Murder of Mrs. Guy Wilford-1918.

WILFORD, LOWDER, DAVENPORT, TAYLOR, MCCARTHY, DALLAGHER, GODWIN

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 1/12/2009 at 23:11:17

Jackson Sentinel
August 30, 1918

Robbers Murder Mrs. Guy Wilford and Wound Husband in Attempt to Burglarize Their Home
Bandits Fire Two Shots Into Her Body When She Attempts to Grasp Weapon in His Hand.
Officers on the Trail

One of the boldest and most dastardly crimes ever committed in this city was perpetrated between two and three o’clock Wednesday morning, when burglars entered the home of Guy Wilford on the northeast boundary of the city, shot and killed Mrs. Wilford and severely injuring her husband, who suffered a painful flesh wound while scuffling with one of the robbers.

The city was thrown into wild excitement when the news became generally known and before nine o’clock scores of different rumors were afloat, few of which, however, were well founded or correct. A Sentinel representative got in immediate touch with the officials and witnesses who were on the scene shortly after the murder was committed, and we believe that the following account of the affair is as accurate as is possible to obtain at this time.

Coroner William Lowder stated to us that he was called by phone to the Wilford home by Eugene Davenport, who resides a few rods east of the latter residence, and arrived on the scene about four o’clock, and found the body of the murdered woman lying in bed, with two bullet holes in her body above the waist, the wounds being close together and probably either of which would have caused death. The body was nearly cold, showing that death had occurred some time before and appearances led him to believe that she had raised up in bed and the bandit had deliberately shot her and she had fallen back and shortly afterwards expired.

Eugene Davenport, the nearest neighbor, told us the following story: “About three o’clock Mr. Wilford came to my home and awakened myself, my wife and daughter, and told us that he was shot and that he thought that Edith (his wife) was also hurt, and to go over and do something for her if possible. Mr. Wilford was in bad condition and could scarcely talk due to his wound together with nervous shock. I asked Mr. Wilford to come in and sit down for a few moments until we could dress and accompany him home, but he said he would go back and stay with his wife, not knowing at the time that she had been killed. We went to the house as soon as possible and found Mrs. Wilford dead in bed and her husband lying on a davenport unconscious, while Miss Velma Taylor, a niece, of Cedar Rapids, who was staying at the Wilford home, was doing what she could despite her fright and nervous strain. Miss Taylor had told me that the phone was out of order and I went to the Reitz home where I called up Coroner Lowder who responded immediately and as soon as he arrived, Sheriff McCarthy and Deputy Dallagher were notified who were soon on the scene, and the latter remained at the home while Dr. Lowder and Sheriff McCarthy hastened to notify the parents of Mrs. Wilford, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Godwin on North Olive street. As soon as possible Mr. Wilford was taken to the Cottage hospital. Undertaker Buchner was called and the body of the unfortunate woman was removed to the undertaking parlors.”

Velma Taylor, the niece, whose bed room was upstairs, stated that she was awakened by two or three shots and shortly after heard her aunt scream and moan, and also heard something fall over like a chair and some persons scuffling. A few seconds after this she was sure she heard an auto start off in the road west of the house. Miss Taylor’s story is short but straightforward in everyway and leaves no doubt but that plain robbery was attempted by thugs of the worst sort, who placed no value on life and would stoop to any crime in order to glean a few paltry dollars.

Mr. Wilford, while suffering from his wound, but principally form nervous shock, stated to Dr. Lowder that he and his wife accompanied by the latter’s parents, had spent Tuesday in Davenport where he had some business matters to look after. They returned home about nine o’clock in the evening, and Mrs. Wilford retired shortly after reaching home. After a time Mr. Wilford also retired, but about eleven o’clock he thought he heard something moving about outside and went out into the yard to look around, but saw nothing unusual. Returning into the house he sat down on the Davenport and read a paper for a few moments, and again he thought he heard a noise in the yard. Again he went out on the porch, but all was quiet, and he then went to his room and went to bed. When he awoke there were two men in the room, one, who was evidently the leader, had Mr. Wilford’s trousers in one hand and some paper money which he had removed from the pockets in the other. The other fellow was standing almost directly over him (Wilford) holding a revolver in one hand while endeavoring to secure a hold on Wilford’s throat with the other. It seems that about this time Mrs. Wilford awakened and raising up to a sitting posture, attempted to grasp the robber’s hand which held the gun, when the bandit fired two shots into her body, causing almost instant death. Meanwhile Mr. Wilford had gained his feet and grappled with the robber who had the money and succeeded in wrestling most of it form him. It was during this struggle that Mr. Wilford received his wound and would probably have suffered the same fate as his wife had not the robbers become frightened and decided that a quick getaway was advisable.

Mr. Wilford followed the retreating robbers to and out the door, and states that they went to the main road and thence in a car westward. He then went to the Eugene Davenport home and aroused the family there and told them to hasten over to his house and do something for his wife, who he believed had been shot. He then returned to his home and fell onto the davenport and lost consciousness.

The above story of the awful tragedy may contain some technical errors, but we have strived to obtain our information from the most authentic sources, utterly disregarding the hundred and one rumors which spring up like mushrooms coined by the lovers of sensation. We understand that an expert detective has been engaged to ferret out the perpetrators of the crime, and it is hoped that the guilty parties will soon be brought to justice. Mr. Wilford is resting quite comfortably, his wound being slight, the bullet striking him in the side and merely passing along under the skin for a distance of about four or five inches.

The inquest is being held at the court house as we got to press, and we will give the finding of the coroners’ jury together with future developments, in our next issue.