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- The Charleston Gazette, Charleston, WV, 1 August 1951
Jailer Slain In Greenbrier
Policeman's Bullets Kill 65-Year-Old Gunman
LEWISBURG, July 31 ? (AP) ? The Greenbrier County jailer was shot to death tonight as he answered the door at his living quarters and his assailant in turn was killed by a city policeman.
State Police Sgt. M. C. Yoak said a man identified as George Bartgis, about 65, shot Jalier Lago Sheppard, about 55, four times in the face after first knocking at Sheppard's door.
A city policeman from Ronceverte, Jonnie Bethel, who was putting a prisoner in the jail at the time, turned and fired on Bartgis, fatally wounding him, Yoak said.
Bartigis was able to wound Bethel before he dropped, and the office was being treated at Greenbrier Valley Hospital at Ronceverte for a wound in the arm, the sergeant added.
Yoak said that he and Lewisburg City Policeman Glenn F. Powers were sitting in the state police headquarters a short distance away and heard the shots.
"We arrived in a matter of minutes after the whole thing happened," Yoak told the newsmen.
Yoak said Bartgis was armed with three pistols. Bartgis is a former Hinton resident and was the operator of a shoe store in Lewisburg.
Police records show, Yoak said, that Bartgis had been convicted of second degree murder about 18 years ago in the death of a Hinton woman. He had served 14 years of his sentence and was released from the state penitentiary at Moundsville in 1947, Yoak said.
Yoak added that officers knew of no motive for the shooting, but said Bartgis recently had served a 60-day sentence in the Greenbrier County jail on a drunk and disorderly charge. Yoak said Bartgis was released about three weeks ago.
The Charleston Gazette, Charleston, WV, 2 August 1951
Funeral Slated For Slain Deputy
LEWISBURG, Aug. 1 ? (Special) ? Funeral arrangements were completed here today for Lago Sheppard, 57, Greenbrier County deputy sheriff who was shot to death at the jail last night.
Sheppard was killed by George Bartgis, about 65, as Sheppard answered a knock at the door of his living quarters at the jail.
Bartgis was fatally wounded by Ronceverte Patrolman Johnnie Bethel who was shot in the arm.
Service will be at 2:30 p. m. Thursday in the Methodist Church here, Rev. Stacy Groscup officiating. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery, with Wallace and Wallace Mortuary in charge. The body will be taken from the mortuary to the church one hour before service time.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Pauline Hughart Sheppard; a son, Paul of Charleston; two brothers, Art Sheppard and R. B. Sheppard, both of Fowler, Ind., and four sisters, Mrs. E. O. Williams of Asbury, Mrs. V. H. Handschumacher of Akron, O., Mrs. J. E. Harnest of Glen Morgan and Mrs. E. F. Hynes of Richwood.
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1894 - 1951 (57 years)
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