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Winneshiek County IAGenWeb
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Source: Compiled from numerous articles appearing in the Mason City Globe-Gazette and numerous other Iowa newspapers of the time from 21 July 1933, through the murder trial dates and up to the death of Marvin Trask Grattan on 23 February 1940. The morning of 21 July 1933, Marvin Trask Grattan, 84 years of age, a resident of Decorah, Civil war veteran, and well known horse race promoter and race horse owner nationally, entered a horse barn area at the Decorah Fairgrounds with a magazine, "The Horseman", from which he showed articles and pictures concerning who drove a certain horse in a race at a Indiana racetrack several weeks earlier to Wesley Meade, 23 years of age, and son of Claude Meade, 53 years of age, of Minnesota, a horse trainer at the Decorah Fairgrounds. Wesley Meade then left the barn to jog a race horse but could hear the voices of Mr. Grattan and his father rise in a heated argument. The elder Meade then ordered Mr. Grattan to leave and Mr. Grattan left the fairgrounds area. Later that morning Marvin Grattan returned in company with his grandson, Henry Grattan, aged 23, and the heated argument with Claude Meade resumed. At this point Wesley Meade asked Marvin Grattan to leave the barn before things escaladed further. Just then, Claude Meade grabbed a pitchfork and used the blunt end to prod Henry Grattan from the barn. Marvin Grattan pulled out a revolver and at close range shot twice, the bullet striking Claude Meade in the back and nearly passing through his body. Marvin and Henry Grattan then left the fairgrounds and immediately reported the shooting incident to the Sheriff, who held them in jail pending further investigation. Claude Meade was taken to the Decorah hospital where he died later in the evening on 21 July 1933. His remains were taken to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the next day and his funeral was held the following Monday. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Submitters Notes: Claude Meade: An article in the Mason City Globe-Gazette of 7 November 1933, reports: "A petition was filed in district court by Mabel Florence Meade, wife of Claude Meade of Minneapolis, asking $25,000 damages of Marvin T. Grattan.", "The petition stated that Grattan willfully and maliciously took the life of Claude Meade on July 21, removing the means of financial support from the family, which consisted of Mrs. Meade, Lester, 19, and John Frederick, 16." ( Wesley Meade was over 21 and may not have been able to be claimed as needing support.). Henry Grattan: Was initially held but upon examination was released. He would testify in his grandfather's defense at the subsequent trials. Marvin Trask Grattan: Was tried in October, 1933, found guilty of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison at hard labor in the Iowa State Penitentiary, Ft. Madison, Iowa. He asserted that his actions were motivated by his fears for the safety of his grandson, Henry Grattan. At his sentencing were Mrs. Grattan, his grandson, Henry, and his sister, Mrs. John O'Brien of Waukon, Iowa. That conviction was overturned by the Iowa Supreme Court. He was re-tried and plead guilty to manslaughter, which resulted in a 8 year sentence at the afore mentioned institution and a fine. He was, at some point during his imprisonment, transferred to the Soldiers Home at Marshalltown, Iowa, where he lived with his wife. There were several attempts made for a pardon. In August of 1939, Iowa Governor Wilson issued a "suspension of sentence" so that he could travel to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, National Encampment of Civil War Veterans, occurring between 27 August and 1 September, and visit a son who was living at Rapidan, Virginia, and other relatives in Ohio. Marvin Trask Grattan was born 26 July 1848, at Janesville, Wisconsin, the son of Henry G. and Jane Trask Grattan. His father was editor of the Janesville Gazette. His mother was a school teacher. He enlisted in the Union Navy at the age of 15 and served aboard the ship Quichita, and at Ft. Trinity. After the war he sold machinery for a few years at Decorah, Iowa, then farmed at Preston, Minnesota, for 48 years, becoming interested in harness racing, owning some of the fastest horses of that kind in the country. While at Preston he met Miss Harriet White. They were married at the Dousman House in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on 20 September 1868. She was a direct descendant of the Whites who came over on the Mayflower. Her great-grandfather was Luke Guyant, and he was selected as a member of Washington's bodyguard at Yorktown. From Preston the Grattan's moved to Decorah, Iowa, where they have since lived up to 1933. Marvin Trask Grattan died 23 February 1940, at the Soldier's Home hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa. The Mason City Globe-Gazette, 1 July 1936, noted: "Marshalltown.-- Mrs. Grattan Palmer, a sister of Marvin T. Grattan, formerly of Decorah and now in the Iowa Soldier's Home, died in Hollywood, Cal., and has been buried in Leroy, Minn., where she formerly lived. Mrs. Palmer, 81, died a day before her 59th wedding anniversary. Marvin Trask Grattan wrote an 11 chapter autobiography he titled "Autobiography of No. 16148", excerpts of which appeared in the Decorah Public Opinion and the Mason City Globe-Gazette in January 1934. Submitter is not related. |
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Index
| Source | Day | Date |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Friday | July 21, 1933 |
| Elgin Echo | Thursday | July 27, 1933 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Thursday | July 27, 1933 |
| Elgin Echo | Thursday | Oct. 26, 1933 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Friday | Oct. 27, 1933 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Tuesday | Nov. 7, 1933 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Wednesday | Apr. 4, 1934 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Wednesday | July 1, 1936 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Thursday | Aug. 17, 1939 |
| Mason City Globe Gazette | Thursday | Aug. 17, 1939 |
| Hawarden Independent, Hawarden, Iowa | Thursday | Aug. 24, 1939 |
| Elgin Echo | Thursday | Feb. 29, 1940 |
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Mason City Globe Gazette Friday July 21, 1933
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Elgin Echo Thursday July 27, 1933
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Mason City Globe Gazette Thursday July 27, 1933
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Elgin Echo Thursday Oct. 26, 1933
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Mason City Globe Gazette Friday Oct. 27, 1933
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Mason City Globe Gazette Tuesday Nov. 7, 1933
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Mason City Globe Gazette Wednesday Apr. 4, 1934
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Mason City Globe Gazette Wednesday July 1, 1936
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Mason City Globe Gazette Thursday Aug. 17, 1939
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Mason City Globe Gazette Thursday Aug. 17, 1939
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Hawarden Independent, Hawarden, Iowa Thursday Aug. 24, 1939
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Elgin Echo Thursday Feb. 29, 1940
Please, contact the County Coordinator to submit additions or corrections.
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