UNDERTAKERS' DUEL
Fatal Shooting In Funeral Quarrel INCIDENT IN INDIANA Rec. 1.30. . NEW YORK, June 27. An argument between two undertakers over who would bury the body of a war worker ended in the death of one undertaker and the shooting of three other people at Gary, Indiana. The police said the undertaker, Bruce Howers, was called to collect the body of John Ellis, which the undertaker J. D. Smith had allegedly taken from the hospital without the consent of the relatives. Howers claimed that he had been asked to officiate because he buried other members of the Ellis family. During the ensuing quarrel Smith shot the undertaker's brother, Victor Howers, then Bruce Howers wrested the gun from Smith and shot him dead. He also shot Smith's wife in the hand and Smith's nephew through the chest. Bruce Howers is at present being held on an open charge. The body of Ellis meanwhile remains unburied, while the police ate attempting to fix the blame for the gun fight and decide which undertaking parlour should officiate at the funeral.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19450628.2.27.2
Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 151, 28 June 1945, Page 5
Word Count
178UNDERTAKERS' DUEL Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 151, 28 June 1945, Page 5
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Auckland Star. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.
Log in