The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-23
Wife and KlLLSSELF
BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC STRIFE
John Shafer is Principal i'm Ira
gedy at Davis Street
RoOming House.
THREE LITTLE GIRLS
FAMILY Came to Pensacola from
Canada; Husband Had
Been Out of Work.

John Shafer shot and painfully yvouna
ed his wife and then killed himself lasf
night about o'clock in the rooms os his
wire on North Davis street. Shafer died
wlthin TWO hours after the shooting.
MRS. Shafer was taken to the Pensacois
hospital for treatment She was hit Inv
Two bullets from the pistol once in the
right side of her face and once in the
right shoulder.
After firing three times at his wife.
snaier turned the pistol on himself and
hreo one time, the ball entering his right
temple. He died two hours later.
coroners jury was convened by Judge
WIN l.. Johnson at the Pou undertak-
Ing parlors last night. and after a short
session adjourned until Monday morn
ing at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. and Mrs. Shafer arrived IN Pen
sacola early last fall, coming here fror,
Canada where, it was stated at the
rooming house, the home life was brol,-
en- up Tor some time when Mrs -hafer
ieft her home. The couple ma m
their differences and agreed to come 10
Florida to be near Mrs. Shafer's rela-
tives, who live at Crestview.
M. Shafer had difficulty in obtaining
work recently and Mrs Shafer went to
trestvIew for two-weelxs' visit To her
relatives. The couple again settled their
differences and mrs. Shafer had been IL
Pensacoia for short time Last week
the couple was asked to vacate fbejr
rooms in Wright street apartment
house when room rent could not ha
paid and Mrs Shafer went to n roo,,,i,,g
mouse on North Davis. Mr.. Shafer se
cured employment and made arrange
ments to pay the rent bill
Mrs. Shafer had instituted nracaaainas
Tor divorce. the papers having beer
served last Thursday. Mr.. sbafer ,anf
TO the rooming house early yesterdav
AFTERNOON and begged Mrs Shsfer 70 ,a
turn nome with him, telling her that he
had secured work and had strairhtened
out the room rent bill. She refused "a
return home with him, saying that thev
could not live together happily. He Ieft
ana after returning to his room TAXED
low roomers
leaving there he secured a SS-caiib,e
pistol and returned to the room ~ hts
wife about Z O'Clock No one WAS nrss
ent at the time of the shooting otbar
than Mrs. Shafer and their three smal
aged 5. and II wears
9 ne is said to have opened fire ,vifr
tne pistol at Mrs. Shafer. firing tbree
times. One of the bullets struck her :,
the right side of the face and apothas
struck her right shoulder. He fhan
turned the pistol on himself. firing one
snot into his right temple. The aiarn,
was given by the screams of IN. chr.
dren when the first shot was fired ON
er residents of the house thought fbe
sound Of the shot was from 9ra
cracker, but when the other shots sol
lowed IN rapid succession the landlord
ana others Investigated and reached
the stairway as Mrs Shafer was ~
scending They found Mr. Shafcr Wing
on the floor In Mrs. Shafer's rt,op,
The body was taken to the POI, am
dertakfng pariors after the tragedy had
been investigated by Captain Harper
and Officer Bowman of the police de-
partment, and Constable Mike M.,r5hv
and Judge VIII l.. johnson. buneraI
arrangements will be made after com
nunication with relatives of Mr.. Sna-
Ter.