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BUSINESS FEUD BRINGS DEATHHERBERT SHAFER.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 RATIOS NEWS.A mysterious angle in the Barta-Shafcr murdcr-suicide 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 tlie 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, look 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 Bnrla's body, police had believed that a .45 automatic, found in Shafer's band 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 the Shafer garage, scene of the shooting, may be found on the picture pagein Shafer's open safe in his garage office Sunday afternoon. The sale 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 old 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 Bnrta’s body had been fired from the ,38 The shooting took place at 10:52 a.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.Reopen Pro he.Dr, John Terrall, deputy coroner, and police agreed Sunday that it appeared to be murder and suicide, but the case was reopened Monday following the finding of the bullet oC different caliber than that of the revolver found in Shafer’s hand.Dr, Terrall said four bullets passed through Bnrta’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. Five buliets 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 be started.Monday morning Screno Wright, 1945 Park avenue SE, a chauffeur, told police lie entered the garage at 10.45 a m. 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’* Version,Max Fineherg said he was ’ standing in the kitchen Sunday morning and heard a shot. Ho said ' (Continued on Page 5, Col,!.)AT LEAST 50 DEAD IN COLOMBIAN AIR CARNIVAL TRAGEDYBOGOTA, Colombia (INS) — The horror of Bogota’s unparalleled air crash disaster mounted hourly Monday as new deaths brought to at least 50 the number of nor sons killocl when n sinnt.inr*
Newspaper Details
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Mon, Jul 25, 1938
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WI, USA 11 Feb 2024
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