Charles Vernon McGriff (1881-1941)

MCGRIFF

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/7/2013 at 17:27:09

From Ames Milepost October 1941

Sheriff McGriff Killed When He Attempts Capture

Officers Try to Capture Gunnar Overland at His Home

Sheriff C. V. McGriff was killed almost instantly Monday night shortly after 8 o'clock at the farm home of Gunnar Overland south of Ames when he went with a posse of officers to take Overland into custody, after complaint had come that he was home from Knoxville, where he had bee receiving treatment and was threatening his family, having in his possession a revolver shich he carried night and day.

The plan was to get the family out of the house so there would be no danger to them, and then they were going to rush Overland, overpower him and take him into custody for further disposition. A posse of officers consisting of the sheriff, Deputy Harry Mills, Officer Dickinson of Nevada, Chief Cure and Officers Orville Erickson, E. M. Jones and Lester Donelson of the Ames police. Art Johnson of the Tribune accompanied the group together with J. B. Swisher of the state police safety department, who was in the city when the posse got ready to leave.

Planned Capture

The entire plan was capture Overland and to avoid any injury to the wife and daughter, who were virual prisoners in the house. They had agreed to cooperate with the sheriff and did so as far as they were able to, without giving the plan away to Gunnar. Marie, the 18-year-old daughter got out of the house and told the situation inside, when her mother was taking dictation from Overland, in which he was asking that he be not returned to Knoxville.

The plan was worked out that McGriff, Mills and Erickson were to rush the man when they burst through the west door. Officers Jones and Donaldson went to the west window, and Chief Cure, Dickinson and Swisher took stations at the courth.

Deputy Mills

Deputy Sheriff Mills related what happened. He said, "The sheriff expected Mrs. Overland to open the door, but she didn't. So the sheriff opened it and we all three stepped in. The sheriff knew Overland and thought he could take him without any trouble."

"Overland jumped from his cot and in a crouching position drew his gun. I made a dive for him and he shot twice, one practically grazing my cheek and arm. I wrestled with him he shoved the gun down and one bullet went into my leg. He then jerked away and dodged into a nearby darkened room and from that vantage point shot "Mac" and sent the fifth of the six gun loads in his .38 caliber gut toward the sheriff, as he crumpled down under the fusilade of shots from our guns."

Emptied Gun

The sheriff had managed to empty his gun before collapsing and Erickson had fired several.

The wounded deputy continued, "I've never hear the like of it. The room was pretty dark and you could see the guns spit fire for two or three feet. And I could feel it against my cheeks."

"All of a sudden, I felt a pain in my leg. By that time, Overland was on the floor dead. The sheriff took a step or two and said, "He got me, Harry."

"I said, 'He got me too.' By that time the sheriff was swaying. Erickson took hold of him and helped him sink into a chair. He looked me right straight in the eye for just a second. Then he was dead."

The sheriffs office and the Ames police had gas bombs, but none were used. Every precaution was taken to save the women from any possible injury.

Personal History

McGriff had been Story county sheriff since 1937. Born in Trenton, Mo., he was sheriff of Dallas county, Iowa from 1917 to 1919. He was active in the American Legion.

He was an avid follower of high school activities, a member of the Elks and the Masons.

Although born in Missouri, he moved to Iowa with his parents when still a boy and was graduated from the Redfield high school. He was a barber there before coming to Ames.

During the World War he served as chairman of the Dallas county draft board. He also had been a member of the city council at Adel.

Surviving are his wife and four children, Vernon McGriff of Boone, Howard McGriff, Ames gas company employee; Harry McGriff of Chicago, and Mrs. Ethel McKee of Bozeman, Mont.

Paid Tribute

Former Sheriff Nebergall of this county, now chief of the Bureau of Investigation for the state, paid this tribute to Sheriff McGriff, which all in this county will subscribe:

"Through the death Iowa has lost one of its outstanding law officers. He was an exceptionally able sheriff and cooperative in every way. Sheriff McGriff is dead today because he was trying to do a job without bloodshed or endangering the lives of the prisoner's wife and daughter. Always zealous to do his full duty, he was also ever mindful for the safety of innocent persons."

SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Sheriff C. V. McGriff was shot and killed on 20 October 1941.