Paul Christian Sentenced to Life

Article taken from The Lima News, April 17, 1932


Portsmouth, O., March 1.--(AP)-- Police announced Paul Christian, 29, confessed that he and Cassil Patton, 25, committed a series of holdups here,  Both are charged with the slaying of City Detective John Barnes, who was shot when he chased Christian after a holdup attempt.  Authorities said Christian admitted the shooting.

Portsmouth, O., April 16--(AP)--Paul Christian was sentenced late today to a life term in Ohio penitentiary for his part in the slaying of a Portsmouth detective. The wife of the convicted murderer collapsed as Judge Russell K. McCurdy passed sentence. Christian did not flinch, but enroute to the county jail later he told his wife, "why did you get all nervous? Why I just missed the electric chair by about a fraction of an inch."

The jury of 12 men, including six farmers, was out 22 hours and 11 minutes before returning a verdict. The 29 year old man today was convicted of the first degree murder of Detective John Barnes the night of Feb. 7 when the officers attempted to arrest him after an attempted hold up. The jury recommended mercy, making a life term mandatory. Christian went on trial last Tuesday. More than a day was required to select a jury. Spectators at the trial included the dead officer's widow and four small children and the defendant's wife. The case was given to the jury yesterday, with the state demanding the death penalty. Cassill Patton, 25, under inditement in the killing, will be tried later.