Marshal William Gowdy was fatally wounded in a shootout with theft suspects.

Marshal Gowdy was shot and killed during a shootout with three suspects. He was exchanging gunfire with two suspects who were attempting to steal whiskey from the Iron Bridge Whiskey Distillery near Liberal, Missouri when a third man shot him from behind. The get-away car used by the burglars and containing containing 3 barrels of whiskey was found broken-down nearby soon after officers, including Sheriff Sewell arrived at the scene of the murder. Bloodhounds were used in an attempt to locate the suspects.

Marshal Gowdy, who was also constable for Ozark Township, was staying at a nearby home of O.L. Holland, the owner of the farm on which the liquor warehouse was located, to guard the warehouse and it's 200 barrels of liquor after a recent theft of liquor from the warehouse was discovered. The Iron Bridge Whiskey distillery was badly damaged by a fire four years prior and had since been used as a warehouse, the contents of which were owned by the Pure Grain Distilling Company. Bootleggers were reputed to get at least $24 a quart for bonded whiskey. A barrel held 200 quarts, valued at $4,800 inflated by the passage of Prohibition - an amount that was considered a fortune in that era. A few days later, thieves struck again at the Knech Distillery, distiller of "fine rye and bourbon whiskies," located two miles southwest of Mindenmines. A group of men broke into the whiskey storage area and made off in an automobile with six barrels. In the wake of these thefts Marshal Gowdy and O.L. Holland began guarding the warehouse containing the Iron Bridge Whiskey, and ultimately engage in a life and death battle with the thieves. Marshal Gowdy emerged from the house at 4:00 am and discovered the bandits at the warehouse. Marshal Gowdy advanced on the burglars and a gun battle ensued during which Marshal emptied his revolver, firing the last shot as he fell. Holland also emerged from the house and engaged the robbers firing on them as they retreated to their car and fled the scene.

Marshal Gowdy was survived by his wife, Cordelia, three daughters, son, parents and two brothers. Interred: Mount Hope Cemetery, Almena, Kansas.