The Washington herald., 1912-10-02

fragile bits that would fall apart almost
at the touch of a finger. II required but
a few minutes for DIR. hewitt to ascertain
that The bones were part Of human
skeleton. He found the fragment OF a
scapula and a part OF a collar bone
which are distinctive Of human skele-
ton. Two parts OF ribs could be distin-
guished. There was one fiat piece OF
bone that could easily be recognized as
a section OF a skull. Two vertebrae were
taken from the box. several bone joints
small part of leg bone. and other
sections of the human skeleton.
The examination was lent a touch OF
the pathetic when Charles Webster.
aged and broken with grief. brushed a
tear from his eye after gazing upon
the bone OF his bone, the only earthly
remains OF the big stalwart boy of
whom he was proud. But Webster
controlled his grief and added valuable
testimony to the statements of the de-
tectives at the request of Coroner Ne
witt. Webster told all he knew. from
the time his son disappeared until the
bone fragments were dragged from the
combustion chamber dust.
Barrett L. Arrested.
Shortly after the discovery of the bone
fragments. Michael J. Barrett. twenty
seven years old. was arrested on a charge
Of investigation. Barrett was taken into
custody as a witness because he saw
Webster lying behind furnace No. when
he. Barrett. left the furnace room at
O'Clock on the morning Of September IL.
Barrett Is a helper in the furnace room.
He was taken in custody at his home.
335 II street southwest. by Policeman
Kenney. acting under orders from Cap
tain Mulhsll OF the Fifth precinct, who
Boardman. Barrett had made a state
ment TO Inspector Boardmsn in the morn
ing. This statement was recorded stem
graphically. II shows that Barrett prob
ably is the most important witness yet
found by the police.
After a conference with Coroner hewitt
last night Inspector Boardman directed
that Barrett be released from custody.
and the fireman's helper was allowed to
leave the Fifth precinct station at
o'clock. Barrett confronts another Ques-
tioning by the police. officials say that
the discovery of the bones only starts
their investigat ton Of the murder.
Inquest Postponed.
Before the bones were discovered the
police were probing a murder that. so far
as they could prove. had not been COM
mitted. In order to enable the police to
investigate the murder of Webster. Cor
oner hewitt postponed the inquest over
the remains of Webster until Friday
morning. BY Friday the police expect
to have conclusive evidence that Jett
murdered Webster and put Webster's S
body in the combustion chamber.
1t is believed by the police that Jett
and Webster. both slightly under the in
fuence Of Liquor. renewed their old quar-
rel when Webster appeared in the fur
mace room. 1t Is the opinion Of the au-
thorities that the men quarreled behind
the furnaces. This opinion is based on
Barrett's statement that he heard loud
and angry voices behind the furnaces
just before he left, and believed that
Jett and Webster were quarreling.
In a sudden fit OF anger the police be-
lieve. Jett raised a heavy weapon. a
hammer or monkey-wrench, and felled
Webster. striking a blow that was
heavier than Jett intended. The police
believe Jett used a weapon. because Jett
was afraid to meet Webster in a fistic
encounter. remembering the fight a year
Webster's fist.
Put Body in Chamber.
When Jett knocked Webster uncon-
scious, the police believe, he discovered
that Webster was either dead or dying
and took fright. 1t is also asserted by
the police that Jett, anxious to conceal
the crime he did not intend to commit,
lifted the senseless body Of Webster and
showed 1t through the small opening into
the combustion chamber, where the
clothing and flesh were consumed in a
short time.
Among the bones that were recovered
were two small pieces OF melted metal
that the police believe are the buttonsI
from Webster's clothing. This metal
was melted so that 1t could not possibly
be identified as buttons worn by Web
ster. The police. thus far, have found al
quantity of bones which they know tol
be from a human body, but they have
no evidence to show that the bones areI
the remains of Webster. As one official
explained the status Of the case: we
are virtually certain that We have found
the bones of Webster, but we would be
in a fine fix IL Webster should returnI
home in the next few days, Wouldn't
we? We've got to get the goods, that's
all" |
Discovery Of the bones in the combus- |
ton chamber Of furnace No. was due |
primarily to the clever work of Detec- |
tives Cornwell and Baur. They searched |
every inch Of the floor Of the furnace |
room yesterday morning for evidence Of |
a crime that they supposed was commit |
ted two weeks ago. Finally they found |
two bricks near the door of the combus- |
ton chamber Of furnace No. that were |
stained with black splotches. They lifted