FOUND SHOT

Grey River Argus, 22 August 1934, Page 8

FOUND SHOT

Hollywood Musician MURDER SUSPECTED. (Aus N7> C«h]a Assn.) HOLLYWOOD, August 20. Almost as strangQ as some films in the land of make-believe, the mysterious death of Jerry Jarnegin, composer, and husband of Irene Franklin, the musical comedy actress, on the eve of their “big chance’’ of roles in a musical film, offered Hollywood a genuine sensation to-day. Jarnegin’s body, with a bullet wound in the right temple, was found in an easy chair in the living room in his palatial home at Lake Hollywood Drive. A revolver was in another chair, about six feet away. His death occurred while guests in the next room waited for Jarnegin at a dinner, celebrating the approaching marriage of the composer’s niece. The host appeared to be in good spirits, excusing himself after the guest’s arrival, saying that he would be right back. The police, who at first thought it was a case of suicide, later, however, found themselves faced with conflicting clues. While the revolver was Jarnegin’s own, there were no powder burns. Physicians stated that he could not throw the revolver across the room spasmodically, since he died instantly. The outside door of the house, which had been locked during the afternoon, was later found open. The police questioned a manservant, against whom Jarnegin and Franklin had brought charges of assault, last July. The widow expressed the conviction that Jarnegin was murdered. A further test was decided on, to-day, for determination whether it was suicide. The police are making paraffin impressions of Jarnegin’s hands, to see whether there are gunpowder traces, such as are always left on the hand firing the pistol.