This collection features newspaper articles about the murder of Marilyn Sheppard and the subsequent trial of Dr. Sam Sheppard. The articles appearing here are taken from scrapbooks kept by Coroner Samuel Gerber.
The media coverage of Sam Sheppard’s trial was questioned for bias and whether or not the media impacted Sam’s right to receive a fair trial. Ultimately, Sam was awarded a retrial via the Sheppard v. Maxwell decision in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that Sam had not received a fair trial in 1954 for a number of reasons including the State of Ohio’s failure of “duty to protect Sheppard from the inherently prejudicial publicity which saturated the community.”
The newspaper articles in this collection come from the Cleveland Press, the Cleveland News, and The Plain Dealer. The Cleveland Press went out of business in 1982 but was a major player in local news around the time Marilyn was murdered. The Cleveland News was purchased by the Cleveland Press in 1960. Cleveland State University has a copyright agreement with The Plain Dealer to post articles related to the Sheppard case.
(Cleveland State University was donated the archives of the Cleveland Press in 1984. Details about the donation and how to access articles and photos from the Cleveland Press can be found here.)
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54/07/05 (1st) Doctor's Wife Murdered in Bay Village
Cleveland Press
On July 5th, 1954, the Cleveland Press reports on the preliminary investigation of the murder of Marilyn Sheppard and Sam Sheppard's recollections of the event: Sam, asleep downstairs in the early morning of July 5th, heard Marilyn scream. Upon running upstairs to her bedroom, he was knocked unconscious by one or more intruders. After regaining consciousness, he chased an intruder down to the beach, but was again knocked out in the struggle. At 6am, Sam called his friend and neighbor, Mayor J. Spencer Houk, and said "My God, come over Spen; I think they've killed Marilyn." Cuyahoga County Coroner Samuel R. Gerber reported "the death was caused by repeated blows on the head and face -- as many as 25." See Police Investigation photos and drawings here.
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54/07/05 (2nd) Bay Doctor's Wife Murdered
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Plain Dealer morning edition coverage the day after Marilyn's murder reported that no motive had yet been uncovered and Sam had been found "beaten and dazed" in the Sheppard home.
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54/07/05 (3rd) Bay Doctor's Wife Murdered
Cleveland Plain Dealer
This later edition of the July 5th Plain Dealer has more information about the crime as well as a diagram of the interior of the Sheppard home, showing where Marilyn was murdered and where Sam slept on the daybed.
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54/07/05 (4th) Find Tooth Chips Under Body of Bay Doctor's Slain Wife
Cleveland News
The home edition of the Cleveland News reports the Coroner's initial discoveries, the police investigation, Sam's account of the crime, and his injuries.
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54/07/05 Beaten Doctor Treated By Kin
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Article explores Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard's past, as he lay on a hospital cot in the new wing of Bay View Hospital. Sheppard is being treated for injuries sustained the day before (the day that his wife was beaten to death at her home.)
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54/07/05 Doctor Tells Brothers He Heard Scream, Was Beaten
Cleveland News
Sam's brothers, Richard and Stephan, tell the News what Sam said to them about the events surrounding Marilyn's murder.
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54/07/05 Scenes and figures in the investigation of the slaying of Mrs. Marilyn R. Sheppard
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Photos from the crime scene and Bay View Hospital.
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54/07/05 They Shared Duties, Pleasures of Life
Cleveland News
Neighbors and friends express shock at Marilyn's murder and incredulity that someone would want to harm people as wonderful as Sam and Marilyn.
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54/07/06 Doctor Describes Wife's Killer
Cleveland Plain Dealer
In this article, Deputy Sheriff Carl A. Rossbach reports that Sam describes Marilyn's killer as "middle-aged, six feet three inches tall, had dark bushy hair and wore a white shirt." After Sam offered this description to police, all visitors were barred from his room. Updates on the police investigation are included.
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54/07/06 Family Tells Why Lawyer is Called
Cleveland Press
This story reports the Sheppard family's explanation of why they retained attorneys "the family recognized that a crime had been committed, and felt it would possibly affect Bay View Hospital, as well as the family. We felt we needed professional advice, and contacted Arthur A. Petersilge as a personal friend, as ' well as our attorney.'"
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54/07/06 Hunt For Blood Clews In Killing Of Doctor's Wife
Cleveland News
Several items, including a pair of trousers, wrist watch, ring, gold chain, keys, and a football charm, were examined for blood stains in the Morgue laboratory using and infra red camera. Article also reports on other developments in the case.
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54/07/06 Move to Quiz Bay Doctor
Cleveland Press
Authorities express frustration with Dr. Stephen A. Sheppard's report that his brother Sam, hospitalized at Bay View Hospital, is "unable, emotionally and physically, to stand further police questioning for several days." Coroner Gerber also reports on the hunt for Sam's missing t-shirt and the murder weapon.
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54/07/06 Seek Blood Clews In Murder Of Bay Village Doctor's Wife
Cleveland News
Items, including a pair of trousers, are examined for blood stains in the the morgue laboratory. Article reports on other developments in the case as well. A mentally retarded youth was also arrested and questioned in Sheffield Lake, Ohio.
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54/07/06 Sheppards Face Tragedy Bravely
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Dr. Richard A. Sheppard, Sam's father, describes himself as "just" holding up. He reports that many people have been calling the hospital to check on Sam and that "everyone was being very kind." The reporter also observed members Sam's family return from visiting him and described the family as appearing weary.
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54/07/06 Tells Father-in-Law He Hopes to Identify Killer
Cleveland Press
Marilyn's father, Thomas S. Reese, talked to Sam in the hospital shortly after Marilyn's murder and that Sam said he thinks he can identify Marilyn's killer if he sees him again.
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54/07/07 Doctors Sheppard -- United in Work, United in Tragedy
Cleveland News
This article describes Sam as having "the same driving ambition, the same will to learn and to advance the science of saving lives" as his father Dr. Richard A. Sheppard. He has been "the one doctor always ready to answer emergency calls at any and all hours of the day and night." His friends, according to the article, report that Sam also has a fun-loving quality not seen in the rest of his family.
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54/07/07 Dr. Sheppard Weeps Besides Wife's Coffin
Cleveland News
Article describes the scene, and the mood, at Marilyn Sheppard's funeral.
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54/07/07 FBI Enters Bay Slaying; Hunts Cranks
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Reports that the FBI moved into the investigation of the Marilyn Sheppard murder as the result of "crank" telephone calls to the victim's father, Thomas S. Reese.
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54/07/07 Gerber Demands Speed In Bay Murder Probe
Cleveland News
Newspaper photographers were permitted to take pictures of Dr. Sheppard in his hospital bed, but were forbidden to interview him. Deputy Rossbach said he will seek to question Dr. Sheppard, and his son, "Chip", after the funeral of Marilyn Sheppard.
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54/07/07 Lips Form Word "Marilyn" as Doctor Views Wife's Body
Cleveland Press
Describes Sam's behavior and appearance at Marilyn's funeral.
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54/07/07 Search Murder Home Again
Cleveland News
Coroner Samuel R. Gerber orders a new search of the Sheppard home, in an effort to locate the murder weapon and a T-shirt worn by the victims husband. Article also reports on some of the puzzling aspects of the crime.
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54/07/07 State Prepares Charge Against Bay Murderer
Cleveland Press
Two days after the murder, Sam will leave Bay View Hospital to attend Marilyn's funeral. Coroner Gerber wants Sam to return to the Sheppard home to re-enact his recollections of the crime. Police are using magnetic devices to try to find the murder weapon in Lake Erie.
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54/07/07 Trousers Stain Seen as Blood
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Article describes how Coroner Gerber met in Bay Village City Hall with Sam's father and brother but did not receive permission to talk to Sam. Updates on police investigation are given: Sam's t-shirt is still missing, blood smears are found on Sam's watch, Demerol (synthetic morphine) is missing from Sam's doctor bag.
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54/07/07 Wants City Paid For Police Aid
Cleveland Plain Dealer
After the County Sheriff's office entered into the murder probe, Cleveland Police Chief, Frank W. Story makes a proposal that suburban communities should be made to pay for aid given by scientific experts in the Cleveland Police Department. Story is quoted as saying, "Our men have rendered as much service as we could to Bay Village."
