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  54/12/16 The Defense Rests

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Photo of Sam's chief defense counsel William J. Corrigan.

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  54/12/17 Blythin Outlines Possible Verdicts in Charge to Jury

  Cleveland Press

  The article describes the legal directions Judge Blythin gave the trial jury to follow to find a verdict. He also discussed the different degrees of guilt possible in the verdict, the difference between direct evidence and circumstantial evidence, and the jury's option to recommend mercy (so Sam wouldn't face the death penalty.)

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  54/12/17 Jurors Debate Dr. Sam's Fate

  Cleveland Press

  Describes the beginning of the jury's deliberations.

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  54/12/17 Jury Debates on Sam

  Cleveland Press

  Describes Judge Blythin's instructions to the jury which included not discussing the case with anyone -- including themselves -- except in the deliberation room. Hotel arrangements were made, in case the jury couldn't reach a verdict that day.

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  54/12/18 Jury Deadlocked; Talk of Visit to Murder Home

  Cleveland News

  Describes the status of the jury's deliberations.

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  54/12/18 Sam's Freedom Hope Fades

  Cleveland Press

  Authors describe the general mood at the Criminal Courts building in Cleveland as the jury deliberated today in a third floor room. They also report about several rumors floating around that the jury might be "deadlocked". Both Prosecution and Defense claim the jury will decide in their respective favor. Another unusual incident involving a mystery woman trying to enter the jury room during deliberations, despite security being around, is also described.

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  54/12/18 Sam's jury locked for night

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This story reports how wrung out the Jurors in the Sam Shepard trial were in the fist day of debating. The male jurors were harassed in the hotel lobby, by a drunk as they waited to be taken to their rooms.

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  54/12/20 Dr. Sam Expects Hung Jury Asks Bail Until Second Trial

  Cleveland Press

  On this fourth day of deliberations, Judge Blythin believes there is a possibility that the jury may reach unanimity. Dr. Sam asks his attorneys to apply for bail should a second trial be necessary.

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  54/12/20 Review Juror's Answers Seeking Verdict Clew

  Cleveland Press

  Author ponders what goes on in the minds of the Sheppard case jurors. More specifically, quotations from Juror No. 8, Beatrice P. Orenstein, while she was being quizzed in open court about her eligibility to sit on the juror panel, are published here.

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  54/12/21 And Time Stands Still as Jurors Talk 5 Days

  Cleveland Press

  This article questions why the jury is deliberating for 5 days and speculation how their families are faring without them. Personal information about the jurors, including addresses, is included.

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  54/12/21 Dr. Sam Adopts Role Of Patient

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Sam Sheppard, in an interview with a reporter, says, "It now becomes necessary for me to practice what I have expected of others." He was referring to his former patients in which he expected them to display a faith in God, and a faith in him (Dr. Sheppard). Article also describes the tense, and somewhat emotional scene in the courtroom that day.

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  54/12/21 [Photo of Judge Edward Blythin flanked by reporters]

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  A photo of Judge Edward Blythin around the same time he told reporters he was going to let the jury continue deliberating.

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  54/12/21 Sam is Guilty in 2D Degree

  Cleveland Press

  After five days of deliberation, the jury indicated at 4:13pm on December 21, 1954 that it had reached a verdict. The seven-man, five-woman jury found Sam Sheppard guilty of murder in the second degree in the death of his wife, Marilyn. This verdict spared him from the death penalty, but offered the possibility of life imprisonment. Read the complete verdict here.

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  54/12/21 Sheppard Trial Listed in 10 Top News Events

  Cleveland Press

  The editors of the United Press chose the Sheppard murder trial as one of the top 10 stories of 1954. Other stories mentioned included: the shooting of five congressmen in the House of Representatives; peace in Indochina, including the fall of Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Conference; Democrats winning control of the House and Senate and the Supreme Court's decision to outlaw racial segregation in Brown v. Board of Education.

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  54/12/21 Verdict Today, Is Hint By Jury; 'We Can Do It; Foreman Says

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  On the fourth day of the Jury's deliberation, the foreman relayed to the bailiff, "We think we can do it. I know we can do it." Judge Blythin set no deadline and stressed, "we are going to let them deliberate. I did not set a deadline..."

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  54/12/22 2 Voted to Acquit on 1st Ballot

  Cleveland Press CITY

  Article reports on some of the details that happened during jury deliberations. On the first ballot, all but 2 jurors, Mrs. Elizabeth Burke and Mrs. Louise Feuchter, had concluded that Sam Sheppard killed his wife, Marilyn.

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  54/12/22 Buzzer Hum Brings Trial End

  Cleveland Press

  This article describes the scene in the courtroom on December 21, 1954 at 4:12pm when a buzzer announced a verdict had been reached until the jury is dismissed at 4:49pm including the reactions of Sam and his family and his attorney William J. Corrigan. Judge Edward Blythin's remarks to the jury are printed.

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  54/12/22 Comment of Principals on Sheppard Verdict

  Cleveland Press

  Comments on the verdict of second degree murder by: William J. Corrigan, Sam's attorney; Richard N. Sheppard and Stephen A. Sheppard, Sam's brothers; Saul S. Danaceau, Assistant Prosecutor; Thomas J. Parrino, Assistant Prosecutor; James MacArthur, Cleveland Police Department Investigative Inspector; J. Spencer Houk, Bay Village Mayor; Jane Reese, Marilyn's Stepmother, and Sam Sheppard.

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  54/12/22 Dr. Sam Must Serve 10 Years for Parole

  Cleveland Press

  Reports that Sam must serve a full ten years to be eligible for parole, unless he is granted executive clemency from the Ohio Governor.

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  54/12/22 Dr. Sam's 65-Day Trial Sets Mark

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Chronology of Sheppard trial from October 18th start to the verdict was reported on December 21st.

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  54/12/22 Highlights of Sheppard Murder Case

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Chronology of the events from Marilyn's murder to the beginning of the trial.

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  54/12/22 Jurors' 39-Hour, 23-Minute Deliberations Among Nations Longest

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Article compares the length of deliberation in this trial, 39 hours and 23 minutes, to many other similar trials that had long deliberations. Plain Dealer artist, Lloyd J. Slawson, sketches the moment just before sentence was pronounced.

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  54/12/22 Lindbergh Stories Only Rivals to Sheppard Trial in Public Interest

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  The telephone switchboard of the Cleveland Plain Dealer received a record number of phone calls after the jury verdict was announced in the Sheppard trial.

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  54/12/22 Mayor Calls Sheppard Trial Fair, Says Verdict Was Justified by Evidence

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  City of Cleveland mayor, Anthony J. Celebrezze, the person responsible for the Cleveland Police taking full charge of the case, feels the verdict of the Sheppard trial is "justified by the evidence presented."

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  54/12/22 Photo: Leaving the criminal court building was the Sheppard jury...

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

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  54/12/22 Photos: "Head Bowed"; "Last Cab Ride" (showing three jurors) ; "Edmond Verlinger"; Beatrice Orenstein"; "Evidence In Sheppard Murder Trial"

  Cleveland Press CITY

  Five photographs from the Sheppard Trial taken shortly after the verdict was read.

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  54/12/22 Photos of Attorneys and Judge

  Cleveland Press

  Photos of Sam's attorney William J. Corrigan, Assistant Prosecutors Thomas Parrino and Saul Danaceau and Judge Edward Blythin.

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  54/12/22 Photos of Sam and Marilyn's family members

  Cleveland Press

  Photos of Stephen and Betty Sheppard and Richard and Dorothy Sheppard after the verdict. Photos of Betty Sheppard and G. R. Brown and Mary Brown, Marilyn's aunt and uncle before the verdict

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  54/12/22 Sam is Elated, Then Shattered

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This article describes the reaction of Sam and his family after the verdict of second degree murder was announced.

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  54/12/22 Sheppard Guilty, Gets Life; Innocent Doctor Insists

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This article reports on the verdict saying that "the seven men and five women decided it was Dr. Sam who beat out the life of Marilyn Sheppard "maliciously and purposely," but not "deliberately and of premeditated malice," which is first-degree murder, on July 4 as she lay in her bed." Describes Corrigan's outburst after the reading of the verdict and the initial talks of a motion for a new trial.

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  54/12/22 Sheppard Would Face Death Again in Any New Trial

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Article reports that if Judge Edward Blythin granted Sam a new trial, he would be at risk of receiving the death penalty.

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  54/12/22 Snapshots from Sheppard Case

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Depicted are some of the key figures in the Marilyn Sheppard murder case.

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  54/12/22 Susan is Mum on Conviction

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Article reports that Susan Hayes, Sam's lover, refused to comment on his conviction. Sam's friend, Dr. Lester Hoversten, was hoping for acquittal for Sam and expressed sadness at the idea of a surgeon as talented as Sam "going to waste behind prison bars when humanity needs him."

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  54/12/22 Tears Signal End of Ordeal for Three Women on Jury

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This article reports the strain placed on the jurors by the trial and what some jurors did upon returning home.

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  54/12/22 Verdict Just, In-Laws Assert

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Marilyn Sheppard's Aunts expressed tears following the conviction of Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard for second-degree murder. Marilyn's cousins, Keith and Thomas Weigle, said they regarded the jurors' verdict as "just."

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  54/12/22 Verdict Sets Off Frenzied 'Flash'

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Describes the frenzied activity in the press corps after the verdict was announced.

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  54/12/24 Murder Home Repossessed by Sheppard Family

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Photo shows Sheppard family attorney Arthur E. Petersilge signing papers in the office of Assistant County Prosecutor Saul S. Danaceau which return the Bay Village residence to the Sheppard family for the first time since 7/4/54.

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  54/12/24 Sheppard Demands New Trial

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Describes Sam's motion for a new trial which includes forty "reasons" why the new trial should be granted. The motion charges the court, prosecutors, the state's witnesses and the newspapers with misconduct and irregularities. Despite the fact that he was NOT granted a new trial at this time, the Supreme Court in 1966 agreed with many of these charges when they threw out his conviction.

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  54/12/26 Sheppard Case Parallels Ohio Nesbitt Slaying of '26

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Article draws parallels between the Sam Sheppard case and the Jacob Nesbitt case that happened in Troy, Ohio in the mid-1920's. Although a generation apart, both murder mysteries were sensational media stories that shared many details that are quite "spine tingling". Most notably, both Sam Sheppard and Jacob Nesbitt were 30 years of age at the time of each crime, and they were former football players. Jacob Nesbitt's wife, Frances Drake Nesbitt, was murdered. Both couples were also very popular. Other striking similarities are discussed in this article.

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  54/12/27 Evidence Hiding Denied By Mahon

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Assistant prosecutor, John J. Mahon, takes exception to Samuel H. Sheppard's statement that accused prosecutors of concealing favorable evidence. Sheppard made the statement just three days before his motion for a new trial in front of Judge Edward Blythin.

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  54/12/28 Jail Mail Bulges For Dr. Sheppard

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's office said that Sam Sheppard, while in County jail, received approximately 250 letters in one day. Most of them were in support of him.

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  54/12/29 Agreed on Dr. Sheppard's Guilt at 11a.m. 5th Day, 4 Jurors Say

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This article reports on information provided by four jurors about deliberations. They report that for the first four days, the jury was split on if Sam was guilty or innocent. At 11am on day five, all agreed he was guilty.

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  54/12/29 Sam Sees "Killers" Face More Clearly

  Cleveland Press

  In the lead up to tomorrow's hearing of a motion for a new trial, Dr. Sam has been telling family members & friends that "the features of Marilyn's attackers are coming back to me."

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  54/12/29 Sheppard Has Spagetti on 31st Birthday

  Cleveland News

  A report on how Samuel H. Sheppard spent his 31st birthday in County Jail. Meanwhile, jurors were considering a joint statement explaining how they arrived at their verdict a week ago.

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  54/12/30 'New Evidence' Plea Wins Stay

  Cleveland News

  This article reports that Defense attorneys for Sam saved him from an immediate trip to the Ohio Penitentiary with a plea that they had "newly discovered evidence" to present. Also, second motion for a new trial was presented claiming there were 43 "errors" in the trial record. The court transcript for the motion for a new trial can be found here.

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  54/8/16 Dr Sam goes free on bail of $50,000

  Cleveland Press

  This piece talks about how Sam Sheppard was free on bail, but at the same time the grand jury deciding whether or not there is enough evidence to indict.

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  54/8/16 Holdover Grand Jury Hears Sheppard Case

  Cleveland News

  This article talks about what is required of the Grand Jury in the first-degree murdeer indictment against Dr Sam Sheppard. It also describes the origins of the grand jury system, as well info on the members of this grand jury.

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  55/01/04 Rejects Plea on New Trial for Dr. Sam

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Describes Judge Blythin's denial of a new trial. The article summarizes Blythin's responses to each of Sam's 41 charges of "errors" in the 1954 trial. Read Blythin's full response here.

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  55/01/07 Dr. Sam's Mother Was Kindly to All

  Cleveland News

  On the day of Mrs. Ethel Sheppard's death, Cleveland News reporter, Doris Millavec, writes a short bio of her active life. She also interviews her longtime friend Mrs. James G. Murray, who described Mrs. Sheppard as "always gracious", and having "a deep abiding kindness."

  In one past interview, Mrs. Sheppard identified her own role as "the family stabilizer."

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  55/01/07 Mother of Dr. Sheppard Kills Herself With Gun

  Cleveland News

  Ethel Sheppard, mother of Sam Sheppard, committed suicide, leaving a note which read "Dear Steve: I just can't manage alone without father...Mother." Her husband, Dr. Richard A. Sheppard, was critically ill at Bay View Hospital at the time. He died 11 days later.

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  55/01/08 Dr. Sam Moves To Gain Release

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Article reports that on the morning before Ethel Sheppard's suicide, Samuel H. Sheppard's attorneys asked the Court of Appeals to free Dr. Sam on bail, and to dismiss the new evidence motion "without prejudice".

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  55/01/08 Dr. Sam Set To Attend Funeral

  Cleveland Press

  Common Pleas judge Harry A. Hanna grants permission for Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard to attend the funeral of his mother, Ethel Sheppard, which is to be held in a couple days. The request was made by Sheppard's attorneys.

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  55/01/08 Elder Sheppard In Serious State

  Cleveland News

  Sam Sheppard's father, Richard A. Sheppard Sr., was reported in "near critical" condition today at Bay View Hospital. He has been hospitalized for over two weeks and had just learned of the suicide of his wife, Mrs. Ethel N. Sheppard, which happened yesterday.

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  55/01/08 'Normal' Day Is Painful For Sam

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Article describes the sequence of events that happened at County jail before and after the news broke of the sudden death of Dr. Sam Sheppard's mother, Ethel Sheppard. Reporters and photographers had suddenly arrived after they had heard the news. The jail visitors waited until Dr. Sam's brother, Dr. Stephen A Sheppard, arrived, whom later broke the tragic news to his brother. Sam Sheppard's reaction is reported on as well.

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  55/01/08 Pastor Tells of Talk With Mrs. Sheppard

  Cleveland News

  Four days before her untimely death, Ethel Sheppard was visited by her pastor, Rev. Howard Brown, who offered her spiritual comfort and guidance. The minister said that Mrs. Sheppard spoke as if she was reliving the last three months. She said, "those three months -- I don't think I could stand that again."

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  55/01/08 Sam Put Under 'Suicide Watch'

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Article gives details about the suicide of Dr. Sam Sheppard's mother, Mrs. Ethel Niles Sheppard. Sheriff Sweeney said a court order would be necessary before Dr. Sam's request to attend his mother's memorial service would be considered.

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  55/01/08 Sam To Attend Mother's Rites

  Cleveland Press

  Sam Sheppard was granted permission by Common Pleas judge Harry A. Hanna to attend the private funeral of his mother, Mrs. Richard A. Sheppard.

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  55/01/09 Saw His Mother 'Ebb,' Sam Says

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  The day after his mother's death, Samuel H. Sheppard spoke with the reverend Alfred C. Kreke. Dr. Sam related to him, that he could tell she was not the same after her stroke, and was "losing the will to live".

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  55/01/10 Dr. Sam Attends Rites for Mother

  Cleveland News

  Sam Sheppard was handcuffed and escorted by prison guards to his mother's funeral service today in Lakewood, Ohio.

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  55/01/11 Sam's Father Takes Turn For Worse

  Cleveland News

  Dr. Richard A. Sheppard's health condition took a turn for the worse today. He is transferred from Bay View Hospital to the Cleveland Clinic Hospital, as it is feared his lung infection may develop into pneumonia.

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  55/01/19 Court to Let Sam Go to Dad's Rites

  Cleveland News

  Judge Harry A. Hanna grants permission to Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard to attend the funeral of his father, Dr. Richard A. Sheppard, who died of a malignant lung ailment after an illness of several months.

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  55/01/19 Dr. Sam Loses Plea To Go Free On Bail

  Cleveland News

  A 3-judge panel denies Sam Sheppard's motion seeking release on bail until the hearing of his appeal on its merits is overruled.

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  55/01/19 Father Of Dr. Sam Dies At 64

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Dr. Sam Sheppard's father dies 11 days after the suicide of Dr. Sam's mother. It was expected that Dr. Sam would seek court permission to attend the funeral of his father.

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  55/01/20 State Bills Sam $4425 for Trial

  Cleveland Press

  Dr. Sam will be billed $4425 for the court costs of his conviction. State law provides that anyone convicted of a felony can be compelled to pay them, if they are financially able to do so.

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  55/01/21 Prof. Kirk Flying for Sam Probe

  Cleveland Press

  Sam Sheppard's attorney, William J. Corrigan, files an "assignment of error" with the Court of Appeals claiming the trial had a circus-like atmosphere. He also hires a professor named, Paul Kirk, to "look into" the conviction.

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  55/01/23 Criminologist On Job To Aid Sam

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Dr. Paul L. Kirk, a scientist on the staff of the University of California Berkeley, is retained by Sheppard's defense counsel, William J. Corrigan. Kirk said he will use his own methods to try and turn up enough new evidence to convince the appeals court that a new trial is justified.

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  55/03/25 Dr. Sam Naps, Reads in 8th Month

  Cleveland News

  Cleveland News Reporter James Flanagan sent Sam a note asking how he has coped with spending eight months in the County Jail. Sam replied "Only the effect of a clear conscience and continued drive for truth has enabled me to maintain both physical and mental health. My reading consists mainly of surgical books, journals and historical novels."

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  55/03/27 The Mystery Woman in the Sheppard Case, Part I

  American Weekly

  The article talks about who Marilyn Shepard was as a person, her childhood, how she met and married Sam Shepard, as told by relatives, friends, and neighbors.

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  55/04/03 The Mystery Woman in the Sheppard Case, Part I

  American Weekly

  This article starts with the events that took place the day before Marilyn Shepard murder and continues to the day of the murder and the trial that came after.

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  55/04/27 Asserts Marilyn Bit Killers Hand

  Cleveland News

  An appellate brief was filed by the defense in support of Sam Sheppard's contention that the killer must have suffered a severe laceration when he placed his hands over the victims mouth to prevent injury.

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  55/04/27 Dr. Sam No Killer, Says Kirk, Charges Case Is Full Of Errors

  Cleveland News

  A California biochemist, Dr. Paul C. Kirk, acting as a "crime expert" for the defense, was the only witness on a new trial before Common Pleas Judge, Edward Blythin. Kirk charged that the case against Sheppard was, "superficial, incomplete, and erroneous in interpretation."

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  55/04/27 Eyes of Dr. Sam's Expert See Left-Handed Sex Attacker

  Cleveland Press

  After Dr. Paul L. Kirk, Professor of Criminology at the University of California, investigated the murder of Marilyn Sheppard, he concluded that the crime was a sex attack, the weapon was no more than 12 inches, the killer was left-handed and blood from a bite inflected on the killer's hand by Marilyn splashed next to the closet door next to the murder bed.

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  55/04/27 Familiar Faces Grace Courtroom at Hearing

  Cleveland Press

  Describes those in the courtroom for Sam's plea for a new trial including Judge Blythin, the prosecution team, Sam and his defense team, criminologist Dr. Paul Kirk, and friends and family of Sam and Marilyn.

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  55/04/27 Killer signed name in blood

  Cleveland Press

  The article states how the Judge hears about new blood evidence in support for a new trial after giving the prosecution the opportunity to contradict the findings. The Prosecutor states that new facts must be presented now mere interpretations and opinions.

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  55/ 04/27 Kirk Describes Tests Tried in Sheppard Case

  Cleveland Press

  Prof Paul Kirk gives a statement on the tests tried in the Sheppard case. He starting with his qualifications including where he went to school and different projects he has worked on, including development of the A-bomb. Prof Kirk, then describes some of the experiments he used in the Sheppard case.

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  55/04/27 New Clew Claimed by Sam

  Cleveland Press

  A affidavit prepared by Prof. Paul Kirk offered new evidence in support in Sam Sheppard's plea for a new trial. The claim states there was blood in the bedroom where Marilyn was killed that did not match either Sam or Marilyn.

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  55/04/27 See One Spot Of Blood Exonerating Sheppard

  Cleveland Press

  Paul L. Kirk, a professor from the University of California, writes up a 46 page account of how he feels the events unfolded the morning of the murder. Kirk was hired by Sheppard's lawyers to support the claim of Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard's innocence.

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  55/04/27 State Asks Dr. Moritz to Sam's Hearing

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  At the request of Coroner Samuel Gerber, County Prosecutor, Frank Cullitan, extended an invitation to Dr. Alan R. Moritz to observe, and listen to, the courtroom testimony of Dr. Paul L. Kirk, a professor of criminalistics, who is appearing for the defense.

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  55/04/28 Kirk Challenges State To Disprove 'New Facts'

  Cleveland News

  Dr. Paul Kirk presented a 50 pg. affidavit yesterday to Common Pleas Judge Edward Blythin, supporting the application for a new trial for Dr. Sheppard, by suggesting new evidence needs to be disproved. The Prosecution disputes the information contained within the affidavit.

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  55/04/28 Prosecution Plans to Reject Dr. Sam's "New Evidence"

  Cleveland Press

  Prosecutor Saul Danaceau rejects the "new evidence" advanced in an affidavit by Prof. Paul L. Kirk, a criminologist working for the defense, calling it a "rehash of defense arguments at the trial." Before Kirk returned to his home in California, he expressed that catching the "real killer is police work, and I'm not a policeman."

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  55/04/29 Crime Expert Moritz Puts Lens on Kirk's 'Evidence'

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Dr. Alan R. Moritz, who is assisting the prosecutors as an advisor, will soon submit a report which is critical of Dr. Paul L.Kirk's previous affidavit which claims "new evidence" proves Sheppard's innocence.

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  55/04/29 Hits Kirk Prowler, Bloodspot Theory

  Cleveland News

  The State today struck back at defense contention that a strangers blood was found on the wardrobe door of the main bedroom.

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  55/04/30 Blood Expert Takes A Look At Kirk Data

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Another blood expert, Dr. Roger Marsters, is recruited by Coroner Gerber to help the prosecution counteract the affidavit previously filed by California Criminologist, Paul L. Kirk.

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  55/05/01 State To Argue Kirk Is Too Late

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Two affidavits in refutation of the defense motion for a new trial will be submitted tomorrow.

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  55/05/02 4 State Affidavits Hit Sheppard Plea

  Cleveland News

  The prosecution presents 4 affidavits today attacking two main issues raised previously in the defense's motion for a new trial.

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  55/05/03 Sheppard Ruling Delay Expected

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This article explains that the ruling of a new trial, in the Sam Sheppard case, by Judge Blythin is likely to be delayed after he hears the oral arguments on the motions. The Judge stated that due to other work and that he has not yet read over the four counter-affidavits filed by the state nor the 50-page document submitted by the defense-hired criminologist.

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  55/05/04 Dr Richard Doubts Retrial Plea Will Win

  Cleveland News

  Dr. Richard, brother of Sam Sheppard expressed little hope that his brother Sam will win a new trial. He stated although he found the hearing interesting not much will come of it. There were about 40 spectators in the courtroom.

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  55/05/04 Sam Back in Court on New Trial Plea

  Cleveland Press

  Sam appeared before Judge Blythin for the final hearing on the claim of new evidence unavailable to the defense during the 1954 trial. Defense Counsel William J. Corrigan based the claim on the findings of Professor Paul L. Kirk.

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  55/05/10 New Trial Of Dr. Sam Is Denied

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Judge Edward Blythin turns down Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard's demand for a new trial. Chief defense counsel William J. Corrigan will appeal the ruling.

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  55/05/10 Prof. Kirk Rips Judge for Refusing Retrial

  Cleveland Press

  After Judge Blythin ruled against Sam Sheppard's plea for a new trial, Calif. professor Paul L. Kirk lambasts the ruling as a "miscarriage of Justice", blaming public opinion for Dr. Sam's original arrest and conviction.

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  55/05/10 Sheppard Plans New Appeal

  Cleveland News

  In 13 days Dr. Sam's attorneys and prosecutors will argue the issue of a new trial in the Appellate Court. Should the prisoner be turned down there, he will be transferred from the County Jail to the Ohio Penitentiary to begin a life term for second degree murder.

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  55/05/10 Stephen Sheppard Pays Surprise Call on Prosecutors.

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This article details how Sam Sheppard brother Stephen, came to the prosecutor's office as his brother motion for a new trial was being overruled in court. He was there for over two hours, and refused to tell that press what he talked about.

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  55/05/11 Dr. Sam's Verdict Fair, State Brief Claims

  Cleveland Press

  Prosecutors will file a brief with the Court of Appeals contending that the jury reached a fair, and correct, verdict when they convicted Sam Sheppard of second degree murder.

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  55/05/13 State Says Only Sam Had Chance: Blasts Theory of Intruder and Sex Fiend in Defense Case

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  This article describes the state's response to Sam Sheppard's appeal.

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  55/05/19 Dr. Sam Appeals Retrial Refusal

  Cleveland News

  Defense attorney William J. Corrigan files a notice of appeal, and a bill of exceptions, in response to Judge Edward Blythin's refusal to give Dr. Sam a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence.

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  55/05/23 Convicted by 'Public Opinion,' Sam Charges: Appeals Court Hears Fight for New Trial

  Cleveland News

  Attorney William J. Corrigan opened the appeal of Sam's 1954 conviction with a
  "four-hour oral barrage." Appellate Judges Lee E. Skeel, Julius Kovachy and Joy Seth Hurd will rule on this appeal.

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  55/05/23 Defense Chief's Wife Hears Freedom Plea

  Cleveland Press

  Describes some of the attendees in the courtroom during Corrigan's argument on behalf of Sam's appeal. Mentions that Common Pleas Judge John J. Mahon, Chief Prosecutor during the 1954 trial, looked in on the proceedings to give encouragement to his wife, Assistant Prosecutor Gertrude Bauer Mahon (they were married just after the 1954 trial.) Bauer Mahon later argued for the State in the landmark case Mapp v. Ohio which gave Fourth Amendment protection against “unreasonable searches and seizures” to state criminal cases. For Cleveland Memory Legal Landmarks series coverage of Mapp v. Ohio; C-SPAN coverage of Mapp v Ohio.

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  55/06/14 Judges Begin Final Deliberations on Dr. Sam's Appeal for New Trial

  Cleveland Press

  On June 14, 1955, a three-judge Court of Appeals begins final deliberations on the murder conviction of Sam Sheppard. Defense Counsel William J. Corrigan raised the following two issues: 1) Did Sam receive a fair trial, or do 1 or more of the 41 "errors" in the 1954 trial cited by Corrigan justify a new trial? 2) Is Sam entitled to a new trial based on the findings of Dr. Paul Kirk? (read brief here)

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  55/06/22 Sheppard Taboo At Crime Parley

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  The Marilyn Sheppard murder case was omitted from the agenda of a 1955 session of the Science of Law Enforcement Institute held at Western Reserve University. Coroner Samuel Gerber, who was one of the sponsors of the gathering, said, "We aren't talking about the Sheppard case or any of its ramifications because it is now under the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals".

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  55/07/04 Bay Still Divided on Guilt of Sam

  Cleveland News

  Howard Beaufait writes that, one year after the murder of Marilyn Sheppard, Bay Village residents are divided on Sam's guilt. Beaufait also describes Sam's life in prison.