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POLICE CLEAR UP MYSTERY ANGLE IN DOUBLE SHOOTING WHEN SAFE IS DRILLED OPENHerbert Shafer, 67, Slays Vernon Barla, 35, Then Ends Own Life With Different Weapon; Had Been Quarreling Over Livery Service For Mortuary; Frank Monahan Dodges Bullets.CEDAR RAI’IDS NEWS.A mysterious angle in the Barla-Sbafcr mmclcr-suicicle Sunday was cleared up Monday noon when the safe in the office of Shafer’s garage was opened and a .38 caliber revolver and five empty shells were found inside. Chief of Detectives Earl Stanley said there was little doubt that the gun found in the safe was that used to kill Vernon L. Barta. A .38 caliber bullet was found in Barta’s body.The case, in which Herbert Shafer shot Barla and then turned a .45 automatic on himself, took on the mysterious angle early Monday when Stanley examined bullets removed from the two bodies and discovered they were of different caliber. The finding of the second gun cleared up the case.Until the .38 bullet was found in Barta'.s body, police had believed that a .45 automatic, found in Shafer’s hand and under his body, was the only revolver used in the tragedyBill Stewart, son-in-law of Frank .Monahan, local undertaker, found the .38 caliber bullet, in Barta’s body during the embalming process. Three guns were foundA View of tlie Shafer garage, scene of the shooting, may be found on the picture pagein Shafer's open safe in his garage office Sunday afternoon. The safe was then locked by Max Fine-berg, who lives downstairs in Shafer’s house, and Monday police learned Shafer was the only one who knew the combination..Drill Safe.Harold Drew, locksmith, was employed by detectives Monday morning to open the safe It was an oid five tumbler type and Drew found it necessary to drill through the door.Drew opened the safe about 12 15 p.m and three guns were found. Detectives Bailey and Marshall took a ,25 automatic Colt, a 32 automatic Savage and the .38 revolver, a U. S army special, to headquarters After a ballistics examination bv Stanley, he declared that the bullets found in and near Barta’s body had been fired from the .38.The shooting took place at 10:52 n.m Sunday. Barta was found fatally wounded on the floor of Shafer’s garage. 825 Fifth avenue SE. and Shafer was found lying nearby, wounded but still living. Shafer died in a hospital at 1.45 p.m. Sunday.lleopcn Frobe.Dr. John Terrall, deputy coroner. and police agreed Sunday that it appeared to be murder ancl suicide, but the case was reopened Monday following the finding of the bullet of different caliber than that of the revolver found in Shafer’s hand.Dr. Terrall said four bullets passed through Barfa’s body, one in the arm, two in the chest, and one in the right temple. Shafer had a wound in the forehead, the bullet shattering the base of his skull. Fsve bullets were still in the clip of the automatic in Shafer’s hand.Trouble Over Service.Shafer was engaged in the business of supplying cars and hearses to local undertakers. He and Barta were having a conference relative to Barta dispensing with Shafer’s livery service if Shafer did not buy a new hearse. The argument was an aftermath of a | funeral at Barta’s Friday when one of Shafer’s funeral cars could not bo started.Monday morning Screno Wright,* 1945 Park avenue SE, a chauffeur, told police he entered the garage at 10.45 am. Sunday and found Shafer, Barta and Frank' J. Monahan, undertaker, standing in the garage talking. Wright said it appeared to him there was some tension in the group, so he left and went back down town.Flncbcrg’s Version.Max Fineberg said he was', standing in the kitchen Sunday f morning and heard a shot. He said(Continued on Pago 5, Col.'l.)
Newspaper Details
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Mon, Jul 25, 1938
Page 1
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WI, USA 11 Feb 2024
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