Reporter-News
June 1, 1987
Murder, sex and bribes
Texas courtroom today has it all
By Jody Cox
Associated Press
Texas courtrooms are the site of celebrated trials this spring as murder, sex and bribery cases- including three involving public officials-go before jurors.
A Waco district attorney is on trial in Austin on federal racketeering charges, a state district judge from Fort Worth is accused of giving leniency for sexual favors, and a San Antonio police officer faces murder charges in the shooting death of his former partner.
Other intriguing trials include a civil wrongful death suit against Fort Worth millionaire Cullen Davis and the capital murder trial of Jerry “Animal” McFadden, who led East Test Authorities on a three-day manhunt last summer.
Two of the cases are in Fort Worth. The federal trial of State District Judge Tom Cave, which has seen a parade of prostitutes and convicted drug dealers testify, is beginning its fifth week.
Cave, bail bondsman J. Dorsey Adams and attorney Ronald Aultman are charged with conspiring to violate the civil rights of female probationers by forcing them to have sex with Cave in exchange for leniency.
Last week, Cave announced plans to marry a former Tarrant County probation office worker. The wedding slated for Saturday could occur about the time a verdict is returned in the trial.
Cave, 57, who could be sentenced to jail for 20 years and fined about $1 million if convicted, contends his legal troubles stem from a love affair with Rachel Perez Tallent, a 33-year-old former prostitute, as his marriage of 30 years was falling apart.
In a Fort Worth civil case which began last week, Cullen Davis, who was acquitted 10 years ago of a double-murder at his mansion, is the defendant in a $8.5 million wrongful death lawsuit arising from that case.
Andrea Wilborn, daughter of Pricilla Davis and Jack Wilborn, was one of two shot to death at Davis’ home on Aug. 10, 1976, by a black-garbed gunman who also wounded Mrs. Davis and a family friend. Priscilla and Cullen Davis were going through divorce proceedings at the time.
Mrs. Davis and Wilborn sued Davis seeking compensation for Miss Wilborn’s death and for Mrs. Davis injuries.
Meanwhile, McLennan County District Attorney Vic Feazell is standing trial in U.S. District Court in Austin on three counts of racketeering and five counts of mail fraud.
Feazell, who won re-election handily last fall despite being indicted, contends the charges were brought against him because of his inquiry into the Henry Lee Lucas serial murder confessions, which Lucas later recanted and said had been a hoax on law enforcement officers.
In opening arguments last week, prosecutors claimed Feazell worked with “an inner circle of greed” made up of three Waco attorneys who paid him $19,000 in bribes in exchange for dismissals or leniency for their clients, particularly in drunken driving cases.
And in San Antonio, police officer Farrell Tucker goes on trial Monday for murder in the slaying of fellow policeman Stephen Smith.
Tucker, 36, contends he shot Smith in self-defense. The case cost two police chiefs their jobs and prompted a federal investigation and an $8 million lawsuit alleging civil rights violations.
The lawsuit, filed by civil rights attorney Ruben Sandoval, contends that Smith was responsible for bombings, shootings and the deaths of three people, and that Tucker either participated or knew about it.
The murder case began Aug. 18 when Tucker informed then Assistant Police Chief Frank Hoyack that he had learned Smith was planning to kill Hoyack, then Deputy Police Chief Robert Heuck and then Bexar County District Attorney Sam Millsap.
Smith, on indefinite suspension and awaiting trial on charges of violating the civil rights of a prisoner, blamed the three officials for damaging his career, Tucker said.
The trio told Tucker to keep a scheduled meeting with Smith, which he did that evening armed with a voice-activated tape recorder and two revolvers.
In another highly publicized case, that has been moved from East Texas to the Belton on a change of venue, McFadden is charged with killing Suzanne Harrison, 18, of Hawkins. Half the jury has been chosen in the trial that was postponed at one point because Upshur County officials said they couldn’t afford to pay for it.
McFadden eluded about 200 officers for three days last summer after escaping from the Upshur County jail. Miss Hawkins and tow companions were found dead last year at Lake Hawkins after a weekend outing.
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