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Arguments to Jury Will Be Made Wednesday. ALL EVIDENCE HEARD Convict’s Testimony Furnishes Feature of Case. With the exception of three closing arguments to the jury, which are, to ‘be made Wednesday, the trial of Rod ney Ford, 964 West Eighth street, on the charge of murdering Marshal Peter Dumele of North College Hill during a‘ robbery, is ended. The de fense rested its case shortly after the opening of court Friday afternoon. The State concluded its case, with several rebuttal witnesses. The outstanding feature of the trial occurred in the rebuttal.testimony given by Craven Knox, who now is serving a senuence in the reformatory #8, the result of his plea of guilty to the ‘charge of robbery. in Lebanon: in April. Knox was tallied to rebut. testimony given by Ford. in his*own. defense, Ford had testified that he never had carried a pistol. Knox’ told of seeing him with one on several occasions, Ford said he ‘did not know John Todd Messner, with whom he’ is jointly indicted on the Dumélée mur der charge... Knox said he saw Ford and Messner together five or six times. Ford had testified that he did not know. Jack Parker, gunman, who was shot and killed. He also denied ever having been in a place in Hamilton known as “Big Pearl's,” or ever had been in Monroe. D table Knox said he saw a sawed-off shotan and several revolvers. ALIBI 18 PROVIDED With but a few exceptions, Ford's witnesses were relatives and all testi fied that on the evening of April 7, a few hours before the murder, Ford was at the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Naomi Rowe, 1420. Race. street, assisting her and his wife in coloring Easter eggs for Mrs. Rowe’s children. They accounted for his actions until after 1 mm. on April 8, the time of the slaying. Pord told the same story’ He was subjected to cross-examination — by Walter K. Sibbald and John Clip pinger, assistant prosecutors, and ad mitted that he had been bootlegging for some time. He admitted that he had associated closely with Robert Zwick, who, with Breck Lutes, is in dicted on the charge of murder with Ford and Messner. Under question ing, however, Ford denied that he had been with Zwick on the ii of and pleaded guilty to the charge. He was sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of 17 years. Jean Kirby and Orville Levens, named jointly in the indictment against Meaier, were released when the court instructed that a verdict of not guilty be returned. Messner wept after sentence had been passed on him. Authorities still are searching for Zwick.
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Times Star
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Sat, Dec 29, 1928
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Patti D.
