75 Years Ago

Herald of April 20, 1944

The fate of Joseph Schworm, 82-year-old farmer of Stark County, Ohio, accused of shooting to death on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 19, his daughter-in-law, the former Betty Ake of Martinsburg, is now in the hand of Judge Frank N. Sweitzer of the Stark county courts.

The homicide case came before the judge, the procedure being a hearing to determine if the aged man should be put on probation or whether he should be sentenced on the charge of manslaughter to which charge the man had pleaded guilty.

A number of Martinsburg relatives were in Ohio for the hearing, returning home yesterday. They included the father of the slain girl, John A. Ake, and wife, Mr, and Mrs. Jess B. Wineland, and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn S. Rhodes.

Joseph Schworm following the shooting had been charged with second degree murder and had made a confession, alleging that he had slain the young woman in self-defense. He was locked up in the Stark County Jail at Canton, but was later admitted bail and released.