From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org]
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 12:40 AM
To: Ky-Footsteps
Subject: Labor.Day.Shooting.1961.Rowan.NEWS


Labor Day Shooting September 5, 1961
Rowan County KyArchives News

The Alliance Review Alliance, Stark Co., OH 
An unemployed Palmyra man pleaded not guilty to a charge of first degree 
murder in the Labor Day shooting of his wife in Ravenna Municipal Court today. 
Bond was set at $25,000 for Cleon Gallagher, 31, of Rt. 267 (sic 627 now St Rt 
225) four miles north of Deerfield. He is charged in the death of his wife, 
Maxine Verna Gallagher, 35. She was the thrice-wed mother of 11 children, 
ranging in age from 18 years to three months.

Claim Argument
Portage County sheriff deputies said Gallagher admitted he shot his wife 
twice, once in the stomach and once in the left hip, as the climax to a 
domestic disagreement. The shooting occurred about 3:50 a.m. yesterday when 
Gallagher allegedly fire a .32 caliber pistol at his wife when she walked 
through a doorway leading from their bedroom into the kitchen. A neighbor, Leo 
Martin of 9436 Williams Rd., notified deputies of the shooting. Mrs. Gallagher 
died enroute to Robinson Memorial Hospital following the early morning 
altercation, deputies said.Portage County Prosecutor George T. Martin said the 
Portage County Grand Jury, which convenes in regular session tomorrow, will 
consider evidence in the murder case. Martin also examined that it is possible 
to set bond in a first degree murder case, at the discretion of he court. 
Martin said that although details of the argument which led to the shooting 
remain vague today, it appeared the couple fought over Mrs. Gallagher's 
daughter, Shirley Burkey, 16. The mother was jealous of the girl, Martin said. 
He added that Miss Burkey was not living at the Gallagher home.


Services Pending
Funeral services are pending at the Wood Funeral Home in Ravenna. Mrs. 
Gallagher was born in Morehead, Ky. on March 12, 1926. She had lived in 
Portage County three years.
Surviving are seven daughters, Shirley, Anna, Helen, Patty, and Flora Burkey; 
Bonnie Burkey of Akron; and Ruth Gallagher of the home; four sons, Roger 
Johnson, stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany; and Henry, Kenny, and Butch 
Burkey of the home; her father, Dock Johnson, Wellsville; a sister, Mrs. 
Lizene Chipp(s) of Alliance; and a brother, William (Frank) Johnson of Atwater. Gallagher was described by sheriff deputies as a disabled Korean War Veteran. 
The children reportedly were staying with relatives today.


Submitted by: Cora Sparks
corasparks@yahoo.com



Additional Comments:
A former resident of Rowan Co. KY granddaughter of France and Eliza Johnson

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/kyfiles/