The Daily Express

Marine Pays Off Cab Driver With Bullets
MARCH 25 (INS)-A young man in marine uniform was under custody here today in the shooting of Cecil Solomon, 31-year-old Cincinnati cab driver. Solomon (He resides at 1628 Blair st.) told Montgomery county sheriff's deputies that the marine hired him to drive from Cincinnati to Dayton last night but paid him off in bullets. "He told me he had some dope," the cabbie related. Solomon is in St. Elizabeth hospital in serious condition. He said his passenger shot him three times without reason. The cab driver related that the marine was fairly young, claimed to be based at San Diego, Cal., and mentioned his exploits in Korea. A duffle bag he brought with him bore the name of Robert L. Banks. Dayton police picked up the marine about 11:30 p.m. This was three hours after the shooting. From his hospital bed Solomon told deputies that his passenger asked to get out just off Route 4 between Dayton and Miamisburg. He claimed to live nearby. Solomon said he could see no house and suggested they get back into the cab. At that point the marine pulled out a gun and fired. The first slug struck Solomon in the arm. He jumped into the driver's seat and two more bullets hit, one in the mouth and one in the chest. Then the cabbie took to his heels, with the marine blasting away as he raced up the road to a private home where aid was summoned. Taken to the hospital, he was unable to give any reason for the attack. Deputies found the cab where Solomon had left it. The trunk of the car had been battered by bullets, apparently in an attempt to unlock it. Inside was the marine's duffle bag.