Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-18
NOT TO HOLD INQUEST
INTO DEATH OF HARRIS
Coroner, After Getting Detec-
itives' Report, Decides Fur
ther Inquiry Unnecessary.

81 am unable to appreciate whereby
this case could be more thoroughly in
vestigated If brought to the attention OF
a coroners jury or any deduction made
than is implied or set forth in the original
certificate CT DEATH
The above statement is the substance OF
a report of DR.. ]. Ramsay hewitt. coroner
for the District of Columbia. to Maj
Richard Sylvester, superintendent of p
lice relative to the report of the investl-
cations of Central Office Detectives We
don and Buriingame into the death OF
Norval T. Harris, the V ung street clean
ing superintendent Of the District of Co
Iumbia. whose body was found OF I
street between Sth and 9th streets south
east ON the morning of Sunday. August
%. with bullet hole in the back Of his
head.
Following the finding of the body de-
tectives from the central Office and po-
lice Of the fourth precinct, under the
direction of Acting Capt. Carl Flather,
investigated the case and reported
their findings to Coroner hewitt Inc
coroner ordered a jury sworn over the
body. but after receiving the report OF
the police issued a certificate OF death
by suicide. The weapon which had
caused the young mans life was miss
ing, ana steps were lnlHlcutdIctS hoNSiA
to locate it, A revolver. later ideni-
fed as having belonged to Harris, was
located in a second hand shop, on Az
street southwest, where 1t had oeeh
left by an unidentified colored man.
Investigation Is Ordered.
Owing to statements that enough
evidence had not been shown to war
rant the issuing of a certificate OF sui
eide, without first holding an inquest,
Maj Sylvester, superintendent OF ,po-
lice, detailed Detectives Weldon and
Burlingame to investigate, the case.
This the detectives did and yester-
day morning made their report TO IN
He referred it to Police Chief Sylves-
ter. who in turn sent it to Coroner
hewitt.
The first report of the investigations
of the detectives was made SEPTEMBER =,
but it was decided to continue the in
yestieation further and several other re-
ports were filed, all Of which cover ABOUT
one hundred typewriter sheets. Many
persons were interviewed by the detec-
tives in their work.
After outlining In detail interviews WIN
many persons, the detectives also re-
ported that relatives of Harris had told
them that an uncle of his had committed
suicide in Virginia about two years ago
REGARDING several letters founo IN taI-
ris' pockets and in his room, and which
Harris had shown to persons as having
been written to him, handwriting ex-
pert connected with one of the local ma
tional banks declared that the writing
was the same as that of Harris in ms
reports at the District building and also
in letters written by him to relatives.
The question regarding the absence OF
powder marks the back OF Harms
head where he was shot. was also taken
up by the detectives, and Herbert d.
Miles of Germantown, Md. stated that
his son. Harry Miles. had attempted
suicide September last by shooting him
self in the head with revolver. lie
said the hair was not scorched or burned
Raymond Miles. brother Of Harry
Miles also said he saw no scorehed hair
on his brothers head DIR. Isaac NJ.
Shippers of Germantown. Md, who at
ended Miles. said there were no powder
marks on Miles head and none in the
wound.
DR.. B. Cliff of the Emergency Hospital
in this city who attended Miles when he
was brought to that institution. stated he
did not find any powder marks OH the
hair adjacent to the wound.
On this report the coroner has decided
that no inquest will beheld In the case
and that his certificate Of suicide VIII
stand