From the Los Angeles Herald Examiner December 9, 1951. Fisticuffs between two women in a Burbank cocktail lounge early today led to the death by beating of one man and the suicide of his assailant, the husband of one of the women, police reported.
Dead were George R. Wolter, 37, of 1616 East Garfield Avenue, Glendale, and Douglas H. Slover, 34, of 519 1/2 East Providencia Avenue, Burbank.
Officers said the trouble began when Slover's wife, Jessie, 34, and Mrs. Dorothy Vogeler Lee became involved in an argument about 'always being in the bar'. Verbal exchanges led to the trading of stinging slaps to the face, officers said, at which time Wolter assertedly moved in to shove Mrs. Slover. Slover, an aircraft worker, then knocked Wolter to the floor and according to the accounts of some witnesses, police said, kicked him about the head. The Slovers then rushed Wolter to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he died.
Leaving Mrs. Slover at the hospital, Mr. Slover returned home, where police arrived a short time later. After knocking on the door without answer several times, the officers heard a shot inside, kicked in the door and found Slover in the bedroom, where he had killed himself with a bullet through his mouth. Officers said he apparently was writing a farewell letter to his wife when they interrupted him. Beside Slover they found a penciled note which admonished his wife 'not to think too harshly of this horrible way' The note added cryptically: 'Sorry for everything. I've failed...'".
Murderer/suicider Mr. Slover
Slap Happy Mrs. Slover
Ah, good times at the local watering hole
USC Digital Library/ LA Herald Examiner collection