Ex-Cons Kill Cop

OGAN, BARNS, WESSLING, CRAIG, KIERNAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/24/2010 at 10:46:37

Deep River Record; Nov. 14, 1963

EX-CONS KILL COP

Policeman Ralph Ogan, 34, was shot and killed in a burglary attempt on Main street, Grinnell, at 5:45 a.m. Nov. 13.

Witness to the shooting was Dave Barns, a bread truck driver, who saw the car whence the shots came, three or four occupants, a "77" license, and absorbed a 22-cal. bullet in his hip-pocket wallet as he ran to a restaurant to get help.

Later that day, state police arrested Gary L. Wessling, 23, Richard E. Craig, 25, and Tom Kiernan, 23. All had served time at Anamosa reformatory. The suicide attempt of Wessling as police closed in sent him to an Iowa City hospital with a bullet in his head. The other two were taken to Montezuma and charged with the murder.

Ogan is the father of three children, and a 1946 graduate of Montezuma High. He is an Army veteran, and had been on the police force four years. Services were 2 p.m. Saturday, with burial in Pleasant Twp. cemetery, Ewart.

Grinnell Chamber of Commerce is collecting a fund for the benefit of Ogan's family. Some $6,000 was donated in the first two days.