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Accused of Beina GunmanA jury of 10 men and two women was sworn in late Wednesday and spent more than anhour listening to the prosecutoroutline his case against Knowles Holzer, accused of being a gunman hired to terrorize Ventura attorney Don Holt .Jr.In his opening statement to the jury. Deputy District Attorney Steven Cornwall described the witnesses —• ranging from a sexy blonde to the victim himself — who will appear in Oxnard Superior Court to testify that there was an elaborate plot for vengeance on Holt. The prosecutor claimed former Oxnard restaurateur-yachtsman Merrill Shapiro made an underworld “contract for ex-convict Holzer to do “some muscle work on Holt. Holt represented Mrs. Shapiro in a contested divorce.Cornwell, showing the jury poster-sized photos of prospective witnesses subpoenaed from Los Angeles County, said the list includes:— William Edward Skipper (alias Bill Williams), v\ho earlier told a grand jury he was Holzer’s accomplice and drove the alleged gunman to Ventura on Saturday, June 14, 1969, the day Holt was attacked in his office at 78 N. Ash St. (Skipper turned states witness after gaining immunity from prosecuOutlined AgainstFredHolzertion. He has been living in hiding ever since, according to Cornwell, who said he will produce Skipper during the trial but will not reveal Skipper'spresent address.)— Sanford Kaplan, who allegedly was contacted by Shapiro and asked to spread the word that the former Oxnard restaurant owner, now a garment manufacturer in North Hollywood, wanted to hire ahoodlum.— (Jerald Ira “Jerrv” Katz. According to Cornwell, Kaplan contacted Katz, who in turn recommended Holzer for the “contract” to b^at and cripple Holt.— Bonnie Carol Rhoden, a shapely brunette who reportedly said she refused to become involved when Skipper (known to her as Williams) approached her about playing “a prostitutegame” for Holzer. Cornwell said Holzer wanted Miss Rhoden to pose as a prostitute and entice Holt to a motel. In a motel room, Cornwell claimed. Miss Rhoden was supposed to leave suddenly, while Holzer arrived and inflicted a beating on Holt. Cornwell said Miss Rhoden will testify that she refused “to play the game.” but sent a curvaceous blonde friend to talk with Holzer. The blonde also refused. Cornwell said, and willtestify in the trial.Failing to recruit a female accomplice, Holzer decided to pose as a wealthy San Francisco resident, named JonathonJames, and to ask Holt to represent him in a marital dispute, Cornwell claimed. Holzer allegedly invented an estranged wife living in Ventura.Judge Treats PrisonerIn Beef1 Over LunchA Ventura County Jail prisoner had a legitimate beef Wednesday at the expense of the judge presiding over histrial.But alleged gunman-for-hireFred Knowles Holzer, who didthe beefing, had no complaints about Oxnard Superior Court Judge Philip West.“Best beef I’ve eaten in a long time.” Holzer said. “It wasvery considerate of the judge.” Judge West said he was surprised to learn — from Asst.Public Defender Kenneth Cleaver — that some county jail prisoners get lunches of* bread and water, or nothing, while their trials are in progress.“Bread and water for prisoners, protested Cleaver, who is defending Holzer. “Why. Ithought that went out with the Dark Ages!”Prisoners return to the jail for lunch when their trials areheld in the nearby courtroomsin Ventura. But, Cleaver discovered. a prisoner whose case is assigned to the branch courthouse in Oxnard gets nothing to eat at noon unless the deputy sheriff who is guarding him brings along some bread. Holzer didn’t even get bread Wednesday. Cleaver told the judge.The information was food for thought, the judge agreed. Hetelephoned the sheriff’s office for an explanation, and he .as assured that lunch would beprovided in the future for prisoners who cannot return to the jail during day-long courtproceedings.“Apparently, it just had to be brought to somebody's attention.” Judge West said.Meanwhile, during noon recess. the judge issued an unusual judicial order: “Roast beef, to go.” He returned early from a nearby restaurant andbrought the sandwich to Holzer.In the June ,14 meeting at Holt's office. Hol ze r- a 11 as-.! ames is accused of drawing a gun from his briefcase and threatening the terrified attorney with death. Holt testified duringindictment proceedings that hebeard a “click” from the gun, apparently when the safety latch was removed, \t the same instant. Holt said, his secretary, Josie Valencia, unexpectedly arrived and unlocked the front c’oor of the office. Holt sprinted outdoors. Holzer. still carrying th« gun, also fled while the secretary “stood there in disbelief,” according to the prosecutor. Holzer was arrested nearby, but the gun was never found.Hol/.er was in jail waiting trial on the assault charges when the grand jury' issued a new indictment, naming Shapiro as the alleged conspirator. Shapiro, arrested Dec. 15, is free on 825.000 bail until his trial.scheduled June 9.Much of the prosecution case against Holzer had been revealed in the transcript ofgrand jury indictment proceedings. But Cornwell produced some surprises in his opening statement.Attorney Holt immediately suspected that Shapiro had plotted the attack. Cornwell revealed. Taken first to VenturaCity Jail, Holzer reportedly asked police to send for Holt. Holt heljed to obtain a tape recording through a hidden microphone, Cornwell said.Saying he was quoting from the tape recording. Cornwell claimed Holzer bargained for freedom and urged Holt to pretend the attack had been only a misunderstanding. If freed from jail, Holzer pur-portedly offered, he would prevent any more attacks on Holt If not freed. Holzer ai legedlv warned, he would be replaced by another gunman, probably more vicious: “Whenit came right down to it, I(Holzer) couldn’t do it (seriously injure Holt),”In the taped conversation. Holt tried to learn the identity of the man who arranged the alleged plot: “I’m quite sure I know’ who it is,” Holt saidat one point, and added later, “It s Mr. Shapiro, isn’t it?” Cornwell also revealed the roles of Kaplan and Miss Rhoden in the prosecution's case. The Press-Courier had learned that persons named Kaplan. Rhoden and Katz cooperated in the investigationafter being granted immunity from prosecution. But the na ture of Kaplan’s and Miss Rhoden’s involvement remained secret until Wednesday.
Newspaper Details
Oxnard Press Courier
Oxnard, California, US
Thu, Feb 26, 1970
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NV, USA 30 Jun 2020
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