Man Kills Self After Shooting Wife, Children

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 11.--(Ap)--An interior decorator and upholsterer wiped out his family including his wife, three small children and himself with a German luger pistol early Sunday, Police Sgt. Carl Locklar reported.

Locklar identified the dead as: Carl Amarella, 34; Mrs. Millie Amarella, 33; Sandra, 5; Larry, 4; and Janet, one year old.

Wrote Note

Amarella wrote a three page note, Locklar said, after which he put single bullets into the heads of his wife, the children and himself.

Neighbors found the bodies.

Locklar said the killings apparently occurred between 3 and 4 o'clock Sunday morning.

Hidden away in closets were unopened Christmas packages, apparently intended for the children. Christmas cards, some of them addressed to relatives, were lying on a table.

HAD TROUBLES

The note Amarella left rambled over three pages and was addressed to his attorney, G. H. Marlin. It provided for disposal of the property and asked that as much as possible of the tragedy be kept out of the newspapers. The note concluded: "I guess that is all."

Police Chief Roland Kelley said Amarella had been having both financial and family troubles and that he feared he was losing his mind.

Abilene Reporter News, Abilene, TX 12 Dec 1949