The Washington times., 1911-04-23

PARKERSBURG, W. Va, April g.
That no arrests will be made In con-
nection with the explosion ana nre IN
the apartment of w. z. Caskey, one OF
the best-known citizens of Parkersburg.
which resulted in the deaths Of w. e.
Curry, manager of the largest chair
factory in West Virginia, and Mrs. Cas-
key, was the positive statement today
by Prosecuting Attorney H. o. Hite-
shew, of Wood county, and Coroner
Benjamin Robinson.
Mrs. Caskey's son, william Caskey,
jr., Is in a local hospital, suffering from
severe burns about the face and arms.
His statements throw no light on the
tragedy of yesterday.
Prosecuting Attorney Hiteshew said
this morning that the case likely will go
down in the annals Of Parkersburg as
another Of this city's mysterious TRACE
dies Of the past year. He said young
Caskey is the only person who might
be able to throw any light on the case.
and that he declares he knows nothing
about it.
Foul Play Rumors.
Rumors of foul play were rife here
today, but the coroner and the prose-
cutting attorney say there is no founda-
ton for the reports. Curry had gashes
on his forehead when found in the
apartment, but the coroner says they
probably were caused by a fall against
chair or mantelpiece. The prosecut-
ing attorney also suggests there might
have been an encounter between young
Caskey and Curry. but that it was
| merely fist fight and could not in al y
way cause Curry's death.
Before he died Curry pleaded with
the physicians at the hospital not to
allow any of his family to see him, say
ing: II was in those apartments, and
have disgraced my family, and cannot
| bear to have them look at me-
His wife and nine children. however
| were with him when he died. Mrs
| Caskey died without making any state.
| ment for her husband and daughter
both of whom were out of town.
His Statement.
This statement of Curry on his death
bed was said by the prosecuting attor.
ney to explain Curry's presence in Mrs
| Caskey's apartment. What leads the
local police to believe there might have
been an encounter of some nature wa.
due to the fact that the hat and Goa
of Curry were found in the parlor o.
| AhC NoohCS oPoL lAhS4il, tIO0
sers and small sums CT money wer,
found in the hallway just outside tn.
| kitchen.
When firemen arrived Curry was founC
| undressed, with the exception of over
shirt and underclothing. His clothing
was burned from his body except below
| the knees and around the neck. WheI
Mrs. Caskey was found she was dressed
! in her kimono. She was In semi
conscious condition when carried from
her apartment and on the way to tn,
hospital she begged not to be taken t.
the police station. In the hospital sht
prayed for death before the arrival o.
her husband and daughter from Vir
ginia.
| The husband and daughter arrived
/ before Mrs. Caskey's death, but SHIT
was unable to recognize them.
How the fire started is a mystery
Young Caskey has nothing to say excep
| that he went home Friday night to ge
his overcoat and automobile to take 6
\ young woman home from a dance h
the hallway he heard his mothe
| screaming for help. Upon going III
stairs, he says he found the apartment
afire and his mother and Curry fighting
the ames. The damage caused by thu
fire was slight.
Mrs. Caskey said she mistook a bot
tie with gasolene In it for wine bottle
and ih pouring the gasolene out 4
caught fire, owing to tthe close proxim
ity of natural gas stove which wa.
burning at the time. This theory Seems
plausible, because after the accident ;
| wine bottle and some lasses wer,
found in the apartment.
as was also a bottle containing gaso
llene.
There was a cut on Curry's head, bu
this cut was not of sufficient impor
tance, the prosecuting attorney said
to warrant an investigation by th'
State.
Young Caskey has no injuries which
would indicate that he was in a sucffl'