Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-18
BRIDE FOUND. DEAD
Husband, Also Victim of Gas,
May Recover.
CORONER HOLDS AUTOPSY
All Possible Causes Of Mrs. Ber-
nardo's Death Investigated.
POLICEMAN AT HOSPITAL
Will See That Bricklayer Does Not
Leave Institution After Regain
ing Consciousness.
CORONER HOLDS AUTOPSY
POLICEMAN AT HOSPITAL

| Jerry Bernardo, Italian bricklayer.
| twenty-eight years DID, who was found
| unconscious from illuminating gas in his
| room at the house of William Cunning
| ham. 40 Is street northwest. last night,
! where his bride of four days, Mrs. Martha
Keys Bernardo. was found dead, probably
will recover and be able to tell the police
the story of the tragedy. Physicians at
Casualty Hospital said today that there
had been an improvement in his condi-
ton A policeman is detailed at the
| hospital to see that Bernardo does not
leave the institution should he regain
| consciousness.
a statement made by a physician at
| the hospital last night that Bernardo dis
played symptoms Of poison other than
gas suggested to the police the posi-
blity of murder and suicide or a suicide
/ pact.
Cause of Death in Doubt.
Not until the corOner's autopsy has
been performed this afternoon will the
authorities know definitely the cause of
the brides death. When the autopsy is
performed, the coroner stated, care
full examination will be made to ascer-
| tain If there are any marks on the
body, and to determine if death resulted
| from gas poisoning or other cause.
| This afternoon the coroner swore d
| jury over the body of Mrs. Bernardo
and will hold an inquest later, should
| developments warrant it.
Married Last Friday.
| Friday the Italian brickIayer and Miss
Martha Keys, the latter a daughter of
Robert Keys. a resident of the vicinity
of Manassas. Prince William county.
Va. were married at Manassas. accord
| ing to a statement of John May of IL
| P street northeast. who married
| cousin of Bernardo's bride, and who
introduced Bernardo to Miss Keys. No
marriage certificate was found in the
room, but a wedding ring was found
on the young womans finger when her
| body was taken to the morgue last
| night. The husband wore a diamond
| ring.
The odor of escaping gas was not de-
tected in the Cunningham house last
night until after Mr.. Cunningham went
to the Bernardos' room with his wife
| and opened the door. Mrs. Cunningham
displayed uneasiness about the recently
married couple. because she had seen
nothing of either of them during the
day and had been told that a boarder in
the house had heard the bride crying
about O'Clock in the morning.
Gas Jets Found Open.
Mrs. Cunningham explained that the
door opening into the hallway was fast
ened from the inside and the key was
| in the lock. but her husband was able to
| open the door leading to the adjoining
room. The gas jet on the wall bracket
and two jets on the chandelier were
| found open.
The police were called and an examina-
| ton of the room made. Coroner hewitt
also examined the premises and viewed
| the body of the woman.
| The body of the bride was resting on
| the bed. Mr. Cunningham thought Ber-
| nardo was dead until he heard groan
| coming from near the side of the bed on
| the floor. He had Bernardo carried from
| the room.
| small bottle containing aromatic
! spirits of ammonia was found in the
| room, but nothing was found to indicate
| Bernardo had taken any poison.
| The police made careful examination
| of the room to determine. if possible, if
| Bernardo and his wife had had a strug-
| gle. An overturned table in the room
| was the only thing that suggested a
| struggle of any kind. and the police are
| of the opinion that Bernardo. overcome
| by gas. got out of bed and tried TO assist
| table.
| Pawn Ticket Is Found.
A pawn ticket for a gold watch was
H.. .