WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:12.880 Paul Culer got Calm, Wilmington, Ohio. November twenty first, nineteen 2 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:20.320 twenty one. T Oliver Vandervort of Burtonville, Furbeyer and well 3 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:23.800 known Clinton County man, is being held in the County 4 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:27.640 jail here charged with having shot and killed his divorced wife, 5 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:33.600 Bertha Whitlow Vandervort, aged thirty, her mother, Missus Susan M. Whitlow, 6 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:38.159 wife of Jeff Whitlow, aged fifty seven, and Howard Bozier, 7 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:42.560 aged twenty four. The shooting occurred at the home of 8 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:46.920 Missus Whitlow near Cuba about midnight Saturday night, According to 9 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:51.640 Sheriff Will Kirk and Deputy Will Smith, who arrested Vandervort 10 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:55.719 brought to the jail here. Vandervort told the story that 11 00:00:55.799 --> 00:00:58.000 he was walking to the home of his brother when 12 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.280 he heard a commotion in the home of his former 13 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:02.840 mother in law, and that he saw a man leap 14 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:06.439 from the door. He entered the house and found his 15 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:10.400 divorced wife and Bosier lying on the floor dead, and 16 00:01:10.519 --> 00:01:14.719 found Missus Whitlow mortally wounded, lying on the kitchen floor. 17 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.519 He and his ten year old son, who was making 18 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:22.359 his home there summoned a physician. He told the officers. 19 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:26.959 Doctor A. P. Basinger of Blanchester responded to the call, 20 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:30.319 arriving on the scene just a few minutes before Sheriff 21 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:34.159 Kirk and Deputy Smith arrived. He called an ambulance and 22 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.799 Missus Whitlow was rushed to the hospital at Blanchester, where 23 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:41.319 she died within a short time. At the hospital, she 24 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:44.159 asked if she would live, and when told that she 25 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:48.680 probably would not, Missus Whitlow expressed her willingness to talk, 26 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.680 telling doctor Basinger that Vandervoort fired the shots. The killing 27 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:55.959 of the three took place on what is known as 28 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:01.040 the Everly Briggs Farm, one mile west of Cuba. Bertha 29 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:05.200 Whitlow Vandervoort was shot once through the heart and Howard 30 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:08.879 Bosier was shot once through the abdomen, and both were 31 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:14.520 evidently killed instantly. Missus Whitlow received the contents of two cartridges, 32 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:19.319 both taking effect just below the waist line. When first question, 33 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:24.280 Vanderwort's ten year old son corroborated his father's story about 34 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:27.520 the killing, saying that he saw a man leap from 35 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.400 the door following the shooting and that he met his 36 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:32.560 father in the road as he was running to a 37 00:02:32.599 --> 00:02:36.000 neighboring farm house for help. But later in the day 38 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.560 the boys alleged to have told the officers that papas shot. 39 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:43.879 The lad also is said to have related to the 40 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:46.879 officers how his father had knocked on the door and 41 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:49.960 when his mother, with a babe in arms, opened the door, 42 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.719 he fired at her, killing her instantly. Bowser was shot. Later, 43 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:57.599 the boys alleged to have said and that it was 44 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:01.039 while he was gone for help that his grand was shocked. 45 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.479 Vandervoort and his wife are said to have been divorced twice, 46 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:08.479 and it is generally known that he resented her paying 47 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:11.960 attention to other men, even though she had been granted 48 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:16.520 a divorce and given custody of their three children. Rosier 49 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:20.000 was well known in Wilmington. He was a day laborer 50 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:23.000 and he had been working at odd jobs on farms. 51 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:26.439 It is known that the Vandervorts, who were divorced and 52 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:30.360 living apart, had been quarreling recently. They had been in 53 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.840 a conference with their attorneys Don and Cartwright for several 54 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:37.199 hours not long ago, and had been unable to settle 55 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:41.719 their difference. A story is told that both missus van 56 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:44.719 Dervoort and Bowsier were seen together for an hour or 57 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:48.520 more Saturday afternoon in the lobby of the post office, 58 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:54.319 engaged in conversation. There is a rumor in circulation today 59 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:56.599 that the shooting of the two women and the man 60 00:03:56.680 --> 00:04:00.639 in the farmhouse may have been prompted by jealousy. In 61 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.680 the event, it has proved that Vandervoort is found guilty 62 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:07.599 of the deed. It is told that taunts from Wallace 63 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:11.919 while riding with Vandervoort brought the bullet from Vandervort's gun, 64 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:15.319 and the same teasing that another man was staying with 65 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:18.680 his former wife is alleged to have stirred the jealous 66 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:22.079 passion of the accused man. As the time of the 67 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:26.839 shooting in Wilmington and the murders near Cuba correspond correctly 68 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:29.839 with the theory that the man went directly from Wilmington 69 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:34.720 to the farm house. It developed yesterday morning that Vandervoort 70 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:39.040 and Rodney Wallace of Starbuck Town had driven through Wilmington 71 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:41.800 in an automobile earlier in the evening, and that they 72 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:47.000 had quarreled. Wallace, in reporting the incident of the officers yesterday, 73 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:51.519 stated that Vandervoort shot him through the shoulder. Both men 74 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:54.680 had been drinking, it is alleged, and it has thought 75 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:57.399 that this may have been the cause of the murder scene, 76 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:00.439 although the officers have been unable to land the two 77 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:04.519 cases together other than by the fact that Vandervoort is 78 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:09.199 alleged to have done the shooting in both instances. The 79 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:12.079 shooting of Rodney Wallace is said to have taken place 80 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:16.199 on South South Street, just south of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 81 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.879 Wallace is not considered to be in a serious condition. 82 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:52.199 True crime Historian presents yesterday's news tales of classic scandals, scoundrels, 83 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:56.360 and scourges told from historic newspapers in the Golden Age 84 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:01.879 of yellow journalism. Episode three sixty three takes place in 85 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:05.839 rural Ohio when a woman, her daughter, and her daughter's 86 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:09.000 suitor are gunned down in front of three young children. 87 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:12.600 The daughter's ex husband and father of the children says 88 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.160 that he arrived at the scene just after the shots 89 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:19.120 were fired, but in her dying breath, his ex mother 90 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:23.480 in law claims he was the culprit. The kids can't 91 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:26.360 get their story straight, so it's up to you to 92 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:30.800 put it all together. I'm true crime historian Richard O. Jones, 93 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:36.240 and for your consternation and indignation, I give you the 94 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:48.000 boy said Papa's shot. The Cuba triple murder Thomas Oliver 95 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.600 van Dervort, held at the County Jail in connection with 96 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:56.079 the triangle murder at Cuba late Saturday night, was arranged 97 00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:01.839 before Squire Stuart, local Magistrate at ten o'clock. This three 98 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:05.759 charges of first degree murder were read to Vandervoort, that 99 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:09.959 of shooting and killing his divorced wife, Missus Bertha Whitlow Vandervoort, 100 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:14.160 her mother, Missus Susan M. Whitlow, wife of Jeff Whitlow, 101 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:18.120 and Howard Bozier, a young man who is alleged was 102 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.160 calling on Missus Vandervoort and who it is asserted, was 103 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:26.439 the cause of much jealousy on the part of Vandervot. 104 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:30.120 A charge of shooting with intent to kill Rodney Wallace 105 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.839 earlier in the evening on South South Street was read 106 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:37.360 to the pale faced man, and he stoutly said not 107 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:42.639 guilty to all four charges. When ushered into the court 108 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:46.240 room a Squire Stuart, a score or more had gathered 109 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:50.360 to hear Vanderwort's plea. There was a hush over the room, 110 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.480 and as the man sank into a chair, he gave 111 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.720 the appearance of a prisoner weary from worry over the 112 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:01.519 case and from the lack of sleep. Van Dervort never 113 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:04.560 was rugged looking by nature, and as he faced the 114 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:08.920 magistrate this morning, deep wrinkles in his face, told a 115 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:13.240 story of sleepless hours in a solitary cell at the 116 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:17.639 County jail. Here. I would give my life this morning 117 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:20.279 if I only knew who did the shooting Saturday night, 118 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:24.560 said Van Dervort to Squire Stuart, as he gave the 119 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:28.040 impression of a willingness to repeat his story, which he 120 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.079 is alleged to have told Sheriff Kirk and Deputy will 121 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:35.240 Smith a number of different times, and each time with 122 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:40.279 a different version. It happens that at this time there 123 00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:43.799 is no prisoner in the County Jail but Vandrvort, and 124 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:46.679 he is lonesome and seeks to talk with Sheriff Kirk 125 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:51.000 at every opportunity. He's told a variety of stories, as 126 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:54.000 many different tales, mister Kirk says, as he has taken 127 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:58.039 opportunities to talk, no one is permitted to enter the 128 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.919 cell or talk with the prisoner. He seems pretty blue, 129 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:06.519 to use the Sheriff's expression, but keeps presenting new angles 130 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:09.080 of the story in an effort to prove his innocence 131 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:12.840 of the charge. The house in which the triple murder 132 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:16.919 was committed stands on the Gumley Farm, formerly owned by 133 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:20.519 every Biggs, and is reached by going west out of 134 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:24.360 Cuba under the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on the Villa's 135 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:27.799 Chapel Clarksville Pike and turning to the left at the 136 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:32.159 first road. This road is about a mile long and 137 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:35.480 connects the Villa's Chapel Pike with the East Fork Road, 138 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:39.039 which follows the Creek from the Cuba Midland Wilmington Pike 139 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.919 at the top of the Roberts Hill to the intersection 140 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:46.519 with the Pansy Pike at the Covered Bridge. The house 141 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:49.240 in which the murders were committed is the second house 142 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:54.720 down the road leading off the Cuba Clarksville Pike. Robert, 143 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.360 the ten year old son of Van Dervoort and his 144 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:01.080 murdered wife, is said to have relayed to the officers 145 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:04.960 yesterday how his father the night of the shooting attempted 146 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.200 to lock the door to keep the lad from getting 147 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:10.759 out of the house. The locke failed to hold and 148 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:13.559 he ran to the home of Raymond Pope. He is 149 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:17.720 alleged to have told the officers. With Pope, he went 150 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.799 to another neighbor's house, where doctor Basinger of Blanchester was called. 151 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:24.919 On the way back to the Witlow house, the boy 152 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:29.159 said they met Vandervoort with the other two boys, Nicholas 153 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:33.759 aged two and John, aged six, and that Vandervoort tried 154 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:36.080 to persuade Robert to go with him to the house 155 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:41.039 of Vandervoort's brother near there. The lad claims that he refused, 156 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:45.440 but returned to the scene of the murder Presently. Vandervoort 157 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.879 brought the other two boys back and waited for the 158 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:53.519 physician to come. The boy asserted, yesterday C. B. Eichelberger 159 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:56.799 of Blanchester called to the home of the Whitlows the 160 00:10:56.919 --> 00:11:00.559 night of the murder, picked up the automatic Colt pistol, 161 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:05.080 and examining it found three loaded cartridges in it. Five 162 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:10.720 Having been discharged and ejected from the chamber, mister Eichelberger said, quote, 163 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:14.320 I handed the gun to Coroner Kensal after I had 164 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.240 shown the coroner one just like it I had with me. 165 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:21.200 The pistol was a thirty two caliber in good condition, 166 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:25.879 it seemed to me. Judge Clevenger of the Common Police 167 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:29.360 Court today issued an order sending the three children of 168 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:32.440 Van der Voort and his murdered wife to the Clinton 169 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:36.480 County Children's Home. They have been into the charge of 170 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:40.559 their grandfather, Jeff Whitlow, of Burtonville, since the night of 171 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:44.720 the murder. Judge Clevenger issued a decree of divorce to 172 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:48.279 Missus Vandervoort about six weeks ago, and at that time 173 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:52.120 placed the children in the custody of their mother. Naturally, 174 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:55.919 when the present circumstances arose, the children were under the 175 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:06.080 jurisdiction of the Common Please Judge January seventeenth, nineteen twenty two. 176 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:10.639 The largest crowd in the history of any court hearing 177 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:14.399 ever held in Clinton County thronged the court room in 178 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:18.320 the lobbies of the courthouse this morning as the trial 179 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:24.240 of Thomas Oliver Vandervoort, charged with murder opened. Vandervort will 180 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:27.639 face the charge of murder of his twice divorced wife, 181 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:32.759 Missus Bertha W. Vandervoort, aged thirty and her mother, Missus 182 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:38.600 Susan Whitlow, aged fifty seven, and Howard Bozier, aged twenty four, 183 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.120 who is alleged to have been calling on Missus Vandervoort. 184 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:45.840 The shooting took place on the night of November nineteenth 185 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:50.000 at the home of Missus Whitlow and Missus Vandervoort, near Cuba, 186 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.519 who was also indicted for shooting with intent to kill 187 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:58.320 Rodney Wallace, a farmer and friend of Vandervoort, with whom 188 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:01.320 it is alleged he got an to an argument earlier 189 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:07.240 the same evening, both of the men being intoxicated when 190 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:11.360 brought to the jail here. Following his arrest, Van Dervort 191 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:14.360 is alleged to have told Sheriff Kirk and Deputy will 192 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:17.840 Smith the story that he was walking to the home 193 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:20.679 of his brother on the night of the shooting when 194 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:23.000 he heard a commotion in the home of his mother 195 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:26.159 in law, Missus Whitlow, and that he saw a man 196 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:30.159 leap from the house. He entered the house, according to 197 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:33.840 his story, where he found his former wife and Boseier 198 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.480 lying on the floor dead, and where he discovered Missus 199 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:42.799 Whitlow on the floor in another room. Mortally wounded. Missus 200 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:47.519 van Dervort. Post mortem examination showed was shot through the 201 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:52.039 heart and killed instantly. Bosier was shot through the abdomen. 202 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.519 Missus Whitlow, who is said to have made a dying 203 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:59.720 statement that Oliver did it, was rushed to a Blanchester 204 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:03.919 high hospital, where she died shortly afterward. The trial this 205 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:08.080 morning was late and getting under way. W. B. Rogers 206 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:11.879 of Smith Rogers and Smith and the former common please 207 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.159 Judge E. J. West are defending Van Dervoort, while Joe T. 208 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:21.559 Doan is Assistant County Prosecutor Gregory in the prosecution. The 209 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:24.320 entire afternoon was taken up in an effort to get 210 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.799 a jury, and it was expected that it would take 211 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:31.000 all day and probably longer, to select twelve persons who 212 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:34.120 have not already formed an opinion of the case, who 213 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:36.759 belonged to some religious sect that will permit them to 214 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:40.960 sit in a murder trial, and who believe in capital punishment. 215 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:45.679 The courtroom was crowded to capacity and people were standing 216 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:48.440 in the hallways in an effort to get a glimpse 217 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:52.919 at the courtroom scene. The crowds began to assemble early 218 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:56.159 this morning, and when the doors to the courtroom were opened, 219 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:59.639 there was a great rush of seats. Although court was 220 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:04.000 for noon today, a majority of the people remained, many 221 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.279 of them having brought their lunches so that they might 222 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:16.679 hold their places. January twenty third, nineteen twenty two, the 223 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:20.440 trial of t Oliver Vandervoort on the indictment charging him 224 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:23.720 with the first degree murder of Missus Susan M. Whitlow, 225 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:28.000 his former mother in law, was reconvened Monday morning at 226 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:32.240 nine o'clock before Common Please Judge Frank M. Clevenger and 227 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:36.679 the jury, the impaneling of which was concluded Friday, after 228 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:38.720 which the members of the jury were taken to the 229 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:43.759 murder scene. The State has elected to try Vandervoort on 230 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:47.679 the indictment charging murder of Missus Whitlow because of the 231 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:52.039 direct testimony it may introduce, rather than on either of 232 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:56.399 the indictments charging murder of his former wife, Bertha W. 233 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:02.600 Vandervoort and Howard Bozier. Judge Clevenger ordered the exclusion from 234 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:05.960 the court room of all witnesses already subpoened by the 235 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:10.799 state or defense. Jeff Whitlow, husband of the murdered woman, 236 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:15.399 was allowed to remain. The court room was crowded when 237 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:18.720 the trial was commenced, and it is evident that at 238 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:21.840 no time during the trial, which is expected to be 239 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.200 long and drawn out, will there be seating room for 240 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:31.120 any save the early arrivals. Joe T. Doane, former prosecuting 241 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:35.200 attorney and engaged to assist Prosecutor Gregory in the case, 242 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:39.600 made the opening statement for the state, quote, the state 243 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:42.120 will endeavor to prove all that I call to your 244 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:45.919 attention to in the review of the case. A Clinton 245 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:50.399 County home has been transformed into a slaughter house, and you, 246 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:54.200 the jury, are to decide from the testimony if Thomas 247 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:59.039 Oliver Vandervoort is the one guilty of the crime unquote. 248 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:03.919 He then read the indictment in full, charging that Missus 249 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.880 Whitlow had been shot twice in the breast and in 250 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:10.599 the stomach. He stated that ever since Bertha and Oliver 251 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:14.599 Vandervort were married, they had frequent trouble, and that there 252 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:18.519 had been much discord that Oliver drank to excess, and 253 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:22.839 that in January nineteen seventeen the wife secured a divorce. 254 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:27.200 They were remarried during the war, and Oliver was exempted 255 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:30.880 from service in the Army. On this account, the suit 256 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:35.240 for alimony was filed in January last year, agreement being 257 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:39.319 reached and the suit dismissed. That Another suit was filed 258 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:43.160 in September, and a divorce granted in October to Missus Vandervoort, 259 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:48.200 the grounds being extreme cruelty and gross neglect of duty. 260 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:52.599 From that time on, Oliver showed his dissatisfaction with matters 261 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:55.279 that he tried to find her and her mother at 262 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.640 the home of Jeff Whitlow in Burtonville two months before 263 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:02.960 the shooting. That Oliver exclaimed at that time, by God, 264 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:07.480 this will end in bloodshed. Yet on November nineteenth, nineteen 265 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:11.519 twenty one, the attorney stated Oliver was in Wilmington in 266 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.519 company of a friend, Rodney Wallace, and both drank liquor, 267 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:19.880 both being under the influence to some extent. Vandervort went 268 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:22.519 to the home of his brother in law, Will Cooper 269 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:27.119 and changed his clothes. Coming back to Wilmington, he joined 270 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:29.880 Wallace and they had an argument at the corner of 271 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.400 South and Truesdale Streets, Wallace being shot by the defendant, 272 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:39.680 but the wound did not prove serious. Vandervort then came 273 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:43.400 up town, the attorney declared, got in his automobile and 274 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:48.359 went out to Martinsville Road, abandoning his car, walking to 275 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:53.559 Morrisville about seven forty five, stopping at Botz's store for tobacco, 276 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.319 telling the clerk he was in trouble again and said 277 00:18:57.319 --> 00:19:01.799 his machine was out of gasoline. He arranged with bots 278 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:04.759 to come the next morning and pull the car out, 279 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:08.759 and Van Dervort was to go over to Frank Hares 280 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:12.000 to stay all night if he were up. If he 281 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.119 was not, he was to go to his mother's. The 282 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:18.440 attorney went on to claim that Vandervort started in another 283 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.720 direction of Cuba, stopped at Oscar Brown and inquired for 284 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:26.359 a party, not being there, went to Ray Brown's and 285 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:29.200 asked for a party and didn't find him. Went to 286 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:33.079 Cuba and on to where the road turns in Gumy neighborhood, 287 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:36.400 then winds around to the scene of the shooting. Mister 288 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.880 Done stated that the state will show by evidence that 289 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:43.599 Vandervoort had been that way frequently in violation of a 290 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:47.160 court order which joined him from interfering with his former 291 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:51.720 wife and their three children Vandervort. Mister Done went on 292 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:56.319 approached the front door and knocked Missus Van Dervolt asked, 293 00:19:56.480 --> 00:20:00.359 who's there? It's me. You know who it is? Was 294 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:04.920 the reply. Are you drunk? She asked. If you don't 295 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:07.880 open the door, I'll break it in was his response. 296 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:13.160 The door was then opened. The wife had little Nicholas, 297 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:18.000 aged three, in her arms. Howard Bosier was in the room, 298 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:21.960 Missus Whitlow was upstairs putting the other children to bed. 299 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:26.759 The prosecution then charged that Vandervort at once shot his 300 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:33.359 former wife using an automatic revolver. She fell dead. Missus Whitlow, 301 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:39.279 hearing the report, rushed downstairs. Then Bosier was shot, and 302 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:43.720 then Vandervoort stomped his wife in the face and likewise Bosier, 303 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:48.880 leaving heel prints on their faces. Then Missus Whitlow was shot. 304 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:54.480 She fell, arose and was shot again, either wound being 305 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:59.720 sufficient to cause death. The attorney claimed that Missus Whitlow 306 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:02.920 was grabbed by her hair, dragged over the floor of 307 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:06.920 the kitchen, and was then hurled near the door. The 308 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:10.160 children were screaming and the little boy Rodney, wanted to 309 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.880 go for help, but the father told him that if 310 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:16.079 anyone asked about the shooting to say that his father 311 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:19.920 wasn't there. The boy evaded the father and picked up 312 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:23.799 another gun off the floor. The lad went for help, and, 313 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:28.319 being frightened, fired into the ground. Yelling for help. He 314 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:31.119 went back and met his father and the other two children. 315 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:35.640 On the way to his brother's Ira Vandrvoort, they met 316 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:38.279 Pope and Rodney said, Papa, I wish you had been 317 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:42.200 there when it happened. Oliver made no explanation to Pope. 318 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:45.640 On the way back to the house, other neighbors came in. 319 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:50.319 Missus Whitlow was found on the floor, still alive and conscious. 320 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:55.160 Doctor Basinger of Blanchester arrived first of the physicians called 321 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:58.119 and talked to her. When she found she was about 322 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:03.079 to die, she told the star of the shooting. Little Nicholas, 323 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:06.880 sitting on his father's knee, said, oh, father, you shot mother, 324 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:11.920 grandmother and that other man. Vandervoort replied, oh no. The 325 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:15.240 child then kissed his father, who wept, but offered no 326 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:20.839 explanation and offered no help and showed no grief. Bodies 327 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:24.200 of Missus van Dervort and Bosier were taken to Blanchester. 328 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:29.400 Missus Whitlow was taking an ambulance to Blanchester hospital and 329 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:33.599 again said that Vandervoort did the shooting. She lived fifteen 330 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:37.400 minutes after arriving at the hospital and five minutes before 331 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:42.160 she expired. She said, so help me, God, Oliver Vandervoort 332 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.279 did this shooting. 333 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:59.839 To avoid future commercial interruptions, visit us at www dot 334 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:05.000 com patreon dot com slash true Crime Historian. For as 335 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.599 little as a dollar a week, you can enjoy full 336 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:13.000 access to the true crime historian Dusty Vault, exclusive episodes, 337 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:19.000 and whatever personal services you require. That's www dot patreon 338 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:22.240 dot com slash true Crime Historian. 339 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:32.799 Attorney W. B. Rogers, whose ability as a criminal lawyer 340 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:37.079 is statewide and the opening argument for the defense, expressed 341 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:42.880 himself as profoundly impressed with the seriousness of the present situation. Quote. 342 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:46.119 Ever since the tragedy, the defendant has been confined in 343 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:49.279 a cell and his opportunity to develop his defense has 344 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:53.640 been handicapped. I want to impress you, the jury, with 345 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:58.279 the importance of your position. This indictment has but one count, 346 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:01.839 murder and the first degree, but the court will tell 347 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:04.759 you that other crimes are also involved in the indictment. 348 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:11.440 First degree murder must be premeditated deliberated and malicious. He 349 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:16.000 explained second degree murder, manslaughter and assault and battery. The 350 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:20.279 state must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt quote 351 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:23.039 the defense is ready to lay its cards on the table. 352 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:27.680 Face up. Our story dovetales in many incidents with the 353 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:32.720 story of the state. Oliver Vandervoort was one of nine children, 354 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:37.039 son of n. R. And Alice Vandervoort, a well known family. 355 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:40.079 He was the fifth child and a resident of this 356 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:44.599 county all his life. In his youth he contracted the 357 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:48.599 liquor habit, and due to this he associated with persons 358 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:52.279 of the lower strata and absorbed their manner of living. 359 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:57.480 He thus met Bertha Whitlow, a grass widow, and married her. 360 00:24:57.960 --> 00:25:00.960 His life was a sea of turmoil woe from that 361 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:05.759 hour on. His wife did sue for divorce, but we 362 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:08.599 can show that the suit was not contested and was 363 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:12.359 by agreement. They were remarried, but it was a case 364 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:16.279 of too much mother in law, Missus Whitlow, was separated 365 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:18.759 from Jeff Whitlow, so she came to live in the 366 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:23.599 home and caused much discord. A second suit for divorce 367 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:28.000 was instituted, but withdrawn and by mutual consent, a divorce 368 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:31.279 was granted. Testimony will show that on the day of 369 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:35.119 the tragedy, Vandervoort bought furs on the corner of South 370 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:38.559 and Sugar Tree Streets. The day before, he had been 371 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:41.079 to his wife's home and arranged that she and the 372 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:44.160 children go to live at the home of Jeff Whitlow 373 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:49.759 in Burtonville. About three o'clock Saturday afternoon, his attention was 374 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:52.519 called to the fact that his wife's horse and buggy 375 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:56.599 was in town. She saw Bozier in the post office. 376 00:25:57.240 --> 00:26:02.119 Bozier was a married man with a family. Vandervoort met 377 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:05.799 his former wife near the Hadley Grocery, went with her 378 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:08.920 into the store and gave her five dollar bill for groceries, 379 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:12.119 she buying three dollars worth and giving him the two 380 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:16.680 dollars change. Vandervort then met Wallace and they agreed to 381 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:20.079 buy some liquor and the prisoner furnishing the most of 382 00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:23.920 the money. The liquor was obtained and they drank some 383 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:28.599 and divided the rest at the Pennsylvania Railroad toilet. The 384 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:34.240 testimony will probably divulge where the liquor was obtained. Vandervoort 385 00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:37.160 then sold furs for one hundred and twenty one dollars, 386 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:40.559 getting a check for eighty the other forty one having 387 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:45.359 been advanced. Wallace kept hanging around and possibly other drinks 388 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:49.640 were taken. Vandrvoort only had one or two drinks until 389 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:55.039 he was crazy drunk, the liquor being ranked poison. His 390 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:59.160 concluding remarks were that the defense denies absolutely that this 391 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:02.519 defendant had anything whatsoever to do with the killing, and 392 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:06.079 hopes that the testimony may develop who the real murderer 393 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:10.240 may be. All witnesses present were sworn and the court 394 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:13.920 adjourned until one o'clock, when the taking of testimony would 395 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:18.119 be begun. Judge Clevenger cautioned the jurors to talk to 396 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:22.960 no one concerning the case. Great interests centered in the 397 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:26.400 Monday afternoon session in the determined effort to get the 398 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:30.559 statements made by the Vandrvoort children ruled out as incompetent. 399 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:35.160 When doctor Basinger, the first witness, was called, he started 400 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:37.680 to tell what the child Nicholas said, when he was 401 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:42.480