Dr. Sam Sheppard on Trial by Jack DeSario

Author:Jack DeSario
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kent State University Press

Nine

The Prosecutor Speaks

Finally, after nearly half a century of confusion in the public mind over the guilt of Sam Sheppard in the murder of his wife. Finally, after years—even decades—of public attacks on the integrity of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. Finally, after weeks of legal testimony by Sam Sheppard’s advocates in the newest version of this notorious case. Finally, Bill Mason and his team had the opportunity to present their perspective of the Marilyn Sheppard murder, to vindicate the careful efforts of the law enforcement community, to resolve the uncertainties surrounding the case—indeed, to shape for all time the world’s perception of Dr. Sam Sheppard. Mason was determined to dispel the ugly myth that the law enforcement community somehow had conspired to get Sam Sheppard. He was determined to reveal this case for exactly what it was, a classic example of domestic homicide.

To achieve these ends Mason and his team of Prosecutors would have witnesses recount the details surrounding Marilyn Sheppard’s murder and feature the extensive investigation they undertook in preparing for this case. They would also have to capture the essence of Sam Sheppard’s personality and reveal his arrogance and deceit through his own statements to others as well as his trial testimony from 1954. Finally, they would have to present an impressive array of forensic experts who would refute the spurious, psuedo-scientific claims made by the Sheppard team while providing a vastly different interpretation of the evidence. It would be this interpretation of the evidence that would strongly incriminate Dr. Sam Sheppard.

The initial set of witnesses was presented by the State on Wednesday, March 8, 2000, to reconstruct the events relating to Marilyn Sheppard’s murder on July 4, 1954. Mayor Spencer Houk’s and Esther Houk’s 1954 testimonies were read to the jury, with Dean Boland assuming the role of the 1954 attorneys, Assistant Prosecutor Tom Cahill reading the testimony of Mayor Spencer Houk, and Assistant Prosecutor Darci Muland taking the role of Esther Houk. In his testimony Spencer Houk said that he was the owner of a butcher shop in Bay Village and had been the elected mayor of Bay Village since 1950. Both Houks described their household as consisting of a sixteen-year-old son, a fourteen-year-old daughter, and Mr. Houk’s elderly mother. They discussed the close friendship that had developed between them and Marilyn and Sam Sheppard; they were frequent visitors to each others’ homes, and they attended a number of social events together. Regarding the events of July 3, 1954, Spencer Houk noted that Marilyn came to the shop that day and bought a considerable amount of meat for a July 4th party. Esther recalled the night of July 3. She was home with her husband while the children were out. They watched television until about 10:30 P.M. when they went outside to view fireworks. Their daughter came home between 11:00 and midnight, and their son returned after midnight. Spencer went to bed first; Esther didn’t get to sleep until about 3:00 A.M.

The next recollection both of the Houks had was of the phone ringing at about 5:45 A.

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