called, A waitress stated that the description of Gunnish's travel-_
ing companion matchedthat of Heisler. It was found that he was an
Army deserter and fingerprints furnished by the Government matched
some partial prints found in Gunnish's car, It was also known that
Heisler was the owner of a .22 caliber pistol which was the weapon
used to killm Gunnish, Heisler was recognized and arrested in an
Alturas, Califorriia, restaurant. He claimed that he had killed
Gunnish in self defense after Gumish had attacked him, but the
evidence clearly indicated that the murder had ‘taken ‘place as the
victim lay ‘sleeping. Convicted, Heisler was dlectrocuted at the
New Mexico State Prison on‘Oct. 29, 195.
‘MASTER DETECTIVE, December, 1969, "The Route 66 Killer was AWOL,"
Page . By Ben‘Hicks
called. A waitress stated that the description of Gunnish's travel-
ing companion matchedthat of Heisler. It was found that he was an
Army deserter ‘and fingerprints furnished by the Government matched
sone partial prints found in Gunnish's car, It was also known that
Heisler was the owner of a .22 caliber pistol which was the weapon
used to killm Gunnish., Heisler was recognized and arrested in an
Alturas, California, restaurant. He claimed that he had killed
Gunnish in self defense after Gumish had attacked him, but the
evidence clearly indicated that the murder had taken -place as the
victim lay ‘sleeping. Convicted, Heisler was dlectrocuted at the
New Mexico State Prison on ‘Oct. 29, 195h.
‘MASTER DETECTIVE, December, 1969. "The Route 66 Killer was AWOL."
Page 4. By Ben Hicks
called. A waitress stated that the description of Gunnish's travel-
ing companion matchedthat of Heisler. It was found that he was an
Army deserter and fingerprints furnished by the Goverrment matched
sane partial prints found in Gumish's car. It was also known that
Heisler was the owner of a .22 caliber pistol which was the weapon
used to kill Gunnish, Heisler was recognized and arrested in an
Alturas, California, restaurant. He claimed that he had killed
Gunnish in self defense after Gurmish had attacked him, but the
evidence clearly indicated that the murder had taken place as the
victim lay ‘sleeping, Convicted, Heisler was électrocuted at the
New Mexico State Prison on ‘Oct. 29, 195h.
‘MASTER DETECTIVE, December, 1969. "The Route 6§ Killer was AWOL,"
Page h. By Ben ‘Hicks
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HEISLER, Frederick W. : : Coft. 24, i Gee.
Heisler, a 30-year-old white native of Brooklyn, N. Y., deserted from
the U. 5, Army in September, 1919, following mmm eight years! ser-
vice. For a while, he worked as a short order cook in a restaurant
at XHEKSSR Sturgeon Bay, Wis., leaving there in September, 1951, with
the avowed intention of hitch hiking to California, He was yiven a
ride by a 39-year-old unemployed steel worker, John Gunnish of
Martin's Ferry, Ohio, who was also going to California in the hope
of finding work there. On the night of Oct. 11-12, 1951, they stopped
about five miles outside Tucumcari, Ne M., to sleep in the car, As
Gunnish slept, Heisler shot him five ‘times in the head, stole what
money he had and ASEEXSKaXKSAE dragged the body into the underbrush.
He drove Gumish's mittxy automobile to Amarillo, Tex., where he aban-
doned it on the street in a residential area, Gunnish's body,
stripped of all identification, was found the next afternoon and sub=
sequently identified through his fingerprints, Backtracking him,
lawmen were able to obtain a description of Heisler at a garage where
hev 3 i :
ostrb, "A maken book OF matched Tron the sobEaerae Going Anto, the
had worked in Wisconsin was found in the auwhomobile and it was
HEISLER, Frederick W. Cob. A | ay
Heisler, a 30-year-old white native of Brooklyn, N. Y., deserted from
the U. S. Army in September, 1919, following minum eight years! ser-
vice. For a while, he worked as a short order cook in a restaurant
at THEXSSK Sturgeon Bay, Wis., leaving there in September, 1951, with
the avowed intention of hitch hiking to California, He was given a
ride by a 39-year-old unemployed steel worker, John Gunnish of
Martin's Ferry, Ohio, who was also going to California in the hope
of finding work there. On the night of Oct, 11-12, 1951, they stopped
about five miles outside Tucumcari, N. M., to sleep inthe car. As
Gunnish slept, Heisler shot him five ‘times in the head, stole what
money he had and XSEEXXKEXKSRK dragged the body into the underbrush.
He drove Gunnish's mtx automobile to Amarillo, Tex., where he aban-
doned it on the street in a residential area, Gumnish's body,
stripped of all identification, was found the next afternoon and sub~
sequently identified through his fingerprints, Backtracking him,
lawmen were able to obtain a description of Heisler at a garage where
hey stopped to have the water pump check ing i
ieee R Maxkxk book of matches from Eceereh areene neces Rersiceo
had worked in Wisconsin was found in the automobile and it was
HEISLER, Frederick W. Cote 29, / GBY
Heisler, a 30-year-old white native of Brooklyn, N. Y., deserted fron
the U. S, Army in September, 1919, following mime eight years! ser=
beak For a while, he worked as a short order cook in a restaurant
Sturgeon Bay, Wis., leaving there in aoa ase 1951, with
oe avowed intention of hitch hiking to California, He was given a
ride by a 3
Martin's Ferry, Ohio, who was also going to California in the
of finding work there, On the night of Oct, 11-12, 1951, tae Syed
about five miles outside Tucumcari, N. M,, to sleep in the car. As
Gunnish slept, Heisler shot him five ‘times in the head, stole what
money he had and XSEXKAXKSAK dragged the body into the underbrush,
He drove Gunnish's imix automobile to Amarillo, Tex., where he aban-
doned it on the street in a residential area, Gumnish's body,
stripped of all identification, was found the next afternoon and sub-
sequently identified through his fingerprints, Backtracking him,
lawmen were able to obtain a description of Heisler at a garage where
Seb EPR Gata Boek OF alahel Mos Seeoe Bier Ate Going Ante, the
had worked in Wisconsin was found in the automobile and it was
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