Command Influence by Robert A. Shaines

Author:Robert A. Shaines [Shaines, Robert A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Published: 2013-10-31T22:00:00+00:00

chAPteR 19

Thomas Kinder the Killer

To rEFrESh onE’S recollection of events, it was Thomas Kinder who actually shot the Korean and put the bullet hole in his chest. It was Kinder who cried to his mother about his having shot the Korean. It was Kinder’s mother who talked to her congressman about her son’s story and who got to the secretary of the Air Force and then to the chief of staff of the Air Force, who ordered the commander of the Far East Air Forces to reopen the investigation. Considering the origin of such an order, most with any prior service in the military would consider the trial and conviction of Schreiber and Toth to be a command, not a simple request to reopen the investigation of those events.

Thomas Kinder was the ultimate perpetrator of the murder and the only witness who could convincingly convict Schreiber and Toth. he was at times an admitted liar, both in his own trial and in Schreiber’s. he excused his lies by stating that he was on trial for his life. This was the true act of a coward and one with no moral scruples. he was willing to condemn both Schreiber and Toth for his own actions and was willing to do so with egregious perfidy. In short, he was both a physical and a moral coward. There was no redeeming quality about Thomas Kinder in my mind, then or now.

From his testimony at Schreiber’s trial, it was obvious that Kinder had, together with the prosecution or the oSI, concocted a story that differed from everyone else who had knowledge of the events of September 26-27, 1952. The pat way in which he told his story belied the obvious rehearsal for his play-acting at Schreiber’s trial. his story differed in almost every aspect from those of other witnesses who were there. Toth would later testify that Kinder said to him, “To hell with Schreiber, let’s look out for ourselves,” or words to that effect. Toth took his attitude as evidencing a willingness to lie and perjure himself to save himself. he did it, and he did it with a deal brokered by my old boss, Major Charlie Weir. Charlie was a great guy and a person for whom I had the utmost respect. I regarded Charlie as completely ethical. I never had cause to change that thought. Charlie came to me at some point after the deal had been struck on Kinder’s behalf and told me that he was sorry, that he had done it for what he regarded as his duty to his client, Thomas Kinder. he said that he hoped that I would not disrespect him for that, as he knew that I was a friend of George Schreiber and that I believed in Schreiber’s innocence. I was too new at the business of representing people accused of crimes. Most experienced criminal-defense lawyers have told me that they don’t want to know if their client performed the acts or said what was attributed to them.

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