Beckham County, OK - Obits: Raymond V. Mayes, 1928
19 August 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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MAYES, RAYMOND V.
(6 Sep 1928, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
A bullet from an automatic pistol claimed to have been held in the hands
of his estranged wife, late Tuesday night ended the life of Raymond V.
Mayes, 34 years old, motor-car dealer and theatre owner of Erick,
Oklahoma.
The shooting occurred in an automobile in the 400 block of East Tenth
street, opposite an apartment house where Mrs. Molly Mayes, the wife had
been living for two months since their separation.
Sister Held as Witness.
Miss Ruby Belle Gardenhire, Mrs. Mayes' sister and D. L. Roberts, both of
Los Angeles with whom Mrs. Mayes has been living in a rooming house, were
witnesses to the shooting.  They were being held at the city jail as
material witnesses.
J. K. Wright, county attorney and Charles A. Becker, night chief of
police, after five hours of questioning of Mrs. Mayes, Miss Gardenshire
(sic), Roberts and other witnesses, said Mayes death was the culmination
of a quarrel between the separated couple.
Mayes died as the result of a bullet wound which penetrated his head from
his forehead to the back of his skull.  His body was being held Wednesday
at Watts-McAtee funeral home.
Mrs. Mayes accused the dead man of attacking her while she was seated in
her automobile in front of her place on East Tenth street.  She declared
the revolver with which Mr. Mayes was shot, was bought by him several
months ago, before their separation.
When her husband struck her she reached into a side pocket of the car
where they had been accustomed to carry the gun and drew it out.  Mayes
she said, grabbed her arm and the gun exploded, sending the bullet into
his head.
Walter Benson, 400 block East Tenth Street, justice of the peace, and Mrs.
Benson were witnesses to the fight, from the opposite side of the street
as they approached the Mayes car.
Arthur Lewis, Norman, agent for the First National Film Distributor
company, also was in the Mayes' car when he drove to the scene of the
shooting.  Lewis had been invited by Mayes, he told the police, to drive
to a sandwich stand in the northeast part of the city.
McAmos and Coffey deserted the scene of the shooting before officers
arrived.  They were picked up at Eighth Street and Broadway by Von Elm and
Burnett.  They were carrying a traveling bag and walking in the rain when
they excited officers' suspicion.  They admitted their connection with the
affair.
The three men were instructed to spend Tuesday night at a hotel and report
at Wright's office Wednesday morning for a continued investigation.
Roberts said he was married and had a wife and three children living in
Los Angeles.  He said he met Miss Gardenhire and Mrs. Mayes here a month
ago and when they telegraphed him at his parents home at Bedford, Pa.
The preliminary investigation showed that Mayes quarreled with his wife
over their separation and over the fact that she was living with her
sister and Roberts.
Mayes came to Oklahoma City Tuesday night from Erick to talk to his wife
about the way she was living and about their nine year old son, Raymond,
Jr., who has been a student for several months at the Adery college for
boys, 300 block East Eighth street.
Mrs. Mayes told Wright and Becker she was afraid of her husband and that
he was extremely jealous of her.  She said when he telephoned her she took
her sister and drove to the business district in hopes of meeting Mayes to
talk with him, where she might have protection if she needed it.  She did
not find him and returned to her East Tenth street address.
Miss Gardenshire told police she ran into the house, leaving the couple
fighting in the car, to call Roberts.  Mrs. Mayes did not alight from the
motor car, she said.
When Roberts reached the car, he said, they were quarreling violently. 
Mrs. Mayes was seated in the right front seat of the car.  Miss Gardenhire
regained her seat under the wheel and was trying to start the engine. 
Mayes was reaching across the sister's lap, holding Mrs. Mayes by one arm,
the other fist clinched in her hair.  Roberts said he tried to pull Mayes
away.
(6 Sep 1928, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Mayes Killed In Oklahoma City
Telephone information has been received in Sayre Wednesday noon of the
fatal shooting of "Dink" Mayes, Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.  Mayes was
a prominent Erick business man, proprietor of the picture show and owner
of a car agency.  Roy McAmis of this city went with Mayes to the city. 
Complete details at this time are not available.
(13 Sep 1928, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham co, OK):
Mr. Raymond V. Mayes was born May 12th, 1896, at Ranger, Texas.  He
departed this life September 4th, 1928, at the age of 32 years, 3 months,
22 days.  He was married to Miss Mollie Gardenshire of McLean, Texas,
March 10th, 1915.  To this union two children were born, the oldest
preceded his father in death Feb. 17th, 1919, at the age of nine months.
He leaves to mourn his departure a wife Mrs. Mollie Gardenshire Mayes and
Raymond V. Mayes, Jr., of his immediate family.  He also leaves a father
Ed. S. Mayes of Erick and five brothers and two sisters, namely Roy Mayes
of Memphis, Texas, Clarence Mayes of Los Angeles, California; Tom Mayes of
New York City, Jessie and Elmo Mayes of Erick, Oklahoma.  His sisters are
Mrs. Ethel Smith of Fort Worth, Texas, and Mrs. Eunice Morgan of Galva,
Kansas.
Other relatives present at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Gardenshire
(father and mother of Mrs. Mollie Mayes), Mr. H. C. Gardenshire (a
brother), and four sisters, Mrs. E. E. Evans, Misses Maud, Pauline, and
Ruby Gardenshire.  Also a host of other relatives and friends.
The funeral services were held at the Baptist Tabernacle in Erick, and
were conducted by Rev. A. R. Hutchinson of the Methodist Church assisted
by Revs. S. N. Wilson and Galin Jordan.  His remains were laid to rest in
the Erick cemetery, Sunday afternoon, September 9th, 1928.
It was estimated that about 3000 people attended the funeral services.
(27 Sep 1928, Thursday, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
Murder charges against Mrs. Mollie Mayes and D. L. Roberts, 409 E. Tenth
street, growing out of the death of R. V. Mayes, the former's husband,
September 4, were dismissed Thursday by George H. Giddings, justice of the
peace.
Giddings took the case under advisement Tuesday after a preliminary
hearing in which Mrs. Mayes testified in her own defense.  Mrs. Mayes
admitted holding the pistol with which her husband was shot fatally, but
said that her husband grabbed her hand and struck her three times with the
gun, causing it to discharge.  Roberts had nothing to do with the affray
other witnesses testified.
Mrs. Mayes although separated from her husband at the time of the shooting
took charge of the funeral arrangements for him.  He was buried at Erick,
where he had operated a theatre.
(5 Sep 1929, Thursday, Erick Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
On September 4th, 1928, R. V. Mayes, our beloved husband, father and
friend passed from this world of sorrow to the land where all is bright
and happy.  We have missed him more than words can tell.
Mrs. Mollie Mayes,
R. V. Mayes, Jr.,
Walter Morgan.

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