PIERCE, Dean Kenneth 1921-1934

PIERCE, DODGE

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 6/19/2011 at 14:32:59

Dean Kenneth Pierce 1921-1934

#1
FREED ON BONDS ON CHARGES OF MANSLAUGHTER
BOY HIT BY STRAY SHOT WHILE BATHING IN CEDAR RIVER

Osage, May 21 – Three local men were released today on bonds of $2,000 each, charged with manslaughter in the death of Dean Pierce, 14, who was shot yesterday afternoon while he was bathing in the Cedar River. The three men are Oscar Pohle, 44, local druggist; Glenn Hill, 35, electric meter reader; and Erving Martin, 40, furnace repair man.

The boy, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Pierce, was bathing alone in the Cedar River just west of Osage when the tragedy occurred. His family was picnicking in the Lewis Husselman woods. Members of his family, officers were told, called to the persons above stream to stop shooting but they might not have heard these calls, it was said.

A group of men upstream about 220 yards were shooting at various marks, including objects floating in the water. Some brush obstructed their vision partly down the water, Sheriff Charles Kathan stated.

When one bullet struck the water near the boy, he laughingly said “They’ll hit me next time.”
The next bullet struck the boy who was waist deep in water. He ws nit in the head. That was about 3:30 o’clock in the afternoon. He was rushed to a Mason City hospital where he died Sunday at 10 o’clock.

The three men who were arrested were at a point known as Little Spring when the shooting occurred. Sheriff Kathan said they had a case of beer with them and he was investigating to determine whether they had any other intoxicating liquor near.

Shortly after the shooting, as investigation was started by officers. The three men were arrested and placed in jail Sunday evening about 6 o’clock.

A hearing was held before Justice of the Peace Arthur Hungerford shortly before midnight and bonds for the three men fixed. They furnished bonds and were released.

An inquest was planned for Monday afternoon in the death of the small boy.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Monday May 21, 1934

#2
THREE HELD TO GRAND JURY AT OSAGE IN DEATH OF BOY
WAIVE HEARINGS WHEN ARRAIGNED
CASES TO BE CONSIDERED AT OCTOBER TERM OF COURT; BONDS FURNISHED

Osage, May 24 – Oscar Pohle, Glen Hill and Irving Martin Thursday morning waived preliminary hearing on manslaughter charges and were bound over to the October term of district court when they were arraigned before Justice Arthur Hungerford.

The three are accused in the death of Dean Pierce, 13 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Pierce who was accidentally shot Sunday afternoon while he was bathing in the Cedar River.

Bonds for the three were fixed at $2,000 each. They furnished bonds and were released. Charles against the three were filed b the father of the slain boy. The October term of court will open October 1.

At the inquest it was brought out by the attending physician that the wound had large ragged edges and that the bullet which struck the boy might have first hit a rock or the water. No individual was named as guilty by the coroner’s jury.
In addition to the three men who were charged with manslaughter, others who were summoned to the Sheriffs office the night of the shooting were Birchard Bruch , J. A. Holliday and Albert Scharfe. They were in the group which was shooting at marks when the tragedy occurred. They were questioned and have been released.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Thursday May 24, 1934

(Note in the November 29, 1934 newspaper the three men were freed by the grand jury and no indictments returned.)

#3
Osage City Cemetery, Osage, Mitchell, Iowa
Dean Kenneth Pierce…death/burial May 22, 1934

Dean was the son of John Mackane Pierce and Myrtie Belle (Dodge) Pierce