Howard Leon Vandygriff
July 10, 1915-March 16, 1953
Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 20, 1953, page 1, col. 6 cont. page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Former Niles Man Dies of Bullet Wounds
Niles and State Police learned today of the gunshot death of Howard Leon Vandygriff, 37, formerly of rural route three, Niles, Monday morning in Bainbridge, Ga.
A.E. White, sheriff of Decatur County, Ga., told local officers that Vandygriff died at 10:20 a.m. Monday at Bainbridge, Ga., City Hospital from effects of two gunshot wounds.
The sheriff's office said that were holding John Howard, 63, operator of the Greenback tavern located seven miles outside of Bainbridge, on an open charge pending a coroner's investigation of the death of Vandygriff.
Officers said the coroner's jury heard details of the shooting from Howard at 10 a.m. today and the jury was to present a decision at 2 p.m today regarding possible charges against Howard.
The sheriff's office said the only account of the shooting which occurred Sunday about 8:30 p.m at the Greenback tavern was furnished by Howard, who contended he shot Vandygriff in self defense. There were no witnesses to the shooting, the sheriff's office reported.
Vandygriff reportedly traveled into Bainbridge last weekend with a carnival. The operator of the carnival said Vandygriff joined the troupe as a handyman at Savannah, Ga., last week.
Vandygriff reportedly went to the Greenback tavern early Sunday night, and later became involved in a dispute with the tavern operator.
The tavern operator said Vandygriff struck him over the head with a bottle and he escaped to an adjacent room in the tavern and barricaded himself in the room.
Vandygriff reportedly broke down (continued on Page Two) the door and, as he entered the room, Howard said he shot Vandygriff twice with a .22 calibre rifle. Vandygriff was shot once in the stomach and once in the chest.
The sheriff's office received a telephone call at 11:30 p.m. Sunday that there was trouble at the tavern. Officers found Vandygriff lying in the tavern when they arrived shortly before midnight Sunday.
Howard, the tavern operator, told officers that he hitch-hiked a ride to Bainbridge after the shooting. He reported the shooting to the sheriff's department about midnight, claiming that he shot Vandygriff in self defense.
According to local officers, Vandygriff has been wanted by the Cass County Circuit Court since Dec. 4, 1951, on a charge of violating probation.
Vandygriff was found guilty Oct. 8, 1951, in Cass County Circuit Court on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon. He was fined $100, assessed $25 court costs and placed on probation for two years.
Two months later, the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the violation charge. He was never found by police, and his whereabouts had been unknown since the October, 1951.
Niles police were informed that Vandygriff's body will be returned to Niles Sunday.
Vandygriff was born July 10, 1915, in Summittville, Tenn. He came to Niles in 1935, and later served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Pearl Vandygriff, of Ripley, Miss.; one daughter, Mrs. Harry Marks, Niles; three brothers, William, of Ripley, Miss., James of the United States Army in Germany, and Ralfph, of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Wayne Bates, Niles, Mrs. Robert Frank, Belgrade, Fla. and Mrs. Charles Wyatt, Niles.
The body will be returned to the Pifer Funeral Home and friends may call Sunday night. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Monday, and burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. The Niles LaRue Messenger post of the American Legion will be in charge of the committal services.