Iowa
Old Press
Leon Journal Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
July 7, 1927
FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT
R. C. Baker, of Kellerton, Fatally Injured When Car Struck Guard
Rail South of Osceola.
R.C. Baker, of Kellerton, 44 years old, a brother of Mrs. Clint
McConnell, of Leon, died in a hospital at Osceola Tuesday noon,
from injuries received in an automobile accident about 4 miles
south of Osceola on the Jefferson Highway. Mr. Baker had attended
the celebration at Osceola, and left Osceola about midnight in
company with George Kirk and another party whose name we were
unable to learn. There were many cars on the road that night
which raised a lot of dust, and in some manner the car in which
Baker was riding crashed into the guard rail, one of the rails of
the fence penetrating the cowl of the car and pierced Baker's
abdomen, inflicting a frightful wound. He was taken to a hospital
in Osceola and given attention, but he passed away about noon the
following day.
[Transcriber's note: Mrs. Clint McConnell's name was Elizabeth Baker. R. C. Baker (her brother) was buried the same day as Deputy Sheriff Clint McConnell (her husband) was murdered -see article below - transcribed by K.B., March 2009]
The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, July 14, 1927
DEPUTY SHERIFF McCONNELL KILLED
Was Shot Down by Sam Petty and Herb Pollard, Lineville
Bootleggers Thursday Evening.
MURDERERS MADE THEIR ESCAPE. $1000 REWARD OFFERED
Deputy sheriff Clint McConnell was shot and fatally injured last
Thursday evening when he attempted to arrest Sam Petty and Herb
Pollard, who were delivering five gallons of liquor to Louie
Greenland at a point on the Leon and Grand River road about seven
miles northwest of Leon, and died at the Leon hospital Friday
morning at 3:30 o’clock, and Petty and Pollard made their
escape and have not been captured.
It seems that Louie Greenland, a young man living near Grand
River, made a trip to Lineville the first of last week, where he
met Petty, who runs a hardware and produce store in Lineville,
and negotiated with him for the purchase of several gallons of
liquor, arrangements being made for Petty to deliver the liquor
at a point east of Delray. Greenland met him at the appointed
place, Petty being accompanied by his cousin, Herb Pollard, who
lives on one of Petty’s farms south of Lineville. They were
in a Chevrolet coupe and the negotiations for the liquor were
concluded all except paying for it. Greenland made out a check
for the amount and tendered it to Petty, who refused to take the
check, saying that nothing but money went with him. Greenland
finally said he would drive into Grand River and get the check
cashed and left, with the understanding he would come back.
He drove to Grand River and while there saw deputy sheriff
McConnell, who had attended his brother-in-law’s funeral
there that afternoon and told him about the deal, and proposed
that McConnell go out and capture the liquor. They started for
the scene and before reaching it McConnell left his car and got
in with Greenland so the men would not suspicion anything. They
met the Petty car in the road at a point 135 yards south of the
Grand River and Van Wert road, just south of the Richey farm
occupied by Bob Upfield. Petty’s car was coming from the
south and the two cars met and went a little past each other,
both stopping on the east side of the road. Greenland went up to
the Petty car, and Pollard got out and raised the lid at the back
of the car and Greenland took hold of the sack containing the
liquor. Pollard refused to let him have it, and just then
McConnell stepped up to the car and reached for Pollard, saying
he would take it, and tried to put a pair of handcuffs on
Pollard, and then Petty who was sitting in the car shot
McConnell, and at the same time Pollard who had run north
commenced shooting.
McConnell was evidently struck by the first shot fired by Petty,
but he pulled his revolver and as Petty started driving the car
away commenced shooting at it. McConnell was struck by four
bullets fired from a .380 automatic using steel jacketed
cartridges. One bullet struck him in the left arm, going through
his arm and through his lung almost through his body, another one
struck him in the side below the ribs and went through his
stomach, the bullet lying just under the skin, a third struck him
in the thigh, and fourth just grazed the skin across his
shoulders.
The shooting was witnessed by Greenland, who as soon as the first
shot was fired ran to his car and jumped in and drove to Leon and
notified sheriff Frank Kendall. George Redman, who lives a short
distance west of the scene of the shooting, his sons Jack and
Rolland and his son-in-law, Clyde Watson, were also witnesses, as
they were on top of a load of hay about a quarter of a mile
directly east of the scene, and they could see the smoke from the
guns as the shots were fired. They were driving north and after
McConnell had emptied his gun at the Petty car, Pollard jumped
into the car and drove rapidly away, turning east and Redman and
his sons and Watson were almost out to the road when they turned
north on the Van Wert road, so close that Mr. Redman noticed the
number of the car which bore a Missouri license plate 188-675. It
was only a short distance from there west to the road which runs
south, and when they reached it they saw a man crouched down at
the side of the road, who waved his hand to them, and they went
to him and saw it was McConnell, who told Mr. Redman he had been
badly shot, and wanted him to get him to a doctor at Leon as
quick as possible.
Mr. Redman was driving his car and McConnell was assisted into
the car and they started for Leon, McConnell insisting it was
necessary to get to a doctor quick, when Mr. Redman suggested
that he take him to his home a short distance away, but McConnell
said he was going to die if he did not get to a doctor soon. He
was conscious and able to sit up in the car, and told Mr. Redman
about the shooting. He was suffering great pain, and when the
Harris farm four miles from Leon was reached he said they would
have to stop as he could not stand it to go farther. Harry
Kendall, a brother of sheriff Frank Kendall lives on the farm,
and McConnell was assisted into the house and Mrs. Kendall phoned
Leon for doctors. Drs. Eiker and Mitchell both driving there. It
was seen that nothing could be done there as McConnell was
sinking rapidly, so an ambulance was secured and he was brought
to the Leon hospital, but nothing could be done to save his life
and he passed away at 3:30 the next morning.
Sheriff Kendall as soon as notified of the shooting by Greenland,
secured a few men and started at once to try and locate Petty and
Pollard, but they succeeded in getting away. Officers at
Lineville and Princeton were notified to watch for the car and
three or four men who were deputized by Princeton sheriff were
stationed to watch the road running form Lineville-Princeton
paving west to the houses on the Petty farm on the Mineral
Springs road. About four o’clock Friday morning a car
supposed to contain Petty and Pollard drove by them without
lights and driving very fast. It stopped at the Petty farm house,
and the posse watched for some time while one of them went to
Lineville to phone about it, but when other officers reached the
scene, there was no one in the car and it was thought the men
were hiding in the house of Petty or that of Pollard who lived in
a tenant house on the south side of the road. An examination of
the car showed that McConnell had shot into the car three times,
one shot going through the rear glass and through a brief case
which was against the glass, a second shot went just over the top
of the glass and a third was to the upper right hand corner of
the body near the glass.
There is considerable brush and timber on the Petty farm, and
soon a big force of armed men was on the scene, sheriffs being
present from all the surrounding counties. Friday morning word
was phoned to Leon that the fugitives were surrounded and asking
for more men and guns and several car loads left at once. It
looked like an army had stopped there from the number of men and
guns. The house of Petty was searched, and also that of Pollard
but the men were not found. A small shack was thought to be the
hiding place of the men, and this was guarded until bloodhounds
were brought from Chillicothe, but the men were not in the shack,
but mash barrels were found, but no still, and the dogs would not
work, taking up a scent, but following it only a short distance
in a hog lot and there they quit, and late that afternoon the
posses were disbanded, as Petty and Pollard seemed to have
vanished. If they are in the vicinity of Lineville they are well
concealed, but the car may have been driven there and left by
some one else and Petty and Pollard may be many miles away.
State agents G. W. Atkins and H. M. Stoner came to Leon the next
day after the shooting and are still here working the case. A
reward of $1000 has been offered for the apprehension and deliver
of the men to an Iowa officer, $500 being offered for each man.
Petty is about 55 years old, five feet six inches tall, weights
about 140, sandy complexion, dark brown hair, quite gray at this
time, irregular teeth, chews tobacco continuously, eyes squint
and he droops his head. Pollard is about 30 years old, five feet
seven, weights around 130 pounds and is thin faced, dark hair,
and is an ex-service man. Both men are poorly dressed, and at the
time of the shooting Pollard was wearing overalls.
Deputy McConnell had been sheriff under former sheriff F. L.
Lorey and when Kendall took the office the first of the year he
appointed McConnell as his deputy. He was a fearless officer, and
it had been remarked that he was taking too many chances, but he
would only say he would do his duty.
An inquest had not been held at the time The Reporter
went to press, Coroner Dr. C. H. Mitchell summoning P. E. Brady,
L. P. Van Werden and Walt Darrah, as a coroner’s jury, and
they viewed the body at Stewart’s undertaking parlors and
then the inquest was postponed awaiting the return of some
important witnesses. Friday Louie Greenland was placed in jail,
being held as an important witness. The supposition is that Petty
became infuriated when he found out that Greenland had double
crossed him, and it is reported he said he was going to get him,
but McConnell told him he was under arrest and Petty started
shooting at once.
The funeral of deputy McConnell was held at Grand River Sunday
afternoon, and it was the largest funeral ever held in the
county. It was to have been held at the M. E. Church, but on
account of the immense crowd was held in the park. By actual
count 1519 people marched past the casket to view his remains,
and hundreds of course were there who did not view them.
[transcribed by K.B., March 2009]