Matthew C Gebhardt

Fort Wayne, In.

News-Sentinel

March 11, 1926

Evening Paper

Photo's of Matthew Gebhardt and Clifford Mohler,the slayer, and Bert Mohler with his step-daughter's children on front page.

 Headlines:       MURDERER CONFESSES

MAN ADMITTED HE KILLED OFFICER

    Clifford Mohler, 21, Confesses that he Murdered Patrolman Matthew Gebhardt, 36, When officer sought to arrest his brother, Bert Mohler, 42, who also was mortally wounded in battle with policeman.

  OFFICER BRUTALLY BEATEN

After nine hours of severe grilling by city detectives, Clifford Mohler, aged 21, 208 Melita street, confessed this morning to having murdered Patrolman Matthew Gebhardt, aged 30, 2931 South Wayne avenue, in a qurrel Wednsday night at 11:45 o'clock on Wallace street near Barr street. Though admitting the murder of Officer Gebhardt, he disclaimed any knowledge of how his brother, Bert Mohler, aged 42, also of 208 Melita street, was killed.

    Bert Mohler and Officer Gebhardt were found shortley after 11:45 o'clock laying mortally wounded along the fence surrounding the Fort Wayne Corrugated Paper plant on Wallace street, about 50 feet west of Barr Street.  Both men died shortly after being takin to the Methodist hospital in the police emergency.

    Clifford Nohler, confessing to the crime this morning, said he and his brother, Bert, who was drunk, were walking west along Wallace street, when they met Officer Gebhardt.  Gebhardt ordered Bert to go home, according to Clifford, and an argument ensued.  Gebhardt then started to take Bert into custody to take him to the station.  Clifford says he tried to intercede for his brother and take him home himself, when the officer shoved him.

    Clifford sayes he fell to his knees, grabbed a paving brick nearby and hurled it at the officer, striking him on the back of the head.  He claims the policeman had at that time drawn his gun and fired it twice, but that as the brick struck him he dropped the weapon and Clifford grabbed it, shooting the officer twice,

    Clifford declares he then ran south on Barr street to Masterson avenue throwing the officer's gun between several houses along the way.  The gun was found this morning where Cliff said he had thrown it.

    Questions as to whether he killed his brother, Clifford denied that he had, declaring he did not know who his brother met his death.

    Affidavits charging murder in the first degree were filed in circut court today against Mohler.

    Gebhardt when found last night had been shot three times and been badly beaten.  His face was cut and bruised, his nose was broken, his left eye was badly discolored from a severe pummeling and a deep gash was found under his right eye. A fourth bullet which had been fired was found lodged in the policemans overcoat. 

    A post -mortem examination conducted by Dr. Edgar N. Mendenhall, Allen County coroner, reveled that twon bullets entered the police officer's right side and the third, entered his right shoulder, glanced downward, puncturing the heart.

    The coroner said he was confident neither man lived for more that a short interval after being shot.

    Mohler was shot only once, the bullet tearing through on of his lungs, causing his death soon after.

    Police assert that Nohler has not told how his brother was killed and that he denies having been responsible for the act.

There was another story on how the police were garding Mohler for feer that he might take his own life.

There were many stories about the murder. Officer Gebhardt was survived by his wife, Clara and a daughter Irene, 12 years old and his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Casper Gebhardt and one sister, Mrs Albert Minnich, he went to St. Patrick's Catholic school when a child. He became a policeman in October 1924. His widow will get $40.00 a month, and his daughter will get $12.00 a month from the Fraternal Order of Police Pension fund.

Bert Mohler, the other victum was survived by his brother, Cliff, and two sisters, risiding at the same address as he was.

Clifford Mohler was on parole from the state reformatory where he was sentenced in 1921 for stealing automobile tires, he also served some time in the boys school at plainfield.

Both bodies were taken to Mungovan's Funeral Home on Calhoun St.