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The Morning Press

Bloomsburg, PA, Wednesday, April 16, 1919

State Troopers Confident Carl Was Murdered

Investigation Made Yesterday by Corporal Stevenson and District Attorney

Finger Suspicion

Already Pointing in One Direction, Corporal Stevenson Says

With State Trooper Stevenson, of Berwick and District Attorney W.S. Sharpless making an investigation into the fatal shooting of Joseph Carl, of East Bloomsburg Saturday night, both are of the opinion that the aged man was murdered and that death was not inflicted by his own hand. Speaking of the shooting last night, Stevenson stated that as far as his investigation had gone yesterday he was impressed with the fact that there was apparently no reason for Carl to commit suicide, while the fact that between $500 and $600 disappeared on the night of the shooting would help substantiate the murder theory.

So impressed is he that Mr. Carl met with foul play that he will conduct rigid examination and will not relax until he is thoroughly satisfied that Mr. Carl himself committed the deed. Already suspicion points to a certain man and every clue will be run down.

The bullet which passed through the aged man’s head, emerging about two inches above his left ear and imbedded in the ceiling of the sitting room where the shooting occurred, was located yesterday in the plaster. The bullet fitted exactly into the empty shell in the .38 caliber revolver which was found lying on the floor beneath the dead man’s right hand. If the shot was not fired from this revolver, which was the property of Mr. Carl, then it was fired from one of the same caliber. Mr. Stevenson learned yesterday that when the gun was first found no odor of smoke was apparent of the gun. In case this gun was used to commit the deed it is extremely likely that some odor would be found as the shot was fired at such close range. This tends to show that another gun used, of the same caliber, and that the empty shell was extracted and placed in Mr. Carl’s gun which was then placed at his side to substantiate the suicide theory.

Meanwhile residents of the South side are more than ever convinced that their was foul play and the suicide theory which at first predominated is fast disappearing. It is argued that Mr. Carl had apparently no cause to wish to end his life and not one bit of evidence has been found to show that he might have disposed of the missing money himself.

The body will be buried this afternoon, Rev. Norman S. Wolf, pastor of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, of town, will officiate at the service which will be held in the Hillside cemetery at Catawissa.