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s Of Elderly Man, WifeOfficers whowcnl ;oltie Bruce residence reported thal Mrs. Bruce was very cooperative in obtaining Bruce’s clothing, the car keys and shotgun shells-for them. The officers, out ol earshot of the jury, testified Ihul Mrs. Bruce lold them her husband had come home early Monday morning and had tol J tier lie had killed two older people in Beverly Shores, and that he kept repealing thal he had ruined their tthe Bruces’) lives. Maybe John did it/' he added, according to his wife's report to the police..John” was John Hernandez, formerly of Michigan City, who has been menltoned as having accompanied Bruce the night of the murders. Hernandez, reported to have had cuts on his chin and hands when questioned after the murders, was once con* sidercd as a possible suspect, police testified during the trialHernandez was lisLed a possible witness by Hie slate, but they chose not to bring him before you to tell you all the case.” defense counsel Terry Johnston told the jury. They didn't ask him what clothes he was wear in g. or fur a blood sample — they gave him a free shut for testifying nnd he didn't even show up. Johnston continued.Deputy Prosecutor Gary Germann, in his linal arguments 1o the jury, countered that there was no evidence that Hernandez was at the scene or that more than one person was therewith the Much ins., Germann noted that only one half-full beer can was found on the kitchen table. There was one partially smoked cigar in the kitchen sink. Dennis B. Machin, son of the murdered couple, lesliliod thal lie had lefl his pa mils’ home at 7: -15 p.m. Sunday, two days before their bodies were discovered, and lhal his parents usually did not drink beer in the winter, although theyhad it in their home.Bruce’s fingerprint was found on the handle of the M achin’s refrigerator.In defense testimony Monday, private detective Handy Mann, Valparaiso, testified thnl lie was unable to find a path between the Machins' residence and another home where a couple was lied up, nnd the woman raped by a man she identified as Bruce. Mann also said he was unable to find a path, he I ween the Machins* residence and the home of bakeshore Supt. and Mrs. James Whit eh nose, who testified that a man who looked like Bruce knocked on Iheir door at 2 a.m. Monday. Feb. 4, to use their telephone. Their home is in the area of the Machin residence. Mann said he made his investigation in December, about 10 months after the murders.Johnston has indicated he intends to file an appeal of 1 he conviction, following the eighbriay trial.
Newspaper Details
Valparaiso Vidette Messenger
Valparaiso, Indiana, US
Tue, Apr 15, 1975
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Porter C.
IN, USA 26 Jul 2023
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