The Trial of the Kansas City Massacre
Almost immediately upon the capture of Adam Ricchetti, 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 the indictment and conviction of four individuals, Richard Galatas, Herbert Farmer, “Doc” Louis Stacci, and
Frank Mulloy. 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. Their first attempt failed in Columbia, Missouri when they attempted to try him on two counts of
murder, of a Missouri highway patrolman, Sgt. Ben Booth, and Sheriff Roger Wilson who died in a gun battle
along side the road. Adam was cleared of the two murder charges against him by the confessions of other
individuals, a local farmer, George McKeever, and George McNeiley. The State of Ohio allowed Missouri to
keep Adam as they felt they had the most serious charges against him. 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.
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. Adam was charged with the murder
of William J. Grooms, KC 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 Ricchetti 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, GMen, 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 Ricchetti 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:
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.
| The Trial of Adam Ricchetti and The Kansas City Massacre Days 1 & 2 |
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Please email me with
your comments or
questions:
fsustik@hotmail.com
your comments or
questions:
fsustik@hotmail.com
| Kansas City Massacre Photos June 17th, 1932 |
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