Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-28
HARRIS INQUEST ON
No Evidence of Struggle, De-
clare Early Witnesses.
DESCRIBE FINDING OF BODY
Seventy Have Been Summoned to
Bear Testimony in Case.
INQUIRY TO LAST THREE DAYS
Police and Others Tell of the Dis
covery of the Tragedy and At
tendant Conditions.
INQUIRY TO LAST THREE DAYS

With the object of having jury decide
whether Norval T. Harris committed sui
eide or was murdered, Coroner hewitt to-
day, at the morgue, began an inquest
| into the tragedy.
The inquiry probably will not be fin
ished until tomorrow afternoon or Friday.
1t is understood that more than seventy
| witnesses have been summoned. While
| all may not be called it is obvious that
| even the majority of those who are to
| testify to the events leading up to the
| tragedy and to the facts uncovered since
| Harris. body was. found cannot be heard
| in less than two or three days.
History of the Case.
The body of Harris was discovered
| early on the morning of Sunday, August
%, lying on the sidewalk on 1 street be-
tween Sth and 9th streets southwest. A
bullet wound behind the right ear indi-
Gated the cause of death.
Following investigation by the police
department Coroner hewitt issued a GER
tiicate Of death from sef-inflicted gun
shot wound. Protests by the relatives
of the dead man that he should not be
branded suicide under what they term
ed unjust circumstances, accompanied
by a continuous agitation of the case,
finally resulted in a decision by Corpora
ton Counsel Thomas that, under the
law, the coroner should hold an inquest
into this and all other deaths by vio-
! lence, whether the attending circum-
stances seemed to clearly indicate sui
eide or not.
No Signs of Struggle.
O'Clock this morning. During the first
session police and other witnesses were
heard, who portrayed to the jury the ex-
act conditions under which the body of
the young man was discovered. All of
these early witnesses agreed that no
| signs of struggle were in evidence
around the place where the body lay.
Big Crowd at Morgue.
That much interest was felt in the case
| was evident by the gathering of con-
siderable crowd in the street in front of
| the morgue some time before the hour
set for the beginning of the inquiry.
| The jury, which includes Henry Saur,
Henry PaItzmann, Ernest G. Thompson,
John Crawford, George Yoe and C. H.
Dikeman, had been sworn over the body
of Norval T. Harris, August %, the day
after the body of Harris was found on
l street southwest between Sth and 9th
streets.
In opening the inquest Coroner hewitt
made a brief explanatory statement to
the jury, giving his reasons for issuing a
certificate of death from self-inf1icted
gunshot wound. This certificate, he said,
was issued as result of the investiga-
ton into the case by the police depart
ment.
with Coroner hewitt to assist in con-
Quoting the inquiry. Assistant United
States Attorney Charles H. Turner was
present on behalf Of the government.
inquest representing Mrs. Mabel OHara
and Milburn Harris, sister and brother
of the deceased, and the Modern
Woodmen of America, the lodge Of
which Harris was member.
Cantwel1 Tells Of Finding Body.
Richard C. Cantwell of 724 eth street
southwest. the first witness called,
described the finding of the body. He said
a colored man told him dead man was
lying on the sidewalk on I street, and he
went to the scene
Il touched the mans face, felt that it
was cold, so that l knew the man was
dead, said Cantwell. Then l went in
search of policeman. but when I return
ed some one else had brought the police"
Did you see any evidence of strug-
gle?" inquired Coroner hewitt.
II did not" witness replied; there was
a pool of blood under the mans head
as though he had fallen at the place
where the shooting occurred. There was
no blood scattered along the street at
any distance from the body
Under examination by Attorney Lam
bert, Cantwell said he went to bed at
midnight and, although his home is near
the scene; he heard no shots during the
night. The body was found about $50
o'clock on the morning of August 2S.
Fleury Called Police.
John Fleury of 1112 10Th street south
west, the second witness, testified that his
attention was called to the body by an
ice wagon driver, and he summoned a
policeman.
According to the testimony of Policeman
Charles G. Bartemann of the fourth pre-
cinct, he was the first member of the
police department to see the body, his at
tention being called to 1t by Fleury. He
summoned the patrol wagon and the de-
tail of police from the station house. The
body was found about $50 In the morning,
Bartemann said, and it was then fully
daylight
The policeman stated he searched the
dead mans pockets and found an empty
pistol holster S43.57 in money and a
telegram. Bartemann identified the tele-
gram which was exhibited by Assistant
United States Attorney Turner
Search was made by the police for the
revolver from which the shot was fired,
witness said but it could not be found
Search for Revolver.
Sergt. J. l.. Kilmartin, who was In
charge of the preliminary Investigation
Immediately after the body was discov-
cred. also testified about the search for
the revolver.
THE man wore q straw hat" Sergt.
Kilmartin said. land some blood was on
its hrim" Witness described the nool Of