Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1908-02-17
CLUE TO STRANGE .
READING CRIME
Mystery Surrounding the Sup
posed Murder Of Manu-
faCturer CIawSOn
SAID TO BE WOMAN IN CASE

READING. Pa. Feb. 17.-As yet no
arrests have been made in the case Of
Lewis b. clawson, proprietor of the
Wide-Awake shirt factory. who wa
found shot IN his office on SATURDAY.
afternoon, though they are expected al
any time.
one report accredited to the police
is that the murderer is a near relative
OF Mrs. Clawson, who intervened on
her behalf after the C1awsons had a
quarrel on account Of the woman I'm
the case. The relative Is said TO have
fed TO Philadelphia.
Clawson's body was taken to his lat,
nome this morning. and the funeral
took place this afternoon.
Clawson was thought to be alone n,
mis- Office Saturday afternoon wher,
three pistol shots we're heard Pm.
ployes Of the factory rushed in ana
found the man badly wounded, but noe
yet unconscious
A doctor found a bullet wound over
the right eye. did you shoot vour-
self2' asked the doctor NO" said
Clawson.
Was 1t an accldcntg" was the next
question.
To this Clawson' made no renlv.
merely Struggling his shoulders.
Clawson was rushed 70 the Homeo-
pathio Hospital. but died in a few
hours.
one Of the bullets glanced OF ana
struck the ceiling OF the office. Ar
other imbedded itself in CIawsorsu
clothing and dropped to the floor vrhil.
ne was being dlsrobed at the hospital
The third entered the right eve ana
lploughed through the brain. Death
was due to hemorrhage Of the brain.
Think He Was Murdered
An investigation convinced the a,-
thorities that the wounds were NOT
self-innicted. Evidences OF a strurrie
were apparent, and stranger attirea
In a gray suit and carrying his coat
and hat was seen to rush from the
building just after the last shot was
fired.
Coroner Strasser. after a posf-mor-
tenn examination. announced that tha
case was undoubtedly one OF murder.
that a suicide would hardly fire three
shots, and that the absenca OF powder
marks on the face proves that the
shots were not fired at close range.
, The pistol was found near Ciawson
Its five chambers empty. II Ia declared
, by those who accept the murder the.
Z ory that after the matter has been
fully developed II will prove one OF ths
[ most sensational murders that has
{ ever occurred in this city
5 The police officials are searching for
5 young man who was seen to enter
! Clawsons office a short time before
] tho shootoing Is thought to have oc-
Cured and who left the building hur-
p riedly with coat and hat in hand. This
man called upon Mr. Clawson late yes
= terday. short, sharp quarrel fol-
! lowed and this ended in the shooting.
: Il is said that the family life of Afr,
z and Mrs. Clawson was exceedingly
happy until a short tima ago. Mr.
Clawson owned a pistol. but It was MOI
Z the one with which he was killed. his
| weapon being found at his home
There are many sensational features Il;
the case which will come to the sur
face as the story OF Jealousy and do
mes1o unhappiness Is unfolded
The police in many cities were COM
, municated with and told to be on the
lookout for the murderer. The general
opinion Is that he is in hiding with
friends In Reading. and that before
many hours he viii surrender and
claim either self-defence or justifca-
tion. Coroner Strasser expressed the
opinion that the case was undoubtedly
one Of murder growing out of the in
tense feeling and hatred between the
two men, who up to a short time ago
were very good friends.
Woman in the Case
Mrs. Clawson when informed Of the
tragedy, proceeded to the hospital
When she gazed at the unconscious
form OF her husband tears streamed
down her cheeks and she refused to be
consoled To-day she was In a highly
nervous condition and great sympathy
has been expressed for her, in view OF
D THE circumstances connected with the
4 tragedy. She gave the coroner valu-
3 able information respecting her family
r life. That her husband neither ex-
r pectsd a call from the vistor who
4 ended his life or had any premonition
{ of impending evil is evident from his
q ldeemanor just before the tragedy. He
was in a 3ovial mood over business
! prospects. In fact, he was just maxi
y ling arrangements to enlarge his fac
Q tory
! 1t is said that on Friday night he
= and his wife had a bitter quarrel over
I "the woman in the case"