Common Pleas judge Charles Lee Mills Pronounced the sentence after Reames pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first degree manslaughter with the consent of Prosecuter Mathias H Heck. Origionally Reames had been charged with second degree murder in the death of Wayne Slack, 30, of the Antler hotel.
Assistant prosecuter John Hoover gave his account of the stabbing incident in explaining the acceptance of the reduced charge:
Slack was a guest in Reames home at 22 E 5th st and had been drinking. He said he was hungry and asked Reames wife, Treva for something to eat. Mrs Reames gave him some sardines.
Slack said he was still hungry and went to the refrigerator to fix himself some steak. Mrs Reames objected and put Slack out of the second floor apartment.
As he was going down the stairs, Slack struck Mrs Reames on the left arm with a pair of electricians pliers. He then left the houde.
When Reames heard of the incident from another guest, he grabbed a six inch boning knife and ran after Slack. On overtaking him in front of the house, Reames stabbed him in the buttocks. An artery was severed and Slack died.
"If Reames had intended to kill Slack, he likely would have chosen a more vulnerable spot such as the abdomen or chest," Hoover said. The judge agreed.