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Friday, May 12, 1967
Shot Several Times, Man 'Very Critical'
A 32-year-old man was shot several times late last night in a fight that erupted on Greene County AB north of College Street.
Prosecutor Jack Yocom said early this morning that Rex Aubrey Boykin, 39, of Route 1, Morrisville, allegedly shot Richard Reiland, no address known, in the face, abdomen and arms with a .22 caliber revolver.
Reiland was taken to Burge-Protestant Hospital in "very critical" condition, according to Yocom.
The prosecutor said Boykin was treated at Burge for a cut on his left arm and was to be booked for investigation of felonious assault. He said a decision on charged would probably be made this morning.
The investigation last night was handled by Greene County sheriff's deputies and city police, with Yocom participating.
Saturday, May 13, 1967
Death Claims Victim In Shooting Incident
Wounds suffered in a shooting west of Springfield Thursday claimed the life of a 32-year-old Springfield man late last night.
Richard E. Reiland, 2331 South Maryland, who was shot five times with a .22 caliber revolver, succumbed at 10:47 last night in Burge-Protestant Hospital. Earlier yesterday, the victim's business partner, Rex Aubrey Boykin, 39, of Route 1, Morrisville, was charged with felonious assault with malice aforethought and freed on $10,000 bond.
After conferring with Prosecutor Jack Yocom last night, Greene County Coroner Ralph Thieme said an inquest will be held, "probably next week," in connection with Reiland's death.
Boykin turned himself in at city police station at 10:50 p.m. Thursday and was quoted by a city dispatcher, Sid Neely, as saying he had shot a man. Boykin's preliminary hearing will be May 31.
Reiland was found lying near his car on Greene County AB north of Mo. 266, deputies said. Capt. Jim Hutchinson said that Reiland, Boykin and a man identified as Robert Dale Gallimore were in the home improvement business together and that the argument between Reiland and Boykin was "over business and personal affairs."
After Boykin surrendered, Officer William Lloyd said, he volunteered his story of what had happened. Lloyd said the statements were made in his presence and that of Police Lt. Don Brown "without any questioning on our part."
Boykin was quoted by the officer as saying that Reiland had written some checks on him and that he had told his wife lies about him. After beginning an argument at the Tinkle Bar, they were asked to leave, Boykin said, and then when the argument resumed at the Downbeat Club they decided to leave and not cause any trouble.
They left in separate cars and stopped on the county road, Boykin said. He told police he got out of his car with his .22 caliber nine-shot revolver in his hand and then shot if four or five times after he felt something "sting" his arm.
Deputy Sheriff Byron Cummings, however, quoted Boykin as saying later that he didn't remember if he got out of the car with the gun in his hand or if he got it after Reiland struck him and cut him. A search of the area Friday morning failed to turn up a knife or other weapon.
Boykin was taken to Burge for treatment of various cuts and lacerations and Deputy Cummings said that one laceration on the inside of Boykin's forearem required several stitches.
Capt. Hutchinson reported that Boykin's undershirt had a small amount of blood on the front and was ripped on the top of the front and on the right shoulder. His short-sleeved dress shirt had blood on the left front and on both cuffs, the captain said, and three buttons were missing from the front of the shirt, which also showed "numerous cuts and slashes" on the right front of the shirt and the shirt pocket.
When Boykin appeared before Magistrate E.A. Barbour Friday with his attorney, Wayne Smith, he pleaded innocent to the charge. Smith requested the preliminary hearing.
Prosecutor Jack Yocom asked the judge for $20,000 bond, saying Reiland was in "very, very critical condition." Yocom said: "It's my understanding he may expire at any time." The prosecutor said, therefore, there was a possibility the state would file a graver charge, "a homicide," and requested higher bond. "We have witnesses that will substantiate deliberation and premeditation," he told the judge.
Smith asked for a $5000 bond, saying there was no evidence of flight and noted that Boykin himself reported the shooting to police. Judge Barbour then set bond at $10,000.
Deputy Cummings quoted Boykin as saying: "I'm sorry about it. I should have talked my way out of it instead of shooting him. I should of just left before it started all over."
Officer Lloyd said Boykin appeared upset over the shooting, but that he seemed more upset about what his children would think. Boykin said he and Reiland had been friends and that he had once worked for Reiland.
Cummings quoted Boykin as saying that Reiland had given him about $1500 worth of bad checks in the last two years but that Reiland paid him in full. Reiland was angry because Boykin had mentioned the checks to some mutual friends, Boykin was quoted as saying.
Cummings said Boykin volunteered the statements to him while enroute to the hospital after his attorney, Smith, advised him not to discuss the incident.
Boykin said he returned to the Downbeat Club after the shooting and told several persons that he had shot someone, but that no one took him seriously. Boykin tried to give the gun to a barmaid when he returned to the Downbeat, officers said, but she screamed and refused to take it so he gave it to his wife.
Tuesday, May 16, 1967
Rex A. Boykin Is Denied Bond
Rex Aubrey Boykin, charged with first degree murder, was denied bond yesterday by Magistrate Orville Kerr.
Defense attorney Wayne Smith objected vigorously and asked for a speedy preliminary hearing, which was set for 9 a.m. Thursday.
The 39-year-old Route 1, Morrisville, man is accused of murdering Richard E. Reiland, 32, of 2331 South Maryland, Prosecutor Jack Yocom said the inquest into Reiland's death will be held tomorrow by Coroner Ralph Thieme.
In requesting that Boykin be held without bond, Yocom asked Judge Kerr's permission to introduce evidence showing Boykin's alleged guilt.
Sheriff's Capt. Jim Hutchinson testified that he had evidence that Boykin threatened Reiland before the Thursday night shooting, that "several" shots were fired, that Boykin admitted to several officers that he had shot Reiland.
On cross-examination by Smith, Hutchinson said Boykin turned himself in, was himself injured, and had torn clothing.
Deputies said Reiland was a friend and business partner of Boykin. He was found about 11 p.m. Thursday near his car on Greene County AB north of Mo. 266, after Boykin turned himself in, shot five times with a .22 caliber pistol. He died about 10:30 p.m. Friday in Burge-Protestant Hospital.
Funeral services for Reiland will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Snider Funeral Home in West Liberty, Iowa. The body is being transferred there by Gorman-Scharpf.
Wednesday, May 17, 1967
Inquest Scheduled In Shooting Death
Coroner Ralph Thieme has scheduled an inquest into the death of Richard E. Reiland, 32, of 2331 South Maryland, for 10:30 a.m. today in the Greene County courthouse.
Reiland died about 10:30 p.m. Friday in Burge-Protestant Hospital. He was shot about 11 p.m. Thursday.
Preliminary hearing for Rex Aubrey Boykin, 39, of Route 1, Morrisville, who is charged with first degree murder in the shooting, will be at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Thursday, May 18, 1967
Coroner's Jury Blames Boykin
A Greene County coroner's jury found yesterday that 32-year-old Richard E. Reiland, 2331 South Maryland, came to his death "as a result of gunshot wounds inflicted by Rex Aubrey Boykin."
Boykin, 39, of Route 1, has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting. His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for May 31.
Robert Dale Gallimore of Route 4, a salesman, testified at the inquest in the county courthouse of a conversation involving Reiland and Boykin the evening of the shooting.
The witness said an argument involving Boykin, Reiland and himself had occurred at the Tinkle Bar on St. Louis concerning business problems and "personal things." He said a sum of money on one business deal entered the discussion.
Gallimore said when the discussion became loud the bartender asked them to quiet down or leave. He said they went outside where there was a discussion between Reiland and Boykin.
Gallimore said later that he, his wife, and Reiland went to the Downbeat Club on West. Mo. 266 and that Boykin and his wife came in. While there, the witness said, Boykin threw a beer bottle and a glass down and yelled at Reiland. Gallimore said something had been said about "outside" and that Boykin and Reiland left.
Later, Gallimore said, he heard some of their conversation outside and heard Boykin say he didn't want any trouble there. the witness said one of the men had mentioned something about "country" and he took it to mean they were going to the country.
About 15 or 30 minutes later, he said, Boykin came back to the bar and threw a gun on the counter. Boykin, the witness continued, said to call the sheriff that he had just shot "Richard or Dick." Gallmore said he couldn't recall which name Boykin had used.
Police officer Bill Lloyd testified that a man identified as Boykin came to the police station about 11 p.m. Thursday and "stated he just killed a man."
On questioning by Prosecutor Jack Yocom, Lloyd said Boykin stated he had a 9-shot .22 caliber revolver and that he had shot the man "four or five" times. The officer testified that Boykin told police he and a man named "Dick" had arrived at a location on Greene County AB, Boykin had stepped from his car with the gun in his hand, and that as he moved toward the other man, something cut him.
Dr. Paul Quinn, a pathologist, said he found four gunshot wounds in Reiland's body and three smaller wounds in the right chest area which could have been caused by bullet fragments although he didn't find fragments.
Boykin, Officer Lloyd said, had two minor lacerations on his arm, but was unable to explain how he had been injured.
Gallimore also testified that Reiland and Boykin "were superior type persons" and were not given to fighting, in his opinion.
Thursday, June 1, 1967
Trial Ordered For Rex Boykin
Magistrate Orville Kerr yesterday set bond at $10,000 for Rex Aubrey Boykin, 39, Route 1, Morrisville, who is charged with first degree murder.
Boykin, held in conjunction with the May 11 shooting of Richard E. Reiland, 32, of 2331 South Maryland, was bound over to circuit court after a preliminary hearing.
Earlier Boykin was jailed without bond. Defense Attorney Wayne Smith said Boykin will attempt to qualify property for the bond but that he wouldn't be able to do it immediately.
The state's evidence yesterday included testimony of only four witnesses, though more than 20 were subpoenaed.
Smith told Judge Kerr he did not believe the state had presented necessary proof for first degree murder. The attorney maintained that from the evidence it might qualify as second degree murder or manslaughter or justifiable homicide.
Prosecutor Jack Yocom noted that it was established that Reiland was shot four times and that the defendant got out of his car with a gun in his hand. Yocom said he felt this established some premeditation.
The points raised by Smith were matters for a jury to consider, Judge Kerr said. He then added that he was "a little more disposed" to set a bond now than he was at the time of arraignment.
Yocom, in an unusual move, requested that a $100 material witness bond be set for Robert Dale Gallimore, Route 4, a main witness yesterday. Gallimore had $50 with him, and Yocom said he would be satisfied with that amount.
The State "had reason" to take the unusual action, Yocom said, and announced that all the state witnesses have been subpoenaed for circuit court trial July 24.
Gallimore testified as to parts of an argument or discussion he heard between Reiland and Boykin earlier in the evening.
Circuit court arraignment for Boykin will be June 9.
Dr. Paul Quinn, a pathologist, city police officer William Lloyd and Sheriff's Capt. Jim Hutchinson were the other witnesses at yesterday's hearing.
Reiland was found about 11 p.m. May 11 lying near his car on Greene County AB north of Mo. 266 after Boykin turned himself in at the police station. Reiland lived about 24 hours after the shooting and died May 12 in Burge-Protestant Hospital.
Reiland was shot with a .22 caliber 9-shot revolver, according to testimony.
Saturday, June 10, 1967
Boykin Denies Murder Charge
Rex Aubrey Boykin, 39, of Route 1, Morrisville, pleaded innocent to a first degree murder charge in circuit court yesterday.
Boykin, charged with the fatal shooting of Richard E. Reiland, 32, of 2331 South Maryland, May 11, is free on $10,000 bond pending a jury trial July 24 in Judge Douglas W. Greene's court.
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