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......«.», ■lt;!• / 1Umidnight shadows of a second-floor balcony at thr Governor's Lodge Apartments, an enraged boxer dog snarled and strained at his leash. And from inside came terrified cries nf “Don't Don't do that to me!”As frightened neighbors bolted out of their beds that night of June 30. 1964, they heard e fina' piercing scream, thr heavy footsteps of a man pounding cut of the building, and the screech of tires as a car raced out ol the parking lot.In the aparlmea* overlooking the ocean on Key BJscayne, police shouldred past the still-growllng dog to find the mutilated body of Jacques Mossier. 69 dignified financier, formerAmerican I-rgion commander and Boy Scout commissioner.aonieone had slugged Mossier, possibly with an ornamental glass bird found shattered in the room, and he had slid to the floor, clutching at the gray draperies over a glass sliding door leading to the balcony where his dog was leashed.Then the killer had wrapped the gray-haired man in an or-nnge blanket ana plunged a knife into his body 39 times.Monday, 19 months later, one of Florida's most sensational murder cases wi*l be climaxed with the trial of Mossier's blonde, widow, Candan.'e, 47, and her scarfaced nephew, Melvin Lane Powers. 24.The state charges that Mrs. Mossier and Powers were partners in love and murder — that they paired off in f. torrid affair and* kilted Mossier, to get himout of their way and gain access to his millions.Powers, arrested at Houston three days after the murder, failed in a year-long fight against extradition to Florida. But he and Mrs. Mossier gained temporary treedom on f5i,000 bonds after a six-day hearing in which the slate revealed much of its evidence.This included testimony by a Miami detective that Powers had confessed the murder to him, and by an ex-convic* that Powers and Mrs. Mossier had offered him $10,000 to do the killing.Circuit Court Judge George Schulz ruled that the alleged confession by Powers was ir.ad-missable because he was deprived of counsel.But he said the state could present letters from Mrs. Mossier to Powers which started, My darling,” and said “I love you, 1 need you.”The judge also almost said he would admit a note allegedly written by Mossier in which he lt;aid. If Melvin and Candace don’t kill me first, I'll have to kill them.”Schulz set aside six we*;ks on his calendar for the trial but,with its impressive battery of defense attorneys, it could run longer.A receipt signed by Fercy Foreman, noted Houston criminal lawyer, was introduced at the bond hearing, showing (hat Mrs. Mossier had agreed th pay Mrs. Mossier had agreed to pay black-haired, 220-pound nephew.Assisting Foreman in the Powers case will be two top Miami attorneys -- Harvey St. Jean, president of the National Association oi Defense Lawyers in Criminal Cases, and HenryCarr.St. Jean has defended such clients as Georges Lcmay. international fugitive from Canada, and three Florida beach boys who stole the DcLong ruby and other famous gems in a burglary at New York’s Museum of Natural History.Defending Mrs. Mossier will he Clyde Woodv and Marian
Newspaper Details
Florence Morning News
Florence, South Carolina, US
Sun, Jan 16, 1966
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Ronald S.
USA 13 Apr 2017
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