Jerry Kostal 1899-1947

KOSTAL, SNYDER, GOSCH, WHEELER, BRADE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 7/17/2021 at 09:27:26

6 February 1947 - The Anamosa Journal

Royal DeWitte "Junior" Snyder, 21, Wyoming, was bound over to the grand jury on a second degree murder charge Wednesday morning following a hearing at Anamosa before George C. Lawrence, justice-of-the-peace.

Death of Jerry Kostal, 47, Snyder's father-in-law last Thursday night is alleged to have been caused by a blow struck by Snyder.

Mr. Snyder was at liberty Wednesday afternoon when $1,500 bond was raised.

Action grew out of an altercation over a card game at a Wyoming tavern last Thursday afternoon and evening, between Snyder and Charlie Redmond, 21, Wyoming.

Witnesses who testified at Anamosa Wednesday included Charles Redmond, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Redmond, and Dr. C. R. Smith, all of Wyoming.

Evidence showed that argument started over a 50 cent debt from the card game. Snyder is reputed to have been drinking. Mr. Kostal tried to intercede and get his son-in-law to go home. Charlie Redmond did go home and Snyder followed him to the Will Redmond home where he continued argument.

Mr. Kostal followed his son-in-law into the Redmond home and took him by the arm and tried to pursuade him to leave. Witnesses testified they saw Snyder draw back his arm as if to strike a blow at Kostal, but did not see the blow fall.

Kostal fell through the outside door and across the sidewalk. Dr. Smith testified that Kostal was dead when he arrived. There was a bruise over Mr. Kostal's eye, which could have been from a blow. There was no indication that Kostal had struck his head on the sidewalk in his fall, according to Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith had told a coroner's jury that Mr. Kostal had a bad condition of his heart.

Coroner's jury called by Frank L. Harrington, Wyoming, Jones county coroner, had freed Snyder after a hearing last Saturday afternoon.

Jury decided that Kostal died from over-exertion and excitement, that Kostal fell as he started to leave the house, stumbling over a step and into a snow bank.

Second degree murder charges were filed last Tuesday by County Attorney C. F. Shimanek. Hearing was continued until Wednesday when state was unable to obtain attendance of its witnesses.

Funeral service for Mr. Kostal, 47, was held Monday afternoon from the Presbyterian church in Wyoming with Rev. J. H. Blakemore in charge.

Mr. Kostal was born June 28, 1899 in Czechoslovakia near Prague. When he was six years old, the family came to the United States settling in Davenport. He attended the Davenport schools.

In 1929, he was married to Emma Kalouse Snyder, Monticello, and the home since has been in Wyoming. He has been employed in the LaPlante Choate Co. at Cedar Rapids for the last several years, prior to that time he was employed by the road maintenence crew of Jones county.

He is survived by his widow; a step-son, Royal "Junior" Snyder, his father, John Kostal, Davenport; three sisters and three brothers, Mrs. Anna Gosch, Sheridan, Wyo.; Mrs. Marian Wheeler, Mrs. Helen Brade, both of Davenport, Frank Kostal, Blue River, B. C., Canada; Joe Kostal, Des Moines, and John Kostal, San Francisco, Calif.