Oscar William Meyer
Marriages
Ollie Graham Meyer - June 11, 1919
in Milliken, Colorado.
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - November 5, 1937
Oscar William MEYER was born at Mitchell, Colo., February 8, 1888, and was shot to his death on November 2, 1937, within less than a mile of his birthplace. His boyhood days were spent at Mitchell, and he attended school at Canon City and Grand Junction.
In 1909, the family moved to Eagle, where Oscar made his home until the United States entered the World War in 1917. In September of that year he offered his services to Uncle Sam, being assigned to the 89th division, 341st Field Artillery, company E, as a mechanic. The division was soon sent overseas and Oscar served in France for eleven months.
On his discharge from the army, he returned to Red Cliff and June 11, 1919, was united in marriage to Miss Ollie GRAHAM of that place. Red Cliff has since been his home.
His father-in-law was a mortician, and Oscar took up that profession, serving his apprenticeship under Mr. GRAHAM, and was made a licensed mortician in 1924. Since that time he has followed that profession. He is survived by his widow, Ollie Graham MEYER, residing at Red Cliff; a brother, Gus MEYER of Eagle; two sisters-in-law, Mesdames Jake and Ralph MEYER of Denver; six nephews, two nieces, four grandnieces and one grand nephew.
Funeral services will be held at Carlson's hall in Red Cliff Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The American Legion, of which he was an active and loyal member, will have charge of the services and Oscar will be given a military funeral.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - November 12, 1937
Oscar W. Meyer Laid to Rest by Comrades. Funeral of murdered officer held at Red Cliff Sunday was attended by big number of sorrowing friends and admirers.
Despite the fact that a most disagreeable storm raged all day Sunday, the funeral of Oscar MEYER, murdered while in the performance of his duty as an officer of the law on Tuesday, November 2, was one of the largest ever held in Red Cliff. We take an account of the funeral from the Leadville Herald Democrat, published on Monday evening.
"With a crowd of 600 present, among them sixty American Legionnaires who had come to pay homage to a one-time comrade, Oscar W. MEYER was laid to rest in Evergreen [sic] Cemetery, Red Cliff, Sunday afternoon, amid a heavy snowstorm which began falling before the start of the services and continued until after the burial, blocking the freshly cleared road leading to the cemetery and forcing most of the mourners to continue to the burial site on foot.
"One hundred and thirty-five floral pieces filled the stage around the casket to overflowing, as a group of eight voices sang three selections, 'He Lifted Me,' 'Sunrise Tomorrow,' and 'Some Day, He'll Make it Plain.' Their voices at the end were blended in singing 'Taps.'
"The Rev. T. B. McDIVITT of Eagle, himself a Legionnaire and a friend of the deceased, conducted the service. His text was a beautiful tribute to a respected, admired and beloved citizen. Mr. McDIVITT said he wanted to think of Oscar as just going home.
"The last words of the sermon were 'Goodnight, goodnight.'
"The American Legion and Auxiliary of Battle Mountain Post No. 47 turned out enmasse, the Auxiliary wearing white capes and caps. Five members of the Legion were in uniform.
"At the head of the casket the American flag was placed while the Legion colors stood at the foot. Two color guards, Mickey WALSH and Al REEDER of Red Cliff, stood at attention during the services.
"About thirty-five Legionnaires and Auxiliary members from Leadville attended the funeral, while others came from Salida, Minturn, Eagle, Gilman and Gypsum.
"Tow color guards on either side of the American flag and Legion colors led the funeral procession to the cemetery. A firing squad of eight men escorted the body to its final resting place.
"Pallbearers were Judge William H. LUBY, J. D. ALLEN, and Forrest W. CAVE of Eagle, while Frank HILL, Tom COLLINS and Emmet FLAHERTY represented Red Cliff.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - November 5, 1937
BOY BANDIT ESCAPES AFTER SHOOTING DOWN OSCAR MEYER ON TENNESSEE PASS. Escapes in Officers Car After Killing Him--Meyer Meets Death Trying to Serve Warrant--Assisin [sic] Abandons Car--$500 Reward Offered for Capture.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - November 26, 1937
JIM SHERBONDY ARRESTED IN NEBRASKA TUESDAY AND HELD FOR SHERIFF WILSON. Oscar Myer's Muderer Taken Easily--Was Unarmed When Arrested--He is Now On His Way Back to Colorado in Sheriff Wilson's Custody.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 3, 1937
JIM SHERBONDY IS CONFINED IN JAIL IN EAGLE ON CHARGE OF KILLING MEYER. Sheriff Wilson Came in Saturday Night with Prioner--Sherbondy is Still Boastful of Killing Oscar Meyer--Arrangements for a Trial Not Yet Made by District Attorney's Office.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 10, 1937
JIM SHERBONDY PLEADS GUILTY OF MURDER OF OSCAR MEYER, TRAIL SET FOR DEC. 20. Arraigned in District Court Wednesday he Appears Unconcerned as to Fate--Judge Clark of Meeker is Presiding in Trial--Sherbondy's Mother is Under Arrest in Connection with Leadville Gun Robbery.
Jim Sherbondy Pleads Guilty of Murder of Oscar Meyer , Trial Set for Dec . 20 i
ARRAIGNED IN DISTRICT COURT WEDNESDAY HE APPEARS UNCONCERNED AS TO FATEJUDGE CLARK OF MEEKER 19 PRESIDING IN TRIAL—SHERBONDYS MOTHER IS UNDEfl ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH LEADV 1 LLE GUN ROBBERY . With a sardonic grin on his face . is he stood before the court Wednesday afternoon , Jim Sherbondy plead guilty to the charge of murdering Oscar W . Meyer on the afternoon i . November 2 , last , no doubt , having In mind by so doing he was escaping with but a life sentence to tue penitentiary . District Attorney Median filed a direct information in the district court last Saturday , charging Shtibondy with first degree murder . Wednesday aftenoon Sherbondy was brought into court and listened u . the reading vi the charge , and through his attorney , M . J . Mayes of Glenwood Springs entered the plea of guilty . Judge John R . Clark , presiding judge , then read to Sherbondy the consequence of his plea anu again asked him if , in the face 01 those facts , he still desired to plead guilty . Sherboundy nodded his hej and said yes . On agreement of the district attorney and counsel for the defens :, Judge White then named Monday . . December 20 , 1937 , at 10 o clock a m ., as the time for hearing the cas .. Before Sherbondy entered his pl < -t Judge Clark ordered a jury of tort . , • five be called . Sheriff Wilson tin ., District Clerk Merrill at once retired , while the court recessed , ano drew the venie from the jury box . Owing to the fact of the close per sonal relations which existed between Oscar W . Meyer during his life tinu and District Judge Wm . H . Luby , the latter did not care to try the case and has called in Judge John R . Clark of Meeker to set durinj-, the trial of this case . Former Judge Hume S . White ha been retained by District Attorney Meehan to assist him in prosecuting the case , and the defendant has retained Mr . Mayes to defend his interests in the trial .
Mrs . Sherbondy Placed Under Arrest . Directly after disposing of Jim Sherbondy s cise for the time being , the district attorney filed an information against the boys mother , Nannie Sherbondy , charging her with accessory after the fact in the robbery of the Leadville store last June , where it is charged the gun was secured with which Meyer s murder wag accomplished . Mrs . Sherbondy entered a plea of not guilty and her trial was Bet for January 10 , 1938 . On her plea thatsh . was unable to employ a lawyer , Judge Luby , who had resumed the | bench , appointed M . J . Mayes to defend her .
Other case set for hearing at the January session by Judge Luby were as follows : The Stat e of Colorado vs . Chas . Brown , charged with robbery , January 11 . The State of Colorado vs . J . B . Woody and — . — . Gamba , January 12 . This is the case where Woody , a Glenwood Springs meat market proprietor , and his butcher are charged with killing cattle on the range without a butchers license . The damage suit of George Yost against Sam Lemon was set for January 13 . o
SHERBONDY JURY WILL BE SELECTED FROM THIS LIST .
Forty-Five Citizens Selected From Jury Box Wednesday to Report OE December 20 , When Sherbondy Will Come Up For Trial . Following is the jury list ordered by Judge Clark to report for duty In Eagle at 10 ooclock a . m ., Monday , December 20 , at which time Jim Sherbondy will be placed on trial for the murder of Oacar Meyer : Leo P . Dougherty , Eagle . C . M . Terry , Edwards Ralph Manuel , Minturn . John C . Wright , McCoy . H . L . Bardsley , Edwards . J . H . McGlenn , Minturn . Jamea A . Collins , Minturn . Paul Schultx , Edward 3 . Ralph Harris Carbondale . William Wagnor , Carbondale . R . Templeton , Basalt . George W . Watson , Eagle . J . W . Gutzler , Sheephorn . ! George O . Hammer , Minturn . Hans Larsen , Eagle . J . E . Palmer , Minturn . A . J . Sloss , Sloss . C . A . Cline , Minturn . E . L . Hess , Eagle . Martin Eichler , Edwards . Frank Schoonover , Eagle . Willis H . Staup , Gypsum . Thomas Ray Jones , Basalt . Eimer D . Coie , Eagle . Oscar H . Anderson , Gypsum J . J . Holland , Wolcott . Harry H . Watson , Eagle . C . A . Moore , Red Cliff . Don W . Macaulay , Eagle . A . F . Carlson , Basalt . W . S . Aldred , Eagle . R . E . Belden , Eagle . George Strohra , Gypsum . George Figgins , Eagle . J . T . Blake , Red Cliff . Allen Clark , Eagle . E . B . Eaton , Gypsum . John Anderson , Gypsum . I . A . Fender , Basalt . Joseph J . Cerise , Basalt . G . Anthony Smith , Avon . B . R . Wllllts , Carbondale . Fred A . Rule , Eagle . Ormand L . Hurt , McCoy . A . J . Davis , Eagle . Dave Thomas , Gypsum . Kelso J . Gilatrap , Burns . John Hul Peyton , Wolcott .
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 24, 1937
JIM SHERBONDY WILL SERVE REST OF HIS LIFE IN STATE PENITENTIARY> Jury Found Him Guilty of Murder in First Degree in Verdict Returned Tuesday Night--Escaped Death Penalty by Three Days--Prisoner Took Sentence Stoically with no Show of Emotion.
Jim Sherbondy Will Serve Rest of IK IT * Ol . X Tl A J • ibis Liic m Mate remieiiiiary
JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF MURDER IN FIRST , DEGREE IN VERDICT RETURNED TUESDAY NIGHT—ESCAPED DEATH PENALTY BY THREE DAYS—PRISONER TOOK SENTENCE STOICALLY WITH NO SHOW OF | EMOTION .
Judge Clarks Sentence of Sherbondy . It is a rather difficult matter and the Court , always hates to perform a duty of this kind on a boy of your age ; but cither from enviornment . parental neglect , public Indifference , natural tendencies not controlled , or whatever cause whatsoever—although any diagnosis of your case now being too late to do you any good—you , James Sherbondy , instead of coming Unto manhood as a useful and respected member of society have , by the verdict of this Jury demonstrated that you are totally unfit in that respect , and , instead , you aie now present here as a depraved and wicked killer and , like a wild and vicious animal , you must be put under a lock and key to prevent you from associating among decent people . This jury under your plea of guilty have found you guilty of murder In the first uegree and have fixed the penalty at life at hard labor in th e penitentiary . Perhaps only by the graec of God , in that you were not born a month or two sooner , you have escaped the penalty of death . It is the order and judgment of this Court that you are so guilty of murder in the first degree as found by the jury and it Is the further order and judgment of this Court that you , James Sherbondy , be taken from the bar of this Court by the sheriff of Eagle county and returned to the common jail of Eagle county and from thence removed by said sherfiff and transported with all due and convenient speed and within forty-eight hours by him delivered to the warden of the state penitentiary at Canon City , Colorado ; by him and his subordinate officers kept and confined in said penitentiary at hard labor for and during the remainder of your lifetime . May you there live long enough to repent of your sins and wickedness and that before deatn releases you , you may experience the mercy and foreglveness of your Maker . Alone , unattended by even his attorney , still defiant of everything , Jim Sherbondy stood before Judge Clark in the court room \ ; JEagle Tuesda y night and heard the above words of the Judge which ended the world for him , as he was received the sentence for the wanton murder of Oscar W . Meyer on November 2 . For two days this slight , good looking , seventeen-year-old boy had set in the courtroom while witneses told of his crime , intently interested in < . lie proceedings , but with hardly an expression on his face to indicate his thoughts , or that he appreciated the fact that his life wag at stake . He occasionally spoke to his attorney ,, btu infrequently , and i \ few times turned to his father and mother , who had seats all through the trial outside the railing directly back of their ton . ing , directly back of their son . It will not be cheerful Christmas for this vicious lad , born on Christmas eve , 1919 , he will spend his birthday in prison and on Christmas day be a dinner guest of Warden Best at the state prison in Canon City . „ The case was called for trial Monday morning at 10 oclock , beofre a court room crowded with people from all over Eagle county , who were interested in the late of the man who
had kille- in cold blood a man whom most knew and admired as a good and useful citizen . Judge John R- Clark of Meeker presided at the trial and the case was prosecuted by District Attorney Wm . J . Meehan , assisted by former Judge Hume S White . The defendant was represented by Attorney M . J . Mayes of Glenwood Springs . Comparatively little trouble was had in securing a jury , only five jurymen examined being excused for cause , while the People exercised but four preemptory challenges and the defense three . The jury selected was as follpvvs : Martin Elchler , Edwards , ranchman ; Geo . Strohm , ranchman , Gypsum , ranchman ; Oscar Anderson ,,, lanchman , Gypsum ; Ormond Hurt , McCoy , ranchman ; Hans Larsen , Eagle , ranchman ; Kelso Gilstrap , Burns , ranchman ; George Figgins , Eagle , laborer ; Allen Clark , Eagle , ranchman ; Willis H . Staup , Gypsum , ranchman ; Bramlet Willets , Carbondale
ranchman ; Howard Bardsley , Edwards , ranchman ; Ray Jones , Basalt , electric power lineman . W . S . Aidred , ranchman of Eagle , fas chosen red , ranchman of Eagle , was chosen excused from further duty when the jury took th e caae for deliberation . Serbondy bad already pled guilty of the murder of Oscar Meyer and the Jury trial was for the purpose of deterrninlng the degree of the murder and fixing sentence . All through the hearing it was made evident by the defense attorney that he was fighting the idea of premedlated murder , and trying to get a verdict of second degree , and in his plea to the jury , Mr . Mayes confirmed this view . For the people Dr . Houf of Minturn . Ed Pixler , a mortician of Leadville , and Hugh Young , coroner of Eagle county , first testified as to the autopsy held on Meyer s body , and identified the bullets taken from the dead man s body at that time as the ones that had caused his death . Frank Padllla then testified to find
ing Meyer lying in the road as he passed the scene of the murder a few minutes after its occurence ; of the stooping and speaking- to Meyer ,, who told him Jim Sherbondy had shot him twice and then fled In his , Meyer s car . Padllla flagged down W . W . Morris , a meat salesman of Denver , as the latter approached the scene on the highway , and who also testified that Meyer told him he had been shot by Jim Sherbondy . The next person on the scene was Ed Friberg , a truck driver , who testified as to helping lift Meyer to his truck , intending to take him to Red Cliff . But Bert Aituwion , of Anderson Bros , saw mill , located a quarter o ? a mile or so west of where the murder occurred , who had been summoned by fcJherbondyl s younger brother , arrived at this time and Meyer was placed in his car , and he took the dying man to Red Cliff . Meyer said he was dielng at this time , but he was still beathing when Anderson startwith him , but he passed away before Red Cliff was reached .
The next witnesses were Sergeant Francis E . Sullivan and Patrolman Merl e A . Munro e of the Hastings , Nebr ., police department , who arrested Sherbondy at that place on November 23 , after having received one of the reward sheets broadcast by Sheriff Wilson , and recognizing the picture of Sherbondy which it contained , as that of a lodger they had ireleaaed from the bull-pen that morning . Their testimony was important in that they each related yherbondys confession of thcrime e and his detailed statement which told cf the premedlated and malicious murder of Meyer . According to their lestimor . y Sherbondy said he had to kill Meyer to escape arrest , that he was not sorry and would do the same thing again under the same circumstances ; that he hated Meyer because he thought he was a tough cop who beat drunken men over the head with a gun , and who had forced him to go to school In Red Cliff .
The People caled Sheriff W . M . Wilson and Undersheriff Eldon W . Wilson , who went to Hastings after Sherbondy when notified of hia arrest there . They testified that Sherbondy retold them practically the same story he had told the policemen , both In Hastings when they arrived , and later on the train enroute to Eagle . The People rested their case with the testimony of the widow of the dead man , Ollie Graham Meyer , Mrs . Meyer told how her husband was dressed in his laboring clothes , just a pair of overalls and shirtwith t ncco . it on . And to the fact that he was ^ unarmed when he went to arrest Sherbondy , both of hia guns being at home in a dresser drawer .
The defense introduced but two witnesses , the boys mother and the boy himself . The mother testified that James Sherbonudy was her second child , born at Kremmllng , Colo ., on Christmas eve , 1919 , whiich testimony was supported by a birth certificate later introduced by Mr . Mayes . She also testified as to the shooting by her son on Tenessee Pass on that faterful afternoon , but was not questioned at length by the people on that subject . Sherbondy then took the stand , denying that part of the officers story of his confession in which they related that he had stated that he killes Meyer maliciously when he shot him on the afternoon of November 2 . He stated on the witness stand that he had no thought of killing him , He stated that hrr and his mother and two younger brothers had left Red Cliff that afternoon to go to Missouri where they intended to locate . He said that th ? first he saw of Meyer was when the latter s car pulled by the truck which he v / as driving and stopped him . That Meyer got out of his car and as he approached the truck , he , Sherbondy , got out . That Meyer said you will have to go back to Red Cliff with me , Jim . That he pulled hia gun as he alighted from the truck and commanded Meyer twice to stick up his hands . Meyer did not obey
the command , but continued to advance ; that Meyer placed his hand to his hip as if to draw a gun . Bher-hnrt . jy guM he then let **
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - November 26, 1937
Jim Sherbondy Arrested in Nebraska Tuesday and Hid for Sheriff Wilson
OSCAR MEYERS MURDERER TAKEN KASILY—WAS UNARMED WHEN ARRESTED—HE IS NOW ON HIS WAY BACK TO COLORADO IN SHERIFF WILSONS CUSTODY .
A phone message was received from Mr , Wilson , who had arrived at Hastings , Thursday morning which relieved all doubt of the prisoner being Jim Sherbondy . According to the story he told the sheriff , he worked his way west from Tennessee Pass instead of east , keeping to the hills along the railroad tracks . It took him seven or eight days to reach Wolcott , having little or nothing to eat In the meantime. From Wolcot he worked his way across the Plney divide to State Bridge , where he said he had something to eat . From there ho hiked to the Moffat tunnel where he caught a train into Denve. According to this, he could not have been in Pueblo the morning following the killing of Oscar Meyer .
James Sherbondy has been caught. Tuesday afternoon Sheriff Wilson received a telephone call from Chief of Police John A . James of Hastings , Nebr ., which was the most welcome message the sheriff has had in a long time . James told Wilson that he had just taken into custody Jim Sheroondy, 19 , who on November 2, shot and killed Oscar W . Meyer near Tennessee Pass , and who has been the object of a nation wide search since.
Sargent F . E . Sullivan of the Hastings police force said that Sherbondy had come to the police station Monday evening
and asked for night s lodging , which was given him in the jail . He was permitted to leave about 8 : 00 o clock the next morning . An hour or so later, Chief James received a copy of the police bulletin sent broadcast by the Sheriff last week , which contained Sherbondy's picture and description and offering a reward of $ 500 for his arrest and conviction . The police noticed the resemblance of the picture to the man they had just released . Sergt. Sullivan took another officer and went to the railroad yards and kept watch on outgoing trains. About 2:30 o clock on Tuesday afternoon Sherbondy was arrested as he was boarding a west bound train . Apparently he was doubling back on his trail , as the train he was boarding was Denver bound. On being questioned by the police , Sherbondy finally admitted his identity, and expressed his willingness to return without extradition . He described the gun used in the killing , which tallies with that now in the possesion of Sheriff Wilson , found in a Denver pawn shop last week . Sherbondy was unarmed when taken by I police. He is reported to have told the Hastings poller that he didnt want to kill the Colorado officer , but that he had to do it . Sheriff Wilson and Undersheriff Eldon Wilson left Wednesday morning fdr Nebbraska to return Sherbondy to Colorado for trial for Meyer s murder Mr . Wilson has worked night and day on Sherbondy s capture since the day he committed the crime and then completely disappeared He had uncovered his record and obtained the information concerning him whilch led to his arrest
In Pennsylvania , on August 4 , 1937, he was arrested at Carnegie for riding a train and served ten days in j jail . He used the alias of Robebrt R. Roberts ( his mother s maiden name ) at that time , He has also gone under the names of Jim Arnold and Stanley J. Kanowichy during the short period of his career of crime. Sherbondy joined the U . S . army at Fort Logan , July 11, 1936 , and deserted therefrom at Fort Warren , Wyo., July 31 , 1936 . He is wanted • in Denver , Colo ., and Chicago , 111 ., on charges of aggravated robbery . The federal government was also looking for him on a charge of stealiing an automobile in Pueblo last June and driving it into Nebraska , where he abandoned it. The relief in this community at the capture of Sherbondy is immense , and that he was taken without the loss of another life is also a relief , as it was firmly believed that he would resist capture to the very last . He had killed unarmed Oscar Meyer in order to keep from being taken Into custody on a minor charge , and that he would go the limit in order to avoid trial for that murder seemed a logical conclusion .
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 2 - November 8, 1937
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5 - November 5, 1937
