VANDERSHULE, Gail

VANDERSHULE, WEAK, STORER, FRAZIER, RAYNOR, ALLELY, HURST, BALDOZIER, WHITE, BOBBIT, SHENNEFIELD, CHANTRY, DANNER, TALBOTT, WILSON, LINQUIST, STRANATHAN, IRELAND, BENTON, HATFIELD, BIGGERSTAFF, ORSDEL, PICKERING, CLARK, OGDEN, CHANCELLOR, DEFORD, LYBARG

Posted By: Lois Shaul-volunteer (email)
Date: 3/1/2014 at 17:41:42

Malvern News- July 28, 1932
Gail Vandershule Met Tragic Death Wednesday Night-
Shot and Killed by Fred Cozad Near Wabash Depot in Malvern

One of the most shocking tragedies in the history of Malvern took place last Wednesday night about 11 o'clock, near the Wabash depot, in which Fred Cozad shot and almost instantly killed his son-in-law, Gail Vandershule, and then made his escape.
A few months ago, Gail Vandershule, the twenty year old son of Mr. and Mrs. F.B. Vandershule, and Mildred, the only daughter of Cozad, were married. They went to live with his parents, seven miles southeast of Malvern, A few weeks ago she returned to the home of her parents and they have been estranged since that time.
Wednesday evening Gail, with his parents and his younger brother came over to Malvern and had been over to the swimming pool park and the outside show and were returning when Cozad accosted them as they passed the Wabash depot, and wanted to talk to Gail. He seemed rather wild in his talk and told the young man to go down to his home and talk things over with the girl. He refused, saying he would meet her anyplace else.
Cozad, who was standing with his back to the loading platform, flourished a revolver and declared he would shoot him if he wouldn't go down there. A crowd had gathered by that time and Roscoe Weak attempted to reason with Cozad as he knew him well, but he ordered him to stand back or he would shoot him, saying he had a job to do and was going to do it.
He again told Vandershule that he would shoot him and this time he did, the bullet entering the young man's right side, and he started to close in on Cozad, who shot him again, this time the bullet penetrating the body near the heart and he fell, expiring shortly after without speaking again.
Several of the men standing near, including Roscoe Weak, L.L. Storer of Emerson, and H.E. Storer of Malvern, the last named of whom grabbed him, but in the crush he broke loose and although the young man's father managed to hit him with his flashlight, Cozad eluded the bunch and holding the crowd at bay with his revolver escaped. he ran toward his home and Nightwatch Jake Frazier followed him but when he reached the house the man had eluded him and made his escape to the country and although diligent search has been made, he was not found until Monday when he was located at Grand Island, Nebr.
County coroner Raynor was called and about 2 o'clock a.m. empaneled the following jury; H.O. Allely, J.R. Hurst, and James Baldozier, who, after taking into consideration the evidence offered, returned a verdict of death from gunshot at the hands of Fred Cozad.
It was a most deplorable and terrible tragedy and a shock and surprise to all who knew the participants, for while many knew that Cozad had a terrible temper when aroused, no one would have suspected him of going to such an extreme.

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR GAIL VANDERSHULE.

Funeral services for Gail Vandershule were held in the Presbyterian church Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Dr. Henry D. White, assisted by Rev. L.R. Bobbitt, pastor of the First Baptist church, and Rev. Walter Shennefield, pastor of the Christian church.
Mrs. F.R. Chantry and Mrs. L.A. Talbott, accompanied by Mrs. I.L. Donner, sang.
A profusion of beautiful flowers testified to the love, esteem and sympathy of friend, relatives and societies. Misses Bernice Wilson, Claradel Linquist, and Helen and Marian Stranathan acted as flower bearers.
The class of 1930 of Malvern high school of which Gail was a member attended in a body as a tribute to their departed classmate.
Interment was in the Malvern cemetery. The pall bearers were Max Ireland, Max Benton, Forrest Hatfield, Arthur Hatfield, Clayton Biggerstaff
and Eugene Van Orsdel.
The funeral was one of the largest here in some time. The church was filled and almost as many more were seated outside on the slope to the east of the church where with the windows of the church open, the services could be heard quite well.
Many from a distance came. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. David Pickering of Syracuse, Nebr., Mrs. Emma Clark and daughter and W.B. Ogden and family of Carson, and the aged grandmother of the deceased, Mrs. Sarah DeFord of Nebraska City, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. Lybarg----.
The following obituary was read;
Lonnie Gail Vandershule was born July 11, 1912 near Tabor. He passed from this life July 20, 1932 at the age of twenty years and nine days. With the exception of one year, Mills County has been his home. He was graduated from Malvern high school with the class of 1930. He leaves his father, mother and one brother, Thomas, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas DeFord of Bartlett, and aged great grandmother, Mrs. Sarah DeFord of Nebraska City, Nebr., and numerous aunts and uncles, relatives and friends.