Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-10-01


the Beli.f That Detectives Were at
Least Careless in Their Search For
Evidence-coroners Action Again
Awaited.
Washington, Sept. 23.-Calling at
tention to the new witness who now
stands ready to give testimony before
a coroner's jury that win completely
shatter the conclusions arrived at by
the police detectives who investigated
the death of Norval T. Harris an au-
thorized representative of the imme-
date relatives of the dead youth, yes
terday made a second formal demand
On Coroner J. Ramsey hewitt for an
inquest.
This formal demand has been for
warded to Coroner hewitt and an an
swer is expected from the District Of
fetal at oDce.
As was stated before the police of
ficers and detectives directly connect
ed with the Harris case knew of the
story that this witness can tell, but
they evidently do not care to have
him come forward as his statement
would force them to begin all over
again. if they care to make a genuine
investigation Of the causes which led
up to the death of NorvaI T. Harris.
Police Theory.
The police and the detectives from
the beginning have worked with the
body of Harris stretched on the
ground at 11.30 or 11.40 o'clock on the
might of August 81, as their founda-
ton for theory building
The story Of the new witness COM
pletely removes this foundation from
beneath the police theories. as he will
swear to the fact that the body OF
Harris was not on the I street death
spot at either 1130 or 1890 o'clock.
In the letter accompanying the de-
mand it is pointed out to the coroner
that an inquest alone will secure the
testimony of this important wit
ness 1t is made plain to the coroner
that the witness fears that unless
called forth by a legal summons he
would ieopardize his present position
to make his identity known
Story Investigated.
The Times since discovering this
new witness, has made most thor
ough investigation of his story of the,
might of August 81, when Norval T.
Harris body was supposed to have
been found lying between Eighth
and Ninth streets southwest.
This investigation in no particular
weakens the story told by The new
witness and in many particulars
strengthens it.
The investigation also tends to in
crease the growing belief that Detec-
tives Weeden and Burlingame, and the
other police officers actively. at work
on the case were at least careless in
their search for evidence that would
aid them in solving the death nys-
terry.
Only Four Named
Using the official reports filed ,.
Weldon and Burlingame to check the
work of the two detectives it is shown
that they found but four persons who
heard a shot fired at about 11.30
O'Clock on the night of August 81. The
four were: Andrew J. Kimmell. Mrs.
| Virginia Dickerson, Harry Chick and
Charles Little
Andrew j. Kimmell is a special POI
lice officer; Charles Little is a special
police and watchman; Mrs. Dickerson
| is the wife of q special policeman, and
Harry Chick is the stepson of spe-
cial policeman All of these witnesses
might be said to be more or less con-
nected with the police department.
In the report of Weldon and Burlin
game can be found no other names
of persons who heard the shots on the
night of August 81, and in the reports
can be found no mention of the two
detectives finding any one who did
not hear a shot on that night.
Heard No Shot.
The Washington Times searched
not only for persons who say they
heard the shots fired, but they also
secured the neighborhood for persons
who might have, but did not hear a
shot, and they found number of the
latter
The Times reporters found that
next door to Mrs. Dickerson, at 709 |
street. lives Thomas l.. woodward and
family. Mr. Woodward told The
Times reporter that he lay awake I'M
til Q O'Clock Sunday morning. August
90. and that all of the windows of his
room were open; that his heating is
very keen; that he was in a position
where he would have been able to
hear a shot if one we're fred, and that
he did not hear report of gun dur
ing the time he was awake.
At 71s street lives james H. Dodd
and family. Mr.. Dodd admits that be
might have been asleep and he did