Dr. Rahm Murder Trial Transferred to Orange

Dr. Rahm Murder Trial Transferred to Orange

Athens, Texas (Sp.) - District Judge Melvin Johnston entered an order on his own motion in district court Monday to transfer the murder trial of Dr. C. C. Rahm from district court in Athens on a change of venue to Orange.

The defendant pleaded not guilty when arraigned and entered into a recognizance bond of $12,500 in open court with Dan Tidwell and J. B. Davis of Brownsboro signing it.

The defendant also made bond of $2,500 on a charge of assault with intent to murder Bill Melton. That case also transferred to Orange.

Charles Tessmer of Dallas, Rahm's attorney, said earlier he would ask for a change of venue and then announced he believed a fair trial could be had in this county.

Dr. Rahm is charged with murder in the shooting of Thurman Jackson in a school board fight at Brownsboro last June 16. Rahm was secretary of the board.

Earlier Monday, Judge Johnston overruled a motion to squash the murder indictment against Rahm.

Tessmer called seven witnesses in an attempt to prove there was an unauthorized person present when the indictment was returned. He hammered principally at William Steger, Tyler, special prosecutor employed by the Jackson family and a former U.S. district attorney; Dist. Atty. Jack Hardee, and Hawley Y. Wyrick, grand jury foreman.

All testified Steger, Hardee and Co. Atty. Mack Wallace were present in the grand jury room but not during the deliberation.

Johnston sustained Hardee's objection to testimony on minutes of the grand jury, saying the minutes are secret and said he would permit no testimony except that which would seek to prove there was an unauthorized person present.

Dallas Morning News
Friday, October 7, 1960
Section 1, Page 4
source: GenealogyBank.com