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Ricketts, Sherman (1899-1962)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jul 5 p. 7
Birth date: 1899
text of obituary:
West Liberty, Ohio. — Rev. nelson Kanagy, pastor of the Oak Grove Mennonite Church near this Mad Rive Valley town, and his wife barely escaped serious injury or death early Friday morning, June 29, when a blazing gun battle a block from their home sent a bullet smashing through their bedroom wall, showering the room with plaster.
When the gunbattle was over, Police Chief Sherman Ricketts, 63, was lying dead on the sidewalk and his assailant, 24-year-old Earl Ralph Jacobs from Addison, Mich. was lying on the street half a block away writhing in pain from a shattered upper arm and left ankle.
Chief Ricketts was summoned by neighbors who reported a "suspicious" car in their neighborhood. Ricketts surprised the young man just as he was starting to switch license plates from Sam Zook's car to his stolen Corvair. Jacobs drew a .22-caliber Luger pistol and started shooting at the chief at point blank range.
In the gun battle Ricketts was struck twice in the chest, puncturing both his lungs, and once in the abdomen. He was an excellent shot but apparently he was mortally injured before he had a chance to use his own gun. Jacobs shot nine cartridges in all as he fled. He was attempting to load another clip of shells when school superintendent William R. Dodge came on the scene and kicked his gun out of his reach. Ricketts had emptied his gun which contained six cartridges.
The shooting at 3:00 o'clock in the morning roused the whole neighborhood. Officers of the law converged on the scene in minutes and arrested the young culprit. He was taken to the Mary Rutan Hospital in nearby Bellefontaine where he underwent surgery for his shattered arm and ankle. Prosecuting Attorney Robert Dunlap is seeking all the evidence against him in preparation for laying formal charges.
Chief Ricketts body is at the Hostetter Memorial home in West Liberty where county coroner, Fred Kaylor, performed an autopsy and removed three bullets from his body. He labelled the slaying "murder" and his verdict included "shooting with intent to kill." Sheriff Donald Horn said, "Jacobs has a tremendous criminal record." He intends to file a formal charge of murder against Jacobs.
Rev. Kanagy suffered no ill effects from the shooting except some shock.