The body of Percy Shelley, 48, deputy sheriff of Frontier county, was found last Saturday morning, in a dry creek, about a half mile from his farm home six miles southeast of Stockville.

Mr. Shelley, who lived alone is believed by relatives and officials to have been the victim of an accident with the .44 caliber revolver, he was probably carrying.

The body was found by his brother, George Shelley, and Dean Thompson, after he had failed to answer telephone calls. He had not been seen since Wednesday.

They found no trace of him at the house, but a search was made and the body found, after Shelley’s collie dog guided the searchers to the body by barking to attract their attention. The dog had been guarding the body.

The body was badly decomposed and because of its condition, county officers said they could not determine the exact cause of death. County Attorney Frank Morrison, acting as coroner, investigated. There was little doubt but that a bullet from the revolver had accidently discharged when the officer attempted to climb through the wire fence. It is presumed the man must have died sometime Wednesday.

An autopsy performed on the body Saturday afternoon revealed that a bullet from his revolver entered the lower part of the abdomen, passed through his heart, and emerged through his left shoulder blade.

Mr. Shelley was well known over the county, having served as deputy sheriff for several years. He had an outstanding record as a member of the Lost Battalion in the World war. Once he spent nearly a week in a shell hole on a battlefield before he was found, alive but suffering severely from exposure and hunger.

The funeral was held at 7:00 o’clock last Saturday evening at the Stockville cemetery, with Rev. L. H. Messersmith in charge.

Surviving are two brothers, George and William, both of Stockville; two sisters, Mrs. Grace Fischer, Stockville, and Margaret Shelley, of Los Angeles. Shelley’s parents passed away several years ago. He was unmarried.

The Farnam Echo 53(47):1, Thursday, 29 July 1937