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Says He Dyed Easter Eggs Night Before Killing. RAISES ALIBI Denies Taking Any Part j in. Poolroom Holdup. Rodney. Ford, 964 West Eighth ?... who, to State charges, was one five robbers involved in the murder of Marshal Peter Dumele, North Col lege Hill, April 8, described from the witness stand in Judge Edward M Hurley's Criminal Court, Friday, how he had helped his mother fix curtains and how he had helped dye Easter eggs for his little nieces and nephews the night preceding the slaying. Ford hopes through this alibi to escape con viction on the first-degree murder charge. More pallid than usual, the defend ant grew somewhat surly when ques tioned by Walter A. Sibbald,assistant prosecutor. Ford admitted to Sibbald that he was a bootlegger, and that he had bought liquor from Robert Zwick, who, with John (Todd) Messner, and Preck Lutes, is jointly indicted with Ford on the murder charge. An intimation of testimony that the state expects to produce in rebuttal, was given by Sibbald when he asked Ford if he had ever owned a sawed off shotgun and had ever had such a weapon in Hamilton, O. The defendant admitted ownership Rea revolver, which the officers say, was found in a trunk at his home, following his arrest. Sibbald pointed out that numerals on the gun, which might identify it, had been filed off Ford denied that he had ever noticed the mars on the weapon. Ford was the third and last witnesss to be called by the defense. He fol lowed his brother-in-law,Henry Rowe, and Mrs. Henry Berger Under questioning by Edward M Ballard, his attorney, Ford told how he had remained at the home of his mother on the afternoon of April 7; and how at about 11 p. m. he had how he had helped her “fix” curtain, how he had had ‘his supper there, to the home of his ‘sister-in-law Rowe at 1420 Race street. “He said that he had assisted Mrs. Rowe in coloring Easter eggs for her Pord said that he had been arrested several times. In each instance, he e@cided, he had been released. “You are charged with having been one of the men who held up the Peli can Club and during the course of which Marshal Dumele was slain,” Ballard began. “Did you have any in that?” “I positively did not,” Ford replied. “Were you there that night?” “I was not.” “Do you know any of these persons who identified you as one of the Tobbers?” wt positively do hot.” Asked whether he knew Measner or the defendant answered: “I positively do not.’ “Do you know Zwick?” a tively do,” Ford said. Are you with him on that night?” = a was not.” then questioned Ford ‘bout his familiarity with Hamilton, CO. and a woman described as “Big “Do you know a woman called ‘Big Pearl?’ asked Sibbald. “Positively not.” Ford almost shouted. ees onal kane eee eee
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Times Star
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Fri, Dec 28, 1928
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Patti D.
