic
denial.
With that, Mahon said he was
finished.
Just before asking whether Shep-
pard's injuries we're Self-inflicted.
the states attorney asked Shep-
1ard if cold water is not more ef-
fective for removing blood stains
than hot water. The suggestion ap-
peared to be that the accused man
ran down the steps after the mur-
der and plunged into Lake Erie to
wash away blood from his clothing.
Sheppard replied calmly: 81 am
certainly no authority. l never
tried"
It was the fourth consecutive day
that the handsome young oSteOpath
has been in the witness chair. The
state accuses him of clubbing his
pregnant wife, Marilyn to death
in their Bay Village home during
the early hours of last July 4.
He asserts a bushy-haired PROV
Ter battered his wife while he slept
in a downstairs room, and then in
jured him in two encounters-the
second on the narrow beach beside
his home.
Mahon's earlier questioning dealt
with the examinations of Sheppard
after he was arrested. He has testi-
fled that he underwent questioning
by four teams of detectives for
nearly II hours on one occasion.
The prosecuting attorney also
asked Sheppard why he did not
pick up any kind of weapon on the
morning of the murder Sheppard
had said he heard a noise down
stairs and went in pursuit of the
form" he testified he saw in his
wife's bedroom.
Mahon pointed out that there was
q pile of wood in the living room
and that there were fire irons near.
Why he didn't pick up one of these
articles?
The accused man said he could
not explain, adding:
IL have never gone after anyone
with a weapon"
The attorney asked if he made
any OutcrieS, or called for help.
Sheppard said: Il may have,
don't remember"
Just before closing his cross-ex-
animation, Mah0n asked DR.. Shep-
pard if he told the truth last July
at the inquest into Marllyn's death.
81 did not tell the truth about
Miss Hayes" the doctor replied.
AT the time he had denied an af-
fair with Miss Susan Hayes, al
though he admitted it yesterday.
"You mean you deliberately lied
about it, Doctor? Yes or no?"
Mah0n shouted.
81 don't think that can be fairly
answered, yes Or no" DR.. Shep-
pard said. Il felt Miss Hayes rep
utation justified that answer, sir. +"
"That's ALL Mahon said, ending
cross-examination that began
yesterday morning
Defense Atty. William J. Corri-
gan spent only brief time ip re-
dirort nvomin atiou