Mayes, George (1903-1934)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1934 Oct 31 p. 4

Birth date: 1903

text of obituary:

LOCAL

. . .

— The following report of a brutal tragedy near Chicago which appeared in the daily newspapers of the country last Monday may be of special interest to many Review readers: "Chicago, Oct. 28. — Three young women rode through the city today in police squad cars and helped officers pick up suspects in the slaying of George Mayes, 31, of Mt. Vernon, Ill., who died to protect the young women from the advances of two hoodlums who had robbed Mayes.

"Mayes was slain late Saturday night, while his fiancee, Miss Alta Eicher, 29, Summerfield, Ill., looked on in horror. With them were her sister, Irma, 24, and their house guest, Miss Ida May Flettner, 29, of Mexico, Mo.

"The party was on the way home after a trip to the world's fair. Their car halted for a stop light on Normal avenue, and two hoodlums, pistols in hand, climbed aboard. One crawled in beside the driver and his fiancee, and the other got in beside the two girls in the back seat.

"Both gunmen made advances to the women while they forced Mayes to drive to a lonely spot. There they forced him from the car, taking in all about $32 from the party.

"Mayes, fearful for the safety of the women, jumped back toward the car and the man in the back seat fired three bullets into his body. The hoodlums fled, leaving their victim dead." The editor wonders whether the Eicher sisters mentioned might be granddaughters of the late John Eicher, Sr., an old resident of Summerfield, Ill., at whose home he was well acquainted. Citizens everywhere are shocked by such bold lawlessness and sympathize with all those affected by the tragic incident.