"Negro Youth Charged with Attempt to Assult"
The story of Raymond Gunn begins in 1925 in Maryville, Missouri. On the night of October 25, 1925, a young college student by the name of Miss Freda Florence Crouse was attacked while walking alone near the Wabash train station near the Northwest Missouri State Teachers College. Crouse claims that she was walking to campus when she saw a black man standing in the shadows near the station. After noticing the stranger Crouse claims to have called out to him asking him to identify himself, to which the stranger assured her he meant no harm. Crouse stated that she continued on, however, as she passed him the unknown assailant grabbed her and pinned her to the ground. The assailant threatened her and shoved his fingers in her mouth to keep her from crying out. Crouse stated that she was unable to escape so she told the assailant that she was late to meet friends and they would come looking for her any minute. At this time the assailant released Crouse and she ran away.
​
After the incident, Crouse reported the attack to President Lamkin of the Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, who then called the police. At this time the assailant remained unidentified and the authorities had only a vague description of a young black man. The police rounded up all young black men that fit the description and were identified as “troublemakers”. Crouse identified Raymond Gunn as her assailant and a warrant for his arrest was issued on October 21. On October 22, Gunn was taken to the St. Joseph Jail to await his trial. On November 6, Gunn was found guilty of assault with intent to rape. He was sentenced to serve 4 years in the state penitentiary.
​
While in the penitentiary, Gunn was known to be smart and well behaved. After serving two years, two months, and twenty days, Gunn was released from prison on January 28, 1928. Following his release, Gunn returned to Maryville to live with his mother. Over the next few years, Gunn would be arrested and accused of committing various crimes but he was never convicted. Gunn later moved to Omaha in 1928 after being accused of attacking another schoolteacher. The charges were dropped, and Gunn was never proven to be the attacker. Although the case was dropped, Gunn had gained a reputation for hating schoolteachers and many people in Maryville believed he would try to attack another schoolteacher.
Despite his growing criminal record, Gunn was not formally accused of any major crimes until December 1930. It was at this time that Gunn became the primary suspect in the murder of Miss Velma Coulter.
​