Sherrick, Maxine – 1922-1961

HOLDSWORTH, SHERRICK

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:34

Newton Woman Found Shot To Death
Maxine Sherrick, 39, Killed During Night
A Newton woman – Miss Maxine Sherrick, 39, was found murdered in her bed early this morning and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Newton Police Department at noon today were at a loss as to a motive or to the identity of the killer.
Chief of Police N. C. Shaver told The Daily News shortly after noon that Miss Sherrick apparently had been reading in bed at the time of the shot. The bullet came through an open window, tearing the screen, and entered Miss Sherrick’s head in the left temple. The caliber of the bullet was not known at noon and an autopsy was planned to determine what type of weapon was used.
“We are completely baffled.” Chief Shaver said. He added that the BCI and his men have been unable to come up with any leads.
“Someone just shot her through the window and we have no other answers. It is definitely murder,” the chief added.
Miss Sherrick was found by an uncle early this morning when she did not report to work at The Maytag Company. She was lying in her bed with a book in her hands and her glasses on, according to the police report. The police was notified at 8 o’clock today. She resided at 1208 W. 7th St. S.
A check in the surrounding neighborhood revealed no residents having heard a shot during the night, or any other kind of a disturbance. Time of death was believed to have been around midnight.
Chief Shaver said the investigation would be intensified this afternoon in hopes of coming up with some lead or clue to the identity of the killer.
Miss Sherrick is the daughter of Irwin Sherrick, 316 E. 13th St. North and had been employed in the factory engineering department at Maytag since October of 9145. She was born in Des Moines in 1922 and later moved to Newton where she attended high school. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
The murder is being investigated by Chief Shaver and Officer Louis Darrah of the Newton Police Department; Ray Gaylor, Jasper County Sheriff and BCI Agents Mallett and Newquist.
Source: Newton Daily News; September 12, 1961, page 1

No Clues Known In Death Of Newton Woman
Chief Shaver Rules Out Accidental Shot in Slaying of Maxine Sherrick
A cloud of mystery still prevailed today over the investigation into the murder of Miss Maxine Sherrick, who died Monday night from a bullet wound in the head as she lay in her bed reading Ben Hur at 1208 W. 7th St. S.
Late Tuesday evening and early today Newton and Jasper County officers, along with state criminal investigators, toiled over possible clues into the killing that has shocked this city.
There are many theories, mostly in form of guess-work, being passed along and foremost of these – accidental shooting – was ruled out Tuesday evening by Newton Police Chief N. C. (Doc) Shaver.
He explained that the shot entered the bedroom in such a manner that it was a “100 to 1” chance that it was accidental.
“It is apparent that someone intended to kill Miss Sherrick and the shot that did was no doubt aimed at her head as it hit just above the left side of glasses,” Shaver stated.
The chief added that residents living within an area of a block in each direction from Miss Sherrick’s home had been questioned and none reported hearing a shot or any disturbance.
People who knew Miss Sherrick well reported knowing of no one who would want to kill her. She lived alone in her one-story house, but was active in Maytag affairs – most recently serving in charge of a committee for the baby review at the annual company picnic. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
“I feel that this was planned and that through intensive investigation the killer will be found.” Shaver added. He said that by measuring the hole in the screen it was believed that the shot came from a weapon larger than a .22 caliber.
“If this is the case and it was fired from, say a .38 caliber revolver or pistol, then it required a mighty good marksman or someone who shot from directly outside the window,” the chief continued.
A check outside the house failed to reveal any empty shells and the chief said he doubted if any were left at the scene of the shooting – since only one shot was taken at Miss Sherrick. The heavy rain Monday night and Tuesday obliterated all footprints, if any had been left outside the window or in the area of the house.
He added that no stone was being left unturned in an effort to identify and bring into custody the killer of Miss Sherrick.
“This certainly has us all puzzled at the present time, but the officers here in Newton and Jasper County and the state investigators, hope to have an answer before too long.: Chief Shaver said.
Funeral services for Miss Sherrick will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Morgan-Loehr Funeral Home.
The Rev. Lowell McConnell, minister of the First Presbyterian Church, will conduct the services. Burial will be in Newton Union Cemetery.
Miss Sherrick is survived by her father, Irwin M. Sherrick of Newton; her step-mother; two brothers, Irwin Sherrick Jr. of Des Moines and Donald L. Sherrick of Hutchinson, Kan.; and two nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother.
The daughter of Irwin and Vera Holdsworth Sherrick, she was born June 10, 1922 in Des Moines.
A graduate of Newton High School, she was employed as a secretary at the Maytag Co.
Miss Sherrick was a resident of newton for 38 years.
Source: Newton Daily News; September 13, 1961, page 1
(Note: The murder occurred in 1961 and was solved in 1962, a year to the day after the murder was committed. A Newton youth, Richard Lee Noel, 16, confessed to shooting Miss Sherrick as she lay reading in bed at her home in Newton. On Nov. 9, 1962, Noel was sentenced to serve 25 years in the state penitentiary for the crime.)