DREHER, Harold John 1895-1939

DREHER, PULS

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 1/5/2012 at 16:32:59

Harold John Dreher

November 8, 1895 – July 27, 1939

#1:

MASON CITYAN MURDER VICTIM
DREHER IDENTIFIED IN MYSTERY CASE AT IOWA CAPITAL
BODY WAS THROWN FROM AUTO ON DES MOINES STREET

Positive identification of Harold J. Dreher, Mason City department store salesman slain in Des Moines early Thursday morning, was made at Des Moines Friday noon by Chief of Police, Harold E Wolfe and Capt. Leo Risacher, who viewed the body in a funeral home there. “This man positively is Harold J Dreher,” Chief Wolfe said after seeing the corpse, while Captain Risacher stated “It’s Him all right. You couldn’t miss on that.”

Dreher was thrown from a car on a Des Moines street in the heart of the business district, after being shot at close range. O.E Burgess, an eye witness heard the shot fired, then saw a sedan slow down, a rear door open, and the victim roll out into the street as the car sped away.

DIDN’T CLEAR MYSTERY

Burgess was the first to reach the victim, and Dreher asked that a doctor be called, but beyond that declined to talk about the affair during his few remaining minutes of life.

Aside from the two officers, other Mason Cityans who identified the body were Dreher’s brother-in-law, Elvin Puls, Carl Boyd, who is a neighbor, and H. S. McGowan, a friend. Puls, viewing the body, said instantly; “Yes, that’s Harold, all right.”

Deputy Coroner D. W. Coughlan received permission from neighbors of the family to conduct an autopsy Friday afternoon. An inquest has been delayed, pending result of the police investigation.

BOUGHT FURNITURE

Younkers Department Store contacted the Retail Merchants Association Friday for a credit rating of Dr. Dreher. The local man had purchased a bedroom suite at the Des Moines store. The contract for the furniture was mailed to Mrs. Dreher. This, it was believed was an indication that the Mason City man had made the trip with the probable intent of buying the furniture.

In a highly nervous state, Mrs. Dreher Friday admitted that she had spent a restless night, that she had a premonition “something was wrong.” Despite the overwhelming proof that the victim was her husband, Mrs. Dreher, tear-stained, as she spoke briefly to a Globe Gazette reporter, refused to believe the slain man was her mate.

“Don’t put anything about that in the paper,” she pleaded as the reporter asked for a history of Dreher, explaining, “Just in case the man turns out to be Dreher.” It was a pathetic scene, for even Elvin Puls, Dreher’s brother-in-law, admitted in an upside manner to the reporter that there was no doubt Dreher was the victim. Mrs. Dreher’s daughter, Corrine, was also obviously distracted and refused to discuss the matter.

RECOGNIZED BY NEIGHBOR

First inkling police had that the victim was a local man came early Friday morning when Dreher’s neighbor, Carl Boyd, walked into the police station and asserted the shooting victim was Harold Dreher. He had a picture of the man killed in Des Moines and based his assertion on the definite similarity in appearance.

Police contacted Elvin Puls, a brother-in-law of Dreher, and Puls and Boyd took a picture of the victim to Mrs. Dreher. Shocked, she refused to positively identify the victim, although Dreher’s closest friends made certain identification.

MOTHER OF VICTIM IS DISTRAUGHT

Mrs. Rose Dreher, 67, mother of Harold John Dreher, identified as the victim of a gunman’s bullet in Des Moines, refused to believe the reports of his death. Wringing her hands and crying the name of “Harold,” she said, “It can’t be so.” The mother is divorced from her husband Reinhold Dreher, of Stewart, Florida.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Friday July 28, 1939]
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#2:

HAROLD DREHER RITES MONDAY
BURIAL OF LOCAL MAN KILLED
IN DES MOINES TO BE
AT NORA SPRINGS

Funeral services for Harold John Dreher, who was mysteriously murdered early Thursday morning in Des Moines, will be held at the Patterson Funeral home Monday afternoon at 9:30 o’clock with the Rev. William Galbreth, associate pastor of the First Methodist Church, in charge. Burial will be at the Rock Grove Cemetery southeast of Nora Springs.

Mr. Dreher was born November 8, 1895 at Nora Springs. He had been a resident of Mason City for the past 37 years.

IDENTIFIES COAT

Mrs. Dreher identified the raincoat, which was thrown from the death car and was used as a pillow under Mr. Dreher’s head, as his raincoat. The coat was brought to Mason City Friday night by Chief Harold Wolfe on his return from Des Moines, where he identified Mr. Dreher’s body Friday.

Capt. Leo Rischer, who also went to Des Moines Friday to assist with the identification was informed Saturday by Mrs. Dreher, that Mr. Dreher had left Mason City Wednesday noon with the intention of purchasing furniture in Des Moines.

Mrs. Dreher said that her husband took a shiny black suitcase which was a Society Brand Gray suit with a faint pencil stripe. The suit was size 42, Conell style, double breasted. It had been cleaned a number of times.

WATCH IS MISSING

A gold watch was also taken by Mr. Dreher but was not found upon him. It was 16 jewel open face Elgin watch, the movement number 15062987, and the case number 11470824.

One of two hats thrown out of the death car was also identified by Mrs. Dreher as Dreher’s. It was the straw hat, a light felt of cheap make also found near Mr. Dreher has not been identified.

The body of Mr. Dreher was brought to Mason City Friday night from Des Moines by attendants at the Patterson Funeral home.

[ Mason City Globe Gazette, Saturday July 29, 1939 ]
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Photo of Mr. Dreher is from the Globe Gazette.

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