Sam Shaffer

Victim Of Road Beating Dies; Suspects On Bond

Sam Shaffer Is Dead Following Assault by Motorists While Driving Cattle

Sam Shaffer, 65, Gretna, Neb., employed on the Ralph Hickey farm near Gretna, who was severely beaten during an altercation involving two Lincoln, Neb., motorists, December 8, died Monday afternoon at St. Catherine’s hospital here.

The motorists, Henry Gerlach, Burlington railroad employee at Lincoln, and Jake Amend, employed by the Ford Delivery company there, were placed under one thousand dollar bond each at Papillion following the injuries to Shaffer.

According to Hickey, he and his brother, Howard, and Shaffer were driving cattle on the road to Melia station, when the motorists drove through the herd, honking their horn and causing a stampede. Hickey was thrown from his horse, and was attacked, he said, by the motorists.

Shaffer came to the assistance of his employer, and was left, beaten and unconscious, in the road. He had only brief intervals of consciousness up to his death.

Shaffer was unmarried. A sister lives in Meadow Grove, Neb.

From the Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), dated December 17, 1929


Find Blows Caused Death

An autopsy Wednesday revealed that Sam Shaffer, 65, of Gretna, died Monday from hemorrhage of the brain caused by blows on the head. Two men who are alleged to have beaten him are held on manslaughter charges. They are Jake Amend and Henry Gerlach, both of Gretna. Trial has been set for January 7.

From the Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), dated December 19, 1929