Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-08-29
Still a Mystery.

1
Washington, Aug. 29.--The dis
cevery today of a torn letter in the
room of Norval 7. Harris, well-known
Young man who was found shot to
death on a street in southwest Wash
ington, early Sunday, throws new light
upon the mysterious case and indicates
that he was married within the last
fortnight in Baltimore.
When pieced together today, the
letter read rs follows:
August 21-Dear Brother-Please
come up this evening, as Norval, now
my hubby, is going back 10 Washing
ton this evening. I'm going to New
York. Would be glad to have you
and Clara to come. Tell Clara alls
right, that I'm now Mrs. Harris and
hubby is SO anxious to meet you be-
fore he goes home. The kids getting
impatient, so will close.
Your beloved sister and brother,
NJ. and n. H."
Harris was 81 years old and for two
years bad been employed as an inspec-
tor in the street cleaning department.
His uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. r.
A. Harris, with whom he lived, believed
him to be q youth of exemplary habits
and they do not believe that he was
married.
The police believe that the discovery
of the Baltimore woman who wrote the
letter, will result i'll clearing the case.
They are anxious to find her brother
and question him about the case. The
authorities also want to find her
father" referred to in another note as
follows:
Dear: Stay where you are for no
one knows. Tell Norvel not to worry
about father for he cannot find you.
Stay with n. H. Will see you both in
the morning"
This note appears to have been ad-
dressed to some one in Harris care.
Harris was shot through the head
when found. An empty revolver
holster was in his pocket but no trace
of the weapon could he found. \
negro first found the body and notified
two men who were nearby.
The police advanced Il theory that
Harris killed himself and that the
negro stole the revolver, but this is not
given much credit here.
One OF the most important clews was
note written OH telegraph blank,
found in Harris pocket. 1t read:
BE in Baltimore at 9 n. m. Tues
day without fail. Florie Leidman,
room lat Renncrt's Daltimore). I"
This note is believed to be two weeks
old.
The revolver which Harris is sup
posed to have had with him Saturday
night was found by the police today
in pawn shop here. After the revol-
yer was identified by the young man
uncle, the Coroner announced that he
would accept the theory that Harris
killed himself. This decision is based
upon the supposition that the negro
who first found the body, stole the
pistol and pawned it. The only motive
for suicide is the supposed disappont-
ment in love. The police profess to
believe that Harris wrote the notes and
letters found in his room while de-
ranged.
Baltimore, Aug. 29.-An effort to-
day to trace the movements in BatI-
more OF Norval Il. Harris, the young
Inspector of street cleaning in Wash
ington, who is supposed to have COM
mittcd suicide in the national capital,
proved futile Harris, it was stated in
Washington dispatches, had note
from a woman making an appointment
to meet the dead youth in 4 Baltimore
hotel. Who this mysterious woman is,
and what relations she had with Noryal
T. Harris, cannot be learned today. At
the Hotel Renncrt, the hostelry which
the note making the appointment indi-
Gated, there could not be found the
name Of Norval Y. Harris on
the registry books. On August Is,
il is stated, n man who gave
his name as W. H. Harris, and
his home as Baltimore was
| registered ut the hotel. This latter
Harris cannot be located in this city,
but he was given room, the number
OF which is designated in the note
found in Norval r. Harris possession.
This room W. II. Harris occupied to-
gether with A. l. Dietrich, who regis
tered from Binghamton, n. y. Just
what connection the names Of Norval
lT. Harris and w. H. Harris, had, if
any, no one was able to say
TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES.