Finally acquired this photo recently from eBay; looks like it was an AP Wire photo. The “slug line” for this picture is “Accidental Shooting”.
EPSON scanner image
What we see in this picture is Mariann Colby leading a bewildered Dane Colby out of the Shaker Heights police department into an awaiting car. This was shortly after she lied to the police about Cremer’s killing being accidental; the details that would later help unravel the fabricated story are in the body of the AP story. The .32 caliber pistol, which Dane was too weak to fire and the fact that Mariann “admitted that she wrapped the body and placed it in a wooded area of Gates Mills, about 10 miles from the Young home”
Onaway Elementary School, Shaker Heights Ohio. Grade 1 class photo; John Cremer Young, bottom row center.
Much thanks to Mary for this class photo. My family had moved to Cleveland Heights and I was at Roxboro Elementary. I was hoping, at some point, to be in the same class with Cremer. While we were the same age, I had been held back due to my late fall birthdate.
Cremer’s photo is smack dab in the center of the bottom row. If you’re in this photo, please identify your picture in the comments.
Since 2017 also marks the passing of Dick Gautier, AKA Hymie the Robot from “Get Smart”, the title of this post has (somewhat) dual meaning. The second meaning is, well, I missed it. By “it” I mean another listing form the same auction house where I acquired the Cleveland Press photos of Mariann Colby and her son Dane.
This time, the photo in question was from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, circa 1966 when Mariann was declared not guilty of first degree murder by reason of insanity. This picture was not available when I made my first series of purchases. I know, because I scoured the the listings of the eBay retailer I purchased my pictures from, and it was only through diligence and perseverance that I was able to find the five I’ve posted so far.
What’s ironic to me is that the auction I missed was finalized on Nov. 25th, 2016… my birthday. Here’s hoping the person who bought this image also finds my post. The watermarked images from the auction are still on the web… so here they are with a couple more images I’ve culled:
“Innocent of first degree murder by reason of insanity”
Back of Plain Dealer Photo
COLBY MARIANN K. / SHAKER HEIGHTS OHIO: Pleads Innocent In Boy’s Slaying: Caption reads, Mrs. Mariann K. Colby, 40, waits in Shaker Heights municipal court to plead innocent today to first degree murder charges filed against her in the fatal shooting Aug. 24 of John Cremer Young Jr., 8. Staff Photo by AP Wirephoto. Original Photo 09/02/1965. Published on UNKNOWN.
COLBY ROBERT MRS. / ACCIDENTLY SHOT IN SHAKER HEIGHTS OHIO: UNKNOWN: Caption reads, Accidental shooting death of a neighbor boy by her son on August 24 was admitted Wednesday by Mrs. Robert Colby, here leaving the Shaker Heights, Ohio police station with son Dane, 9. Photographer UNKNOWN. Original Photo 09/02/1965. Published on O-9-2-65.
This has been on the back burner for quite some time. Given the flurry of activity on the Murder of the Boy: Archived Images from the Cleveland Plain Dealer page, I felt that it was time to post these images. Thanks to eBay, I have located actual press photos taken by the Cleveland Press, one of Cleveland’s daily newspapers that ceased operation in 1982. These photos have probably never been available for viewing since their initial publication.
The photos depict Mariann K. Colby during various stages of her arraignment; included as well is one picture of a very young Dane G. Colby. Dane was used as a scapegoat by his mother, who tried to shift blame to him until it was proven that Dane could not have pulled the trigger on the gun that killed Cremer.
It’s taken me a while to process these photos emotionally.
Photo of Mariann K. Colby; police in background
Mrs. Mariann Colby – 40 – in Shaker Police Car
Photo by Bernie Noble
Mrs. Mariann Colby – 40 – center, Shaker Police Matron (left) & Dep. Sheriff Alice Menordi Photo by Bernie Noble
Mrs. Colby Arriving at County Jail, photo by Tony Tomsic
Dane G. Colby, son of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Colby. Photo by Jerry Horton. Colby home address noted on back of photo. Dane was used as a scapegoat by his mother.
