The story about to be told was taken from the following eyewitness accountsthat Coroner E.R. Sturgis of the Sturgis Funeral Home was put in charge of the inquest to determine the validity of death regarding Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd immediately after Floyd's death at Ellen Conkle's farm. These statements not only included local residents and lawmen from Wellsville, Clarkson, Youngstown, Ohio and the immediate area but also a Federal Statement from Special Agent in Charge Melvin Purvis.
There have been many inaccuracies in stories written about the shoot out at Wellsville and the shooting of Floyd on Sprucevale Road. In addition we have been led to believe there is a conspiracy surrounding the ending of Floyd's life. Some of these inaccuracies propagate a myth that lives on in these books.
In May of 2009 I discovered FBI files that contain actual statements of all of the local law enforcement that were involved along with local citizens and Special Agent Melvin Purvis. According to what I have found there is no doubt that what occured both in Wellsville and just outside of Clarkson, Oh, on Sprucevale Rd was a lot more straight forward than these many stories have led us to believe. There is no conjecture in what I have written here just facts from the eyewitness accounts and the statements of those involved as I can convey the events from those statements. There are links to each individuals statements so that you may verify the accounting.
Knowing that the noose was tighting Adam and Charles had decided to return home one last time. By this time they had realilzed that John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde and others had been killed and their time was running out. Adam and Charles along with Rose and Beulah headed south. One of their first stops had been Moundsville, West Virgina. While there Adam had bought a pit bull for his brother in law Henry Sustik which he intended to deliver soon. They left Moundsville and headed to the Dillonvale, Tiltsonville area staying just outside of Dillonvale, Oh. Charles or known as Arthur to Adam's family and Beulah had stayed behind as he was not welcomed by Adam's family. Adam and Rose went visiting Adam's relatives in the area to say what was soon to be his next to last goodbyes. Just prior to their departure Charles and Adam had decided to rob the Tiltonsville bank and leave their mark on this small town and leave ever lasting impression on Adam's family. Heading north they stopped in Steubenville, Oh at a small diner and had dinner. With Adam driving and Charles in the back seat with the two women they then headed north. All had been drinking heavily and along the way Adam fell asleep at the wheel and ran off the road damaging the car. Sending Rose and Beulah into Wellsville to have their car repaired, Adam and Charles elected to stay outside of town on a hillside at a place called the Silver Switch Glenn. There they settled in for the wait.
On Saturday October the 20th while Adam and Floyd awaited the return of Rose and Beulah, Joe Fryman a local resident who lived on Kountz Ave just between East Liverpool and Wellsville just next to Silver Switch had decided to take a walk down to the Switch. He was standing there talking to his son-in-law Dave around 10am that morning. Joe asked Dave if he would haul a load of coal for him. While the two men were having a discussion Joe happened to look up the hill just above them and saw someone dressed in white that looked like a woman. He remarked to his son-in-law that she looked like a good looking woman. Then about a minute or two later he saw a man (Floyd) come down from the top of the hill where the Israel's lived. He saw him sit down near another man (Adam) who appeared to have been laying down. Joe then told his son-in-law that he was going to investigate and told him it's a good excuse to go looking for pears.
As both Joe and Dave walked right up to them, they ended up just opposite of where they were laying. But they were still in a position that they couldn't make out who they were. So they proceeded on going up and around a little more and came right down to where the pear tree was. As Joe walked up a little more he got as close to them as about 10' and spoke to both of them. Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd was sitting there and Adam was laying on a blanket. They both spoke to him and Floyd had said that they were taking pictures. Floyd then told them we had a couple of girls and got lost, and that they are waiting for them to come back. Joe then became suspicious of what they were taking pictures of because of the blankets and overcoats and cushions and other items laying around.
Joe Fryman and his son-in-law Dave then started off to look for more pears. Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd then asked them if they had lived right down the hill there; there's a house just a short way below. Joe told him no that he lived up the road. Joe and Dave then left the area and started down the hill. Floyd then hollered down to the men and asked that if we see a couple of girls down there on the road to tell them to come on up, that we are waiting on them. Joe Fryman then walked to Lon Israel's place and let him know what was going on near his home and he relayed his story to him.
Lon said that it looked kind of fishy to him and said why would they be wanting to take pictures with all that junk. Joe told him that it did look suspicious, and asked Lon to call the police. Lon Israel walked to Frail's Store on route 7 at Kountz Ave and at approximately 11:30am called Chief Fultz and informed him of what was going on. Chief Fultz said he'd be up in a little bit. Chief Fultz yelled out to the two men in his office who were civilians not lawmen, "Come on boys and go with me". Lon Israel returned and let Joe Fryman know that he had called and the Chief, was on his way. Joe waited about 5 minutes and thought he would go down to Silver Switch and wait for the Chief there on the road. He had intended to show the Sheriff where the men (Floyd and Adam) were but had missed him.
Lon Israel then started down his driveway and met Chief Fultz, Grover Potts, and William Irwin near the main road in front of his house. Chief Fultz inquired of Lon if he knew where these men (Adam and Floyd) were. Lon didn't know exactly but said he knew just about where. All started down the path and had walked about 25' when Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd appeared from behind a bush and came right toward us. Floyd immediately demanded: "What do you want?" and jerked his gun out and said "Stick them up". Sheriff Fultz refused to put his hands up and replied "I won't put them up", and said "I am going down to the brickyard to work and I don't see why I should put my hands up". Floyd sharply replied: "Don't come another inch fellow or I will pump you". At which time Sheriff Fultz replied: "You wouldn't shoot a working man", at which time Sheriff Fultz kept on walking towards him. Floyd began looking over Sheriff Fultz's shoulder when Sheriff Fultz made the decision while Floyd may have been distracted to make a move to get his gun out. Floyd immediately saw what was going on and hollered at the Sheriff "Keep your hands away". Floyd tried once again and told the Sheriff to "Stick up your hands" to which the Sheriff replied, "I won't do it". Sheriff Fultz walked right up to Floyd and actually walked directly into Floyd's gun, Floyd held the gun against the Sheriff's stomach. The Sheriff then walked on past him and Floyd side stepped over to the right out of the Sheriff's path keeping his gun on him the whole time and let the 4 men walk right on past him while saying "Now, don't run or I will shoot you". Sheriff Fultz replied "There's nobody going to run" and as the Sheriff turned at the same time he went after his gun once again. Floyd barked "Keep your hands there and don't run". Sheriff Fultz then tried to increase the distance between him and the group thinking that would give him an equal chance at a shoot out with Floyd but every time the Sheriff would try Floyd recognized what was going on and hollered "Slow up, don't go to fast. "If you run I will shoot you". "Nobody's going to run, nobody's done anything to run for" came the Sheriff's reply. Floyd barked "Walk on down". They walked down in single file with Sheriff Fultz in the lead, followed by Deputy Grover Potts, Lon Israel, and then William Irwin in the rear.
As the group approached Adam, Sheriff Fultz called out to him, "Hello buddy, how are you, you seem to be taking it pretty easy". Adam replied "Yes", and smiled at the Sheriff. Floyd then hollered to Adam, "Don't let him kid you, shoot him, It's an officer, get him, shoot him". Sheriff Fultz turned toward Floyd and said "You big yellow son of a bitch", and started firing at him.. Adam had rolled over on his blanket and with his automatic in his right hand exchanging fire with Sheriff Fultz. Floyd jumped behind the 3 civilians as a shield during the shootout. Sheriff Fultz then turned his sights on Adam firing 3 shots at him turning once again and firing at Floyd. At this point in time Lon Israel, Grover Potts and William Irwin ran to Lon's house to aquire a couple of shotguns and shells leaving Sheriff Fultz alone. Adam had turned over on the blanket and pulled out a second gun. Both Adam and Floyd continued to fire at the Sheriff. Adam went rolling and running down over the hill while Chief Fultz tried to reload his gun only managing to get 2 rounds loaded. Chief Fultz began to run after Adam. They both had run through the bushes and ran for about 100 feet jumping over a fence then down into a house. Just as Adam went to go for the door Sheriff Fultz shot at him again. The bullet hit about 2 feet from him about shoulder height. Adam then threw up his hands and said "I give up" and then started running towards Sheriff Fultz hollering, "For God's sake don't shoot me, don't kill me, I am done" Sheriff Fultz held his gun on Adam having him walk backward to him just close enough so that he could frisk him. At that moment in time Sheriff Fultz nor the other men knew who these men where.
During the time that Sheriff Fultz began chasing Adam, Floyd had ran over to the blanket and picked up the Thompson machine gun. Floyd then took off running up along the edge of the briars and grass and bushes until he hit the road right past Lon Israel's house. At that time Grover Potts and William Irwin had seen Floyd coming. Floyd was about 100 feet away coming over the hill when both fired at Floyd thru the brushes and trees with their double barrel 12ga shotguns. Both at the time unaware that Floyd had been hit in the small of the back with a few pellets of shot. (confirmed in autopsy report) Once the two men fired one barrel each at Floyd, Floyd turned and fired the Thompson at the 2 men wounding Grover Potts in the shoulder. Floyd continued to run on over the hill beyond the house and out of sight leaving the Thompson sub machine gun 3 houses up over the bank from the brick yard in the bushes as it was too heavy to carry any further. This would be the 2nd to the last time Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd would escape running. He would remain on the run for 2 more days during a massive man hunt.
From his vantage point at Silver Switch, Joe Fryman who had missed meeting Sheriff Fultz witnessed the entire event and verified the story in his statement to the Corner E.R. Sturgis during his inquiry. Although he was out of hearing range he had witnessed the entire event that morning from a safe distance.
Sheriff Fultz handcuffed Adam and took him to the city jail at Wellsville on that Saturday, Oct 20, 1934. He had told them that his name was Eddy Zamboni, which Zamboni was his mother's maiden name, not wanting them to know who he was, and to get the attention of his family should they hear the name. When asked by Sheriff Fultz about the man he was with, Adam told him that the man's name was Joe Warren from Toledo, Ohio. According to a statement by Sheriff Fultz he had recognized Floyd's picture from a book published by the William.J. Burns International Detective Agency within 2 hours that day after arresting Adam. During that day Adam Richetti was interrogated by the local law officers without divulging any information. Sheriff Fultz placed extra armed guards around the jail house fearing the worst.
Adam and Sheriff John Fultz Silver Switch shootout and capture site.
Wellsville Jail
Floyd's machine gun found by William Erin (R)
Forestock was broken when found
Serial #'s had been obliterated.
By Sunday October 21st around 12 noon Sheriff Ray B. Long of Steubenville who was also familiar with the Sustik's and Richetti's was at the Wellsville Jail when Chief Fultz was interviewing Adam. Sheriff Long recognized Adam from pictures and descriptions that had been provided him by Agent Chapman Fletcher of the Cincinnati Division nearly a year ago. Sheriff Long called Richetti by his correct name and Adam then admitted his identity. As time went on that finger print files were found verifying Sheriff Long's suspicions. When Adam acknowledge the truth about who he was it triggered one of the most massive manhunts ever in the area. Sheriff Ray B. Long then made a long distance phone call to acting Special Agent in Charge H.D. Harris at the Cincinnati Office. Special Agent in Charge Melvin Purvis along with Special Agents T.J. Connor, H.E. Hollis and S.K. McKee were instructed by J.Edgar Hoover to proceed to Wellsville, Ohio immediately. Sheriff Ray B. Long met the agents at the Liverpool airport and drove them to Wellsville. Other law enforcement personnel from all over the county were put on alert in the area to aid in the search for Charles Floyd.
Late that evening Melvin Purvis met with Sheriff Fultz in Wellsville and requested a private interview with Adam which Sheriff Fultz granted. Purvis designated Special Agents S.K. McKee and H.E. Hollis to interview Adam. Adam was interviewed in his cell at the City Jail. Adam was asked if hew would voluntarily accompany Agents to some other point to be selected by Adam.
Adam requested several times to be advised as to what information the Government expected him to furnish. Adam stated that he knew of no crime he had committed in which the Government would be interested in unless it was the kidnapping of Sheriff Killingsworth at Bolivar. Missouri. Adam went on to tell agents that he had seperated from Floyd shortly after the kidnaping and had not seem him since that time. Adam denied that the individual he was with at the time Sheriff Fultz captured him was Floyd.
It was then that Melvin Purvis informed City officials of Adam's connection to the Union Station and the government's desire to take him into custody. At that time local officials balked at the request as unreasonable and thought the government was asking too much as they felt the local authorities had an "open and shut case"
Melvin Purvis on instruction from J.Edgar Hoover set up temporary headquarters at the Travelrs Hotel, East Liverpool, Ohio for the purposes of securing custody of Adam and apprension of Floyd.
Around midnight Agents again interviewed Adam. They questioned him again as to the identity of the individual he was with. Adam repeated his previous statement regarding Joe Warren and that they had arrived in the vicinity of Wellsville, Ohio the day prior to his arrest. Adam then told them that they had arrived there from Medina, Ohio in a truck while hitchhicking. Adam maintained that he had not seen Floyd in over a year.
Agents continued to question Adam regarding his partner. They had asked him about the weapons his partner had. Adam told them there was one .45 caliber automatic and one machine gun. Adam then furhter stated that he had seen the machine gun recovered by Chief Fultz and that he believed this was the same gun he and his partner had.
Adam was then questioned about the kidnapping in Bolivar and told agent that he had bee "cock-eyed drunk" at that time and didn't remember much of anything that had taken place. The agents then gave up.
On Monday, October 22, 1934, at 6 am, 2 squads in two car loads of department of justice agents, under the direction of Special Agent William Larson were dispatched to Dillonvale, Ohio. The agents were accompanied by Patrolmen George Helt and Edward McElfresh rushed into the Dillonvale area and immediately conducted an investigation at the homes of Minnie and Henry Sustik, Dave Richetti and William Dematte who was being visited by his son ralph Dematte, and other Richetti relatives living in the Dillonvale area, looking for Floyd.
They proceeded to investigate the area for approximately 5 hours as to the whereabouts of Charles Floyd and questioned them at length concerning their knowledge of their brother and his friends. The Agents went to the barn on the Sustik's farm going through the hay with pitch forks. Agents being concerned for their safety had family members lead the way into the barn, using them as a human shields. There were no arrests made of the Richitti's, Sustik's, or De Matte's in connection with their involvement with Adam and Floyd, however it was well known that it could happen. Upon learning of their brothers capture in Wellsville and after they had been searched, Minnie, Dave and Bill De Matte raced to Wellsville to see their youngest brother.
Later that same day a bank teller was taken to Wellsville and to East Liverpool from the Tiltonsville robbery and identified Floyd as one of the hold up men, however she could not identify Adam as his face was badly swollen because of beatings he had endured by law enforcement officials. Harry J. Merkel another cashier at the Peoples' Bank at Tiltonsville and Miss Victoria Dragosin, one of the bank's clerks identified a picture of Charles Floyd along with Adam Richetti as his companion.
Also by that evening Adam's brothers and sisters, William & Francis (Sustik) De Matte, Dave Richetti and Minnie Sustik were waiting outside the jail in hopes of seeing their brother again. When allowed to see Adam they were surrounded by reporters. Minnie cried and pleaded with Adam for his black on white cameo ring. He initially refused saying the ring belonged to someone else, but had quietly slipped the ring off of his finger and secretly given it to Minnie fearing it would be lost. Later Joe Richetti was to give Minnie the picture of Adam displayed on the first web page. William, Dave and Minnie began to gather money and plans to secure what legal help they could for Adam.
There had been large crowds that had gathered at the Wellsville police station. It was like a circus sideshow when thousands came to see Adam. Hundreds were permitted to go down the narrow staircase to the basement of the Wellsville city hall and view Adam in his cell. Outside, hundreds more waited their turn. That evening Sheriff Fultz had heard a rumor that either family or gang members would attempt to try a jail break. He had put on additional guards once again. It was reported that an automobile had driven through town with the barrels of guns pointed out of the windows.
On Oct. 23, 1934, at 5:50 pm before Mayor W.H. Daugherty and under heavy guard, Adam Richetti was arraigned in Wellsville and pleaded guilty to the charge of carrying a concealed weapon, and was fined seventy-five dollars, he pleaded not guilty to shooting Fultz with the intent to kill. Bond was set at fifty thousand dollars.
Mayor Daugherty had asked his first question "What is your name? Adam Richetti was his reply. Adam are you ready for a hearing? Adam
responded, "Well yes". The Mayor then asked him "Adam, do you know your constitutional rights?. "No Sir" was Adam's reply. Mayor
Daugherty then explained to him. "Your rights are that you are allowed, you can have the privilege of counsel and a fair hearing. Adam
apparently did not fully understand and asked, "Would you mind giving an explanation?".
Mr Lafferty, prosecutor reiterated: " Mr Richetti, you have a right, if you so desire, to have counsel represent you before we proceed any further. You are
about to be arraigned on two charges that have been filed here, and I want you to fully understand that you can have an attorney here before
you are arraigned if you so desire. Now, do you want to employ counsel or do you want to proceed with the arraingment now? You fully
understand what I mean when I say that, do you not?" "Yes" was Adam's reply.
Chief Fultz then questioned: "Do you mean by saying that, that you want counsel or that you are ready to go ahead and plead to the charges
that may be filed against you?" Adam then asked "What are the charges?" Chief Fultz responsed "First, he wants to know if you are ready?"
Mayor Daugherty then responded to Adam's question: "The one is in brief... however, I will read you the full charge later. To give you
information, the one is carrying concealed weapons and the other is shooting with the intent to kill.
Mr Lafferty then reiterated once again: "I want to repeat again. Do you understand what I said, you have a right to counsel'. Adam then asked "Will the
arraignment be tonight?" to which Mr Lafferty said "the arraignment is now but you can have counsel before we go any further with the
arraignment". Adam replied "I think I will have counsel". Mr Lafferty then asked "When can you get counsel?" to which Adam replied "I
can get it tonight".
Chief Fultz in another attempt to explain to Adam then said: "This boy wants to plead now to some charge. What they are after is do you
want a lawyer here to look after your interests or do you want to go ahead here and plead guilty or not guilty to the charges the Mayor has
here. Do you want a lawyer or do you not. Adam apparently confused as to what was going on gave his reply. "I guess I will just plead guilty."
Mayor Daugherty quickly replied: "We are not ready for that."
Mr Lafferty once again asked: "Do you want to proceed now without having an attorney?" Adam's reply was a resounding "Yes"
Mayor Daugherty then began the proceedings: "The one, Adam Richetti, then and there did unlawfully, wilfully and knowingly carry a certain
automatic revolver, to-wit a 45 calibre Colt Automatic Revolver concealed on and about his said person. How do you plead to that"? Adam's response was: "Guilty".
Mayor Daugherty then read the second charge. "One Adam Richetti then and there having a certain pistol then and there loaded with gun powder
and one lead ball, which said pistol by the said Adam Richetti, one J.H. Fultz did unlawfully,maliciously shoot at with intent then and there
and by him the said J.H. Fultz to kill. Do you plead guilty or not guilty?" Adam's response to this charge was "Not Guilty."
Mayor Daugherty then responded: "On the first charge I am assessing a fine of $75.00 and costs of the prosecution for carrying concealed weapons."
Mr Lafferty objected saying: "We have no jurisdiction in that"
Chief Fultz interjected: "We have an Ordinance to cover that."
Mr. Lafferty then stated: "If that is under a city ordinance that is all right. "Otherwise it is a felony and must be bound over to the
Grand Jury."
Chief Fultz then said: "Then you might ask the prisoner if he waives a jury trial and wants to be tried to you."
Adam responded: "I will just waive it."
Chief Fultz then questioned Adam: "You waive a jury trial and want to be tried by Mayor Daugherty for carrying concealed weapons?" "This is
just a waiver of your rights to a jury trial."
Mayor Daugherty then read to Adam: It reads, "Before Mayor W.H. Daugherty, the Mayor of the City of Wellsville. The State of Ohio against
Adam Richetti. Charge of carrying concealed weapons. On examination of the complaint made on behalf of the State against me on the charge of
carrying concealed weapons, I hereby waive a jury and consent to be tried to the Mayor. Dated this 23rd day of October, 1934.
Mr Lafferty then asked Adam: "Mr. Richetti, do you desire to have a preliminary hearing here before the Mayor on the shooting with intent to
kill case, or do you desire to waive that preliminary hearing here and consent now to be turned over to the Grand Jury? In this kind of case
the Mayor does not have final jurisdiction. In any event, if he should find that there is a reasonable grounds to think that the offense was
committed by you, his power then is to bind you over to the Grand Jury, even if you would have a hearing. You can demand that hearing and
the officers here will give you a hearing, or you can waive that hearing and be bound over to the Grand Jury. Whichever you want to do. Adam then inquired: "It goes to the Grand Jury either way, doesn't it?" Mr Lafferty then replied: "That depends on the outcome of the hearing." Adam questioned: "I don't think I hardly understand that."
Chief Fultz then jumped in to seemingly clarify for Adam: "If you don't waive a hearing now, the Mayor will have to set a certain hour for
you to be here and will bring the officers to prove that you were shooting at me up there. Either way you want to do. Just as broad as it
is long. You can waive a hearing and ask the Mayor to bind you over to the Grand Jury or you can be stood up and be sworn as to what
happened. You know what happened up there now unless you want us put under oath, I can tell them what happened. The Mayor can stand you up
and swear you. What do you want to do?". "Might as well wait" Adam responded.
Mr Lafferty then asked Adam: "Do you understand now what is meant by hearing and being bound over?" "I think so" Adam responded. Mr Lafferty then asked: "Now, with that understanding, do you waive a hearing and consent to be bound over?" "Yes was Adam's response.
Mayor Daugherty then stated for all: "You are bound over to await the action of the next Grand Jury for this particular offense of which I
have read you the charge, and there will be bond in the amount of $50,000 for your appearance there.
Chief Fultz then interjected: "I might say to this young man; when you go into the Court the Judge of the Common Pleas court has the right
to reduce your bond if he desires, or to increase it. I think I am right on that?"
Mr Lafferty replied: "that is correct."
On Wednesday, October 24, Adam in heavy shackles and armed guards was taken from Wellsville to the Columbiana County jail at Lisbon in a six car procession led by Chief Fultz. Hundreds of farmers and spectators stood outside their homes to see the caravan pass. Officers detoured by the Lisbon schoolhouse, which was next to the county jail and let the students have a good look at Adam, a living example that crime does not pay. Adam was paraded outside of his cell twice that day for the curious.
By Oct. 26, 1934 extradition proceedings to Missouri were beginning against Adam, on charges of murder against a Missouri State Trooper, and a local Sheriff in Columbia, Mo. Around this time the Richetti's, and De Matte's had hired two lawyers out of Steubenville, Ohio to aid Adam. Those lawyer's were John F. Nolan and Hugo F. Chestosky who immediately had the extradition postponed on Oct. 30, 1934. Although the extradition was delayed, Adam gave a deposition on Nov. 1, 1934.
Almost immediately upon the capture of Adam Richetti, and the death of Charles Floyd there were a course of events that were to be set in motion that would affect many law enforcement, government, and state agencies, that would impact anyone remotely connected with the Kansas City Massacre. First and foremost was theindictment and conviction of four individuals, Richard Galatas, Herbert Farmer, "Doc" Louis Stacci, and Frank Mulloy. They received 2 year sentences for their part in the Kansas City Massacre. Adam had also been indicted by that same Federal Grand Jury, however they held those indictments back and he was not tried in the hopes that the State of Missouri could convict him on murder charges
Still being held in Lisbon, Ohio, on a $50,000 bond, Adam was under heavy guard day and night at the jail, fearing an underworld attempt to free him, or possibly silence him. Sheriff Frank Ballantine refused to surrender Adam to federal authorities until assurance was given he would be returned to Ohio, in the event of an acquittal in Missouri. Then Ohio Gov. George White, on Nov. 3, 1934 OK'd Adam to be sent to Kansas City, Mo. on a warrant that was issued to Maj. L. M. Means and Capt. T.L. Leigh of the Missouri State Police. This was the first open move by the Federal Government to obtain custody of Adam. A writ of habeas corpus and testificandum issued at Kansas City provided that Adam be brought back to Ohio upon completion of his appearance before the Grand Jury.
Adam was taken to Cleveland, Ohio at 2 am, on Saturday Nov. 3rd and flown thru Chicago, Il, on to Kansas City, Mo. under tight security and a cloak of secrecy not wanting a repeat of what had happened at Union Station, Mo. On the evening of Saturday November 4, Adam handcuffed and manacled was paraded through the downtown streets of Kansas City after arriving from Chicago. Secrecy had been scorned on the last leg of his journey from the Columbiana county jail at Lisbon, Ohio where he was surrendered to federal authorities. Deputy Marshall Lucas and pointed by a large black Deputy Marshall Dwight Williams United States marshal, hustled Adam through Union Station to a sheriff's car.
Adam, in a straitjacket and with a dirty felt had pulled low, used manacled hands to hide his face as new cameras flashed. The press hollered "Open up. Richetti, Give us a break". "Save your time buddy", was the response from the US Marshall. The crowds and press gathered tightly as the marshals and federal agents drew their guns in order to move them back. Sheriff Thomas Bash pointed out the place of the massacre to Adam, asking him "That was the place, wasn't it?". Adam replied "I don't know what you are talking about," Adam never uncovered his face even for a moment even after he was stuffed into the waiting car. Sirens screamed warning of Adam's passage, in challenge to gangsters who might attempt to deliver or silence their confederate.
Noticeably absent from the officers forming Adam's escort was Thomas J. Higgins, chief of detectives, and Eugene C. Reppert, former director of police and Lieut. George Rayen, head of the stolen car bureau, were indicted the night before by the federal grand jury investigating the massacre.
At the county jail, Adam was dressed in prison denim and then questioned at length by Maurice Milligan, United States district attorney, and R.B. Nathan, chief of the federal bureau of investigation, and Sheriff Bash. After three hours of grilling Adam, Maurice Milligan said he had no announcement to make. Newspaper men then were allowed into the area to take pictures.
On Monday Nov 6th, Adam appeared before the grand jury shortly after 5pm Monday night. For an hour and a half he was questioned by the jurors and members of the district attorney's staff. He refused to answer any questions, as had been expected. Frequently the questioners lost their temper and shouted at the prisoner. After giving up the interrogation as a hopeless job, the grand jurors were dismissed. Adam was then taken to the county jail to await his return to Ohio county where he was captured. During that time he was once again beaten and abused.
That evening US Marshall Lucas and Deputy Marshall William arrived at the county jail to pick up Adam. At that time they were shocked to see the state of their prisoner. He had been badly beaten and abused. So much so that they had notified the FBI who in turn on Nov 5 filed a report filed with the Dept of Justice the following day which was signed by E.A. Tamm. The 2 US Marshalls escorted Adam from the jail back to Union Station where they left on the Santa Fe rail line back to Ohio. Marshall McCowwan who had accompanied them from Ohio had become involved with a woman in Kansas City that evening and was so intoxicated that he missed the train and was reported drunk later on at the station. He too had been included in the report filed with the Dept of Justice.
Just days later, Adam Richetti was indicted by the US Grand Jury on a true bill containing three counts of conspiracy, each not punishable by no more than 2 years imprisonment, and $10,000 each count.
Once again, Adam was on the road and by Nov. 7th he was back at the Lisbon, Ohio jail, this time only for a day and by the 8th of November was on his way to Columbia, Missouri to face charges of murder on two law enforcement officers. Adam had waived extradition for this trip and by November 10th he was being charged for murder on two counts of a Missouri highway patrolman, Sgt. Ben Booth, and Sheriff Roger Wilson.
On November 15th, 1934 for some unknown reason at this time, documents on the 3 Federal indictments indicate that the US attorney general wanted to drop the case from the court dockets at this time only to have them reinstated at a later date. A week later on November 28th 1934, Adam was cleared of the two murder charges against him by the confessions of other individuals, a local farmer, George McKeever, and George McNeiley.
On 1 DEC 1934 the State of Ohio transferred custody of Adam, and it was then that the State of Missouri took him to Jackson County where he was to be tried for his involvement in the Kansas City Massacre.
After he was cleared of those charges in Columbia, Mo. Adam was sent to Kansas City, Mo., onDecember 1, 1934 to await Federal charges of Conspiracy to commit murder for the Kansas City Massacre. The Ohio Columbia County, Prosecutor George L. Lafferty said he agreed to the removal of Adam Richetti to Kansas City because we want him to be tried where they have the most severe charges against him.
During the four months that Adam sat waiting in the Jackson County Jail, he had no legal representation in the Jackson County Grand Jury hearing. Adam had entered a not guilty plea, and after waiting almost 4 months , was indicted on four counts of murder in the first degree on March 1, 1935. He was charged with the murder of William J. Grooms, city detective; Otto Reed, McAlester, OK., chief of police, and Raymond J. Caffrey, agent of the division of investigation, department of justice, and Frank Hermanson, a Kansas City policeman.
On the 7th day of March, the court recognized that Adam was without representation and appointed two public defenders, R.J. Holmden and Eaton Adams as his council whom Adam did not feel comfortable with and they asked to be replaced. The court then appointed two new public defendants, R. S. Latshaw and James Daleo on 27 March. James Daleo had represented Gallantas, Farmer, and Stacci during the Federal grand jury investigation earlier in the year.
By April 2nd the State had come to a consensus on the witness list for the up and coming trial. Those names that appear below were all potential witness, although many did not testify:
On the 10th of June, 1935, the State of Missouri charged that Adam Richetti was one of three gunmen who attempted to rescue Frank Nash. The state announced it would ask the death penalty for Adam and the eighty-five prospective jurors called for the case were being closely examined to determine if they had any qualms against imposing the death penalty. Few seats were left for spectators when eight-five of the prospective jurors were taken into the court room. Of that eighty-five, thirty four were excused at the morning session of the trial, and twenty-two were excused because they were opposed to the death penalty.
By June 11th, Judge Cowan ordered Sheriff Thomas B. Bash to summon more jurors and the jury selection continued on until the morning of June 12th. The trial being only in it's second day already was being temporarily postponed due to a lack of available jurymen. Many jurors were being disqualified because they had just seen two movies shown only weeks prior to this trial, "G Men, and Public Enemy No. 1" which showed pictures of Adam and Charles. Eleven others had been excused as they already had formed opinions in the case, and another was excused because of ill health. Forty-seven jurors had to be qualified from the eighty-five being examined. Judge Cowan ordered Sheriff Thomas B. Bash to keep the remaining group of fifty-one intact during the noon recess and to keep the general panel intact. The panel of forty-seven from which the jury is to hear the first degree murder case of Adam Richetti had been obtained by the morning of Wednesday, June 12th. Testimony would began the 13th of June after the state eliminates 15 jurors by 2pm and the defense eliminates 20 jurors by 5:30pm. The remaining 12 men will form the jury. Shortly thereafter a total of 43 jurymen were impaneled and sworn in. Of those 43, 12 were selected to sit in the jury box, they were:
Paul Galvert
John J. Jordon
Robert J. Fowlston.......
Leo M. Brown
Charles H. Carlock............
Caron Burton..............
Lee Davies
Raymons S. Trone
Robert R. Carey
George O'Dewey
Nichols Fraoul
Norman V. Hash
As soon as the jurymen were sworn in Judge Cowan instructed Deputy Sheriff's M.J. Brennan and C.W. Fields to secure them in the hotel for the night.
