Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-30
DEATH WAS DUE TO ACCIDENT
CORONER GIVES CERTIFICATE
IN CASE OF MRS. BECKER.
Investigation Discloses That De-
struction of Becker Home Was
Preceded by Explosion.

| Fire Marshal Nicholson visited house
1905 18th street yesterday after day
break. and made a thorough investiga-
! ton of the premises for the purpose of
ascertaining the origin of the fire which
| caused the death of Mrs. Mae Becker, as
stated in The Sunday Star. He found
that the front and sides of the oven of
| the gas range had been blown out and
his conclusion was that an explosion had
occurred. Persons residing in the vicin-
ity of the house say they heard loud
explosion before they learned of the fire,
the explosing being followed by the re-
| ports of pistol shots. These latter re-
ports gave the affair a mysterious aspect.
but it was explained that the shots had
been fired by a resident of 18th street
for the purpose of attracting assist
ance.
The investigation developed the fact
that Mrs. Becker had not retired before
the fire occurred, the supposition yester-
day morning having been that she was
| awakened by the smoke and that she
met her death while attempting to ex-
tinguish the flames. Peter Becker, jr.,
the young son of the unfortunate woman,
was asleep on the second floor of the
house; his sister, Miss Edna Becker, be-
ing on the third floor. The boy aroused
his sister and the two hurried down to
tiiC bdSCihcil.
Clothing a Mass Of Flames.
When the reached the lower floor
they saw their mother in the kitchen,
her clothing a mass Of flames. Brother
and sister entered the kitchen and made
an effort to save their mother, but Miss
Edna stepped upon hot Goals and came
near falling upon the floor beside her
mother. Peter tried to beat out the
flames. but was finally compelled by the
heat to desert the kitchen.
Neighbors heard Mrs. Becker scream
help several times and also heard her
exclaim: For Gods sake. somebody
come and help me-" 1t was her screams
that aroused her son and. as stated. he
hurried to the upper floor to awaken
his sister.
1t was not until long after daybreak
that Mr.. Becker returned home. He said
he was in Baltimore Saturday night and
that the first he knew of his bereave-
ment was when he read an account of it
in morning paper on the train. He re-
called that the gas range In the kitchen
was defective. and he supposed the con-
clusion reached by the fire marshal was
correct
Miss Becker at Home of Sister.
Miss Edna Becker, who was taken to
the Emergency Hospital from the house
of a neighbor yesterday morning and
treated for the burns to her feet, was
taken to the home of her sister, Mrs.
James Orme. jr., 1915 L street north
west, yesterday about noon, shortly after
her father reached there. Her brother
was not injured and was not taken to the
hospital.
Coroner hewitt made an investigation
of the affair yesterday morning and
reached the conclusion that the burning
Of the woman was an accident and that
no inquest was necessary. He gave a
certificate of accidental death and released
the remains from the morgue.
An undertaken took charge of the re-
mains and placed them in a sealed casket.
This morning the body was removed
from the undertaking establishment to
the Orme residence, land arrangements
were made for the funeral to take place
from st. Patrick's Church tomorrow
morning. Mrs. Becker, who was forty
eight years of age. was Miss Mae Walsh
before her marriage. She lived in De-
fiance, Ohio, and was married in 1879.
Mr. Becker is one of the best-known
men about the city, being a member of
a number of organizations and being ac-
lively engaged In several business enter
prises. He is one of the leading men,
bers of the local lodge of Elks and is
said to be part owner of the Lafayette
baths, the Frazee Potomac laundry, and
is associated with the Protective Loan
and Building Association.