Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-30
A. A. Webster's Disappear
anCe Charged to L. L. lett.
QUARREL between MEN
Wife Tells Police Brewery Workman
Destroyed Husbands Body.
POSSIBLY BURNED IN FURNACE
Family Declares That Jett Commit
ted Suicide After the
Crime.

Sensational charges were made TO the
police today in connection with the mys-
FERROUS disappearance OF Arthur A. Web
ster. an employee OF the navy yard. and
the suicide of I,entie J.. Jett, a stationary
engine fireman. employed by the Ma
tional Capital Brewing Company. iita
and d streets southeast.
Webster has been missing from his
home. 124O ID street southeast. since Sep
TENDER Il. while Jet. who Is charged
by the wife and mother of the missing
man with being responsible for webster's
disappearance. committed suicide last
night at his home, 627 Florence street
northeast
When informed by Policeman John vii.
liam kerneyof the fifth precinct that Jett
had committed suicide. Mrs. Ella Web
ster, wife of the missing man, declared:
Il know he had something to do with
the disappearance of my husband
Says He Destroyed Body.
ST charge that Jett did something to
my husband while in the engine room or
body In the fire box and destroyed it,"
Mrs. Webster asserted. IT felt all along
that Jett knew something about him.
InGy nd0 0SnI ldSr SpTlnK. ana. al
though my husband said things had been
patched up. he feared Jett
Another thing which makes me believe
he had something to do with the disan
pearance OF my husband is that when
inquired at the brewery. with my mother
in-law, about my husband having been
there the morning of his d.sappearanc'.
Jett declared he had not been around the
place." Mrs. Webster added.
When Policeman kenney asked her il
IT, -,
charge naming Jet, Mrs Webster de-
clared she did.
do you believe that Jett killed your
husband and then put his BODY il the
furnace at the brewery, an you char e?"
Mrs. Webster was then asked.
81 certainly do and make IT now" Mrs.
Webster replied to the policem N. -
told Policeman kenney several days a"o
I thought Jett knew something about my
husbands wherea bouts and believe after
and was asked II he knew anything about
Arthur he just went to his home and
killed himself
Mother Makes Charges Also.
Mrs. NJ. z. Webster. mother Of the miss-
ing man, who resides at 1243 street
southeast. directly in the rear of her sons
home. made the same charges against
Jett as did her daughter-in-law.
When she was told that Jett had taken
his life, the mother broke down and de-
clared that she believed Jett had some-
thing to do directly with Websters disap-
pearance
HE killed my son. and the only thing
that could make me change my mind
would be for me to see Arthur again,
the mother added.
Policeman Kenney asked Mrs Webster.
the mother, IL she also wanted to make
Tz|A
she did.
Il believe that he killed my son. or did
something to make him helpless, and
then destroyed the body in one of the
furnaces at the brewery" was the reply.
Jett was taken by Policeman Kenney 80
the home OF Webster's father yesterday
and was questioned by MIR. Webster as To
what he knew about the disappearance OF
his son. Several hours afterward Jet
turned to his home and later after telling
his wife Of having lost his position at the
brewery and of his despondency, shot
himself In the right temple. He was dead
when found.
Webster Employed at Navy Yard
Webster was employed at the United
States navy yard at night. On the morn
ing Of September IL he returned to his
home about 1870 o'clock from the navy
yard, and after giving his wife som.
money which he had made by extra work
in an automobile shop. told her ne "a
going to the brewery for a while.
When he did not return home Lie In
the morning a search was mace -oI a.!
Mrs. Webster, his wife. de lares t.
informed he had not been at IN
The pol &c, however, learned that l.e ma
remained there until after 4 setJcA e
morning in question, Mike Bennett a fire
man helper, employed under Jet hay M
IB4l: Il.
to that effect.
Police Notified.
The police were notified of his dis
appearance. and Policeman Kenney ana
Detective Cornwell of police headquar-
ters have been making "A search for him.
At the National Capital Brewing Conn
pany's plant today Philip Schwartz. ia
charge declared he did not believe the
charges made by the rife and mother
of the missing man could he true.
II do not know anything about the two
men having had trouble last spring" said
Mr.. Schwartz, land the charge that a
man could be killed and burned up in
the furnace without any one else know
ing of 1t is absurd.
Three men were employed in the place
at the time Webster Is said to have been
In the engine ROOM" he added. There is
anything Of the kind occurred some oct
the others would know something about
it,
Reported to Police.
The charges made by the wife and mo-
Their OF Webster will be repeated to Capt.
Mulhall. in comman dof the fifth pre-
cinct, by Policeman Kenny this after
noon.
Mrs Webster, the wife Of the missing
man, has been left with three small chill
dren She stated this afternoon that she
is going to go TO the home of or her
mother-in-law tomorrow. closing up her
home.
More than three hours before Jett ended
his life he told his wife of his despon-
dency and said ne thought he would end
his troubles. Policeman Jett OF the first
precinct brother of the fireman, saw the
latter's employer. and arranged for his
this morning. but the dis
charged man ended his life before his
brother could get word to him that he
would again be put to work
Feared Husbands Act.
Mrs. Minnie Jett. wife of the suicide.
was SO greatly disturbed by her hus-
kill himself that she went TO the house
Of John ]. Short. adjoining her home.
and remained there until long after the
tragedy had been enacted
Mr.. Short thought he heard the report
of the pistol shot about 1880 o'clock. al-
though at that time he thought the noise
mad been made by an automobile. Short
lv q fter 10 O'clock Mrs. Jett returned
hnna and found the door locked She