Fire Inspector Killed by Tailor

1944 - Shop owner was infuriated by an order to clean up his shop and shot the inspector.

Wichita, Kansas (4/6/1944) - Infuriated because he had been requested to clean up his shop which had been declared a fire hazard, Bargel K. Stanley, known as "Stanley the Tailor," was critically wounded following ta shooting escapade in his place of business, Wichita, Kas., in which Gail F. Braden, chief inspector for the fire department was killed. Stanley defied police for almost an hour despite tear gas and bullets which were poured into the tailor shop.

Bargel K. Stanley, tailor, shot and killed a fire inspector Thursday and was wounded seriously by officers who fired bullets and tear gas into his shop for an hour before they overcame him.

Elgin Wood, assistant fire chief, said Stanley was infuriated by an order to clean up his shop and shot the inspector, Gail F. Braden, 46, as they appeared to make a final inspection. Wood jumped through a plate glass window as the shooting started.

"Tailor Facing Murder Charges Dies in Wichita"

Stanley H. Barhel, 60-year-old tailor who was charged with first degree murder in the death last Thursday of Captain Gail S. Braden of the Wichita fire department, died early today in a hospital here.

Detective Victor Stough, who signed the complaint against Bargel, said the tailor shot himself through the head after killing Braden and trying to shoot another fireman, Assistant Chief Elgin Wood. Bargel withstood a police siege in his tailor shop for nearly an hour after the shooting of Braden.

It had been believed Bargel might recover, until his condition became worse Sunday afternoon. The city marshal had maintained a 24-hour watch over Bargel at the hospital. Bargel is believed to have no living relatives.