Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-11
ARREST IN CAPITAL
IS MADE TO SOLVE
ANNAPOLIS MURDER
CoIored Man Held Shows
Scratches on Face and
Blood Stains.
FAILURE TO FIND MOTIVE
IS HAMPERING THE POLICE
Huckster Is Known to Have Been in
Vicinity of Brandon Home Day
Murder Was Committed.

The mystery surrounding the
brutal murder of Mrs. Lottie May
Brandon in her little home in An
napolis Wednesday still remains
unsolved, although the Annapolis
and Washington police are rua-
ming down clues.
The most important develop
ment of the police activity in con-
nection with the case today is the
arrest of suspicious-looking col
ored man by the Washington po-
lice. He bears scratches on his
face and blood stains on his cloth
ing that may indicate he was
engaged in a recent fight, and he
only recently came to Washing
ton. The police have no evidence
that he was in Annapolis the day
of the murder, but are checking
up his recent movements.
At Annapolis the authorities
are pinning their hopes on the
capture of colored huckster who
was in the vicinity of the Bran
don home the day of the murder.
Prom stan Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Md, August 1.-THE
police of Baltimore and Annapolis who
are investigating the murder here We'd
nesday of Mrs Valentine Brandon,
wife of the Washington stenographer
employed at the naval experiment sta
tion, are pinning their hope today for
q solution of the mystery upon the
expected return to Annapolis of col
ored huckster.
This man, who usually makes three
visits each week to Annapolis. was due
here yesterday. but he did not appear
He is a well known character who re-
sides upon an outlying farm and he
advertises his wares by a method of
old-fashioned sing-sOng. He was seen
in the neighborhood of the Brandon
house the day the murder was commit
ted, but has not been seen since. and
In view of the fact Mrs. Brandon put
up a frightful struggle for her life
the police desire to examine this man.
scratches of recent date upon his face.
1t is understood here today Washing
ton detectives are to be brought into
the case soon. and there are hopes they
will give material aid in solving the
mystery.
Three days have now elapsed since
the investigation of the murder began
without any result that seems satisfac-
tory to the police. although they have
run down clue after clue. The police
hoped yesterday that a theory which
pointed to the possibility of a WASH
ington man being concerned in the
crime might prove valuable. Late last
night and until after / O'Clock this
morning the police talked with Mr.. and
Mrs Thomas A. King, next-door neigh
bors, in the presence of Sheriff Sullivan
of Anne Arundel county. States Attor-
ney Green and Detectives Kratz and
Pohler of Baltimore.
Difficulty In Finding Motive.
The police authorities SAID today that
Mr. and Mrs. King have no important
knowledge which would lead to a solu-
zion Of the mystery
the principal difficulty with which the
police have been confronted is the fact
that they have been utterly unable 70 es-
tablish any motive for the crime
As in all other murder mysteries. there
Is in this Annapolis case necessity, be-
fore real solution, can he obtained, to
establish motive OF 10 find the weapon
with which the crime was committed.
No weapon has been found Analyz-
i..g today the various attempts TO es-
tablish a motive. the police say they
believe the crime was not one for pur.
poses Of robbery. because Mrs. Blan-
donS 1ewelry and Mr.. Brandon's watch
were found in the house untouched, and
1t was we'll known they kept little
money in the house.
The police are of the opinion that the
crime was not one inspired by the jeal-
ousy of an old sweetheart, because Mr.
Brandon has convinced them that Mrs
Brandon had no recent acquaintance
with any former sweetheart
They convinced that the crime
was not the result of anger by the hus-
band, because ne has presented an alibi
as 70 all his movements on the day the
murder was committed, which is sup
ported by fifty or sixty witnesses They
are convinced that the crime was not
the result of quarrel among relatives
because their reports show that no
relatives We're here on the day the
crime was committed.
Turn to Convulsion Theory.
In this difficulty the Baltimore de
tectiyes are turning more and NOR.
to the theory that Mrs. Brandon MA,
have died as the result of conyulsions
due to the fact that she was to he.
come mother in six weeks The Raj.
ti.nore detectives are holding to thi.
possible theory today while waiting TO,
the huckSter, Notwithstanding the re.
port of the autopsy which states thar
Mrs Brandon was strangied
The Baltimore detectives are TODAY
claiming that IL would have been nos.
sible for Mrs. Brandon TO clutch he,
own throat while she was in convul.
sions and to have inflicted upon he,
own throat the finger marks the au.
topsy states were found.
In support of this theory the Ralti.
more detectives are seeking the adyic.
OF physicians and surgeons other tha,
those who performed the autopsy. ant
they furthermore point to the fact tina
when Mrs Brandon's body was dis
covered there were evidences of con
vulsion.
As a result of this convulsion theory
there seems to have been developed II
the case today what might be called
two schools of thought, because Sherif
Sullivan and his deputies do not sup
port the convulsion theory and the,
have been pinnIng their hopes for :
solution OF the mystery to the ex
pected appearance in Annapolis TO-DAY
Of the hnckster. Apparently no success
has attended the efforts of the author
tiles to 6nd the man in the pinl
(Contnued on Second Page.1