Samuel Gann of Winchester Va Family

From Nina Graham, 806 S 3rd St, Odessa, MO 64076-1455 (816)633-4094 4/23/96.

!Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO, Sept 5, 1936, Page 5. Two Slain in Rage Killing Wife and Father-in-law, Odessa, MO, Man Shoots Himself Fatally. Vivian Eagan, 10, Sees Her Mother and Grandfather Shot Down On the Farm. Climax to Marital Discord. Arthur McElfish Had Been Ordered to Stay Away From Home. Had Beaten Woman. Two slayings and a suicide involving the family of one of the most prominent citizens of Odessa, shocked this Missouri town today. Thomas L. Gann, 65 years old, police judge of Odessa and former mayor, and his daughter, Annette McElfish, 36 years old, were slain today at Mrs. McElfish's home about six miles south of here. Arthur McElfish, 40 years old, fired the double-barreled shotgun which killed father and daughter, and then committed suicide by discharging the gun into his abdomen. Follows Marital Dischord. Dr. E. L. Johnson, Concordia, Lafayette County coroner, said the deaths were murder and suicide. Marital dischord between Mr. and Mrs. McElfish had resulted in a court order from Judge Gann's court about a ruling for him to leave town, and that was the reason for the shooting. The two witnesses to the crime were Vivian Eagan, 10-year old daughter from a previous marriage, and L. T. Alkire, who had taken Gann to the McElfish home to visit his daughter after receiving a phone call from her. Alkire stayed in his truck and Tom Gann walked toward the house. Mr. Alkire got out after the two shots were fired and asked him to put the gun down. Alkire was out of the truck and McElfish told him to get back in the truck, where Vivian had just climed in. He pointed the gun at Vivian and told Alkire to drive away. When Dr. Johnston and Dewey Parrott arrived on the scene they found the body of Mrs. McElfish lying by the roadside. The body of Gann lay in the living room, near the front door. That of McElfish was lying in the same room. Gann had been shot twice, one in the left side from the front and once in the back. The Mother Beaten. Vivian told officers McElfish went to the house late last night and beat her mother. Mrs. McElfish had called her mother at 8 o'clock (today), asking her to send her father out to her home, as she could not get her car started. Gann was not at home but Mrs. McElfish reached him elsewhere. No one knows what she said to him. Mr. and Mrs. McElfish were married about two years ago. They had no children. Mrs. McElfish had petitioned for a divorce and her case was set for Monday. A coroner's inquest will be held Thursday, Dr. Johnson said. Odessa is about 35 miles east of Kansas City on Highway No. 40.

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From Nina Graham, 806 S 3rd St, Odessa, MO 64076-1455 (816)633-4094 4/23/96.

!Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO, Sept 5, 1936, Page 5. Two Slain in Rage Killing Wife and Father-in-law, Odessa, MO, Man Shoots Himself Fatally. Vivian Eagan, 10, Sees Her Mother and Grandfather Shot Down On the Farm. Climax to Marital Discord. Arthur McElfish Had Been Ordered to Stay Away From Home. Had Beaten Woman. Two slayings and a suicide involving the family of one of the most prominent citizens of Odessa, shocked this Missouri town today. Thomas L. Gann, 65 years old, police judge of Odessa and former mayor, and his daughter, Annette McElfish, 36 years old, were slain today at Mrs. McElfish's home about six miles south of here. Arthur McElfish, 40 years old, fired the double-barreled shotgun which killed father and daughter, and then committed suicide by discharging the gun into his abdomen. Follows Marital Dischord. Dr. E. L. Johnson, Concordia, Lafayette County coroner, said the deaths were murder and suicide. Marital dischord between Mr. and Mrs. McElfish had resulted in a court order from Judge Gann's court about a ruling for him to leave town, and that was the reason for the shooting. The two witnesses to the crime were Vivian Eagan, 10-year old daughter from a previous marriage, and L. T. Alkire, who had taken Gann to the McElfish home to visit his daughter after receiving a phone call from her. Alkire stayed in his truck and Tom Gann walked toward the house. Mr. Alkire got out after the two shots were fired and asked him to put the gun down. Alkire was out of the truck and McElfish told him to get back in the truck, where Vivian had just climed in. He pointed the gun at Vivian and told Alkire to drive away. When Dr. Johnston and Dewey Parrott arrived on the scene they found the body of Mrs. McElfish lying by the roadside. The body of Gann lay in the living room, near the front door. That of McElfish was lying in the same room. Gann had been shot twice, one in the left side from the front and once in the back. The Mother Beaten. Vivian told officers McElfish went to the house late last night and beat her mother. Mrs. McElfish had called her mother at 8 o'clock (today), asking her to send her father out to her home, as she could not get her car started. Gann was not at home but Mrs. McElfish reached him elsewhere. No one knows what she said to him. Mr. and Mrs. McElfish were married about two years ago. They had no children. Mrs. McElfish had petitioned for a divorce and her case was set for Monday. A coroner's inquest will be held Thursday, Dr. Johnson said. Odessa is about 35 miles east of Kansas City on Highway No. 40.

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From Nina Graham, 806 S 3rd St, Odessa, MO 64076-1455 (816)633-4094 4/23/96.

Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO, Sept 5, 1936, Page 5. Two Slain in Rage Killing Wife and Father-in-law, Odessa, MO, Man Shoots Himself Fatally. Vivian Eagan, 10, Sees Her Mother and Grandfather Shot Down On the Farm. Climax to Marital Discord. Arthur McElfish Had Been Ordered to Stay Away From Home. Had Beaten Woman. Two slayings and a suicide involving the family of one of the most prominent citizens of Odessa, shocked this Missouri town today. Thomas L. Gann, 65 years old, police judge of Odessa and former mayor, and his daughter, Annette McElfish, 36 years old, were slain today at Mrs. McElfish's home about six miles south of here. Arthur McElfish, 40 years old, fired the double-barreled shotgun which killed father and daughter, and then committed suicide by discharging the gun into his abdomen. Follows Marital Dischord. Dr. E. L. Johnson, Concordia, Lafayette County coroner, said the deaths were murder and suicide. Marital dischord between Mr. and Mrs. McElfish had resulted in a court order from Judge Gann's court about a ruling for him to leave town, and that was the reason for the shooting. The two witnesses to the crime were Vivian Eagan, 10-year old daughter from a previous marriage, and L. T. Alkire, who had taken Gann to the McElfish home to visit his daughter after receiving a phone call from her. Alkire stayed in his truck and Tom Gann walked toward the house. Mr. Alkire got out after the two shots were fired and asked him to put the gun down. Alkire was out of the truck and McElfish told him to get back in the truck, where Vivian had just climed in. He pointed the gun at Vivian and told Alkire to drive away. When Dr. Johnston and Dewey Parrott arrived on the scene they found the body of Mrs. McElfish lying by the roadside. The body of Gann lay in the living room, near the front door. That of McElfish was lying in the same room. Gann had been shot twice, one in the left side from the front and once in the back. The Mother Beaten. Vivian told officers McElfish went to the house late last night and beat her mother. Mrs. McElfish had called her mother at 8 o'clock (today), asking her to send her father out to her home, as she could not get her car started. Gann was not at home but Mrs. McElfish reached him elsewhere. No one knows what she said to him. Mr. and Mrs. McElfish were married about two years ago. They had no children. Mrs. McElfish had petitioned for a divorce and her case was set for Monday. A coroner's inquest will be held Thursday, Dr. Johnson said. Odessa is about 35 miles east of Kansas City on Highway No. 40.