The Washington times., 1920-11-28
ST0MACHSENT
CHEMIST HERE
District Attorney Doubts "Acci-
dent" Verdict Returned by
Coroner in Md. Tragedy. q,


TO determine the exact cause OF
the death of Benjamin Franklin
Mathoit, sixty-five years old. wealthy
Prince Georges county farmer and
former United States Secret Service
agent, who died last Wednesday
after being dragged from under a
tractor on his farm at Sunnyside,
States Attorney J. Wilson Ryon has
ordered the dead farmers stomach
examined for possible evidences of
poison.
TO sIF-r wIFE's STORY.
because OF the suspicious circum-
stances under which Mathiot claimed
to have been thrown down a well on
his farm recently and because of
other Developments, said States At
tcrney RyOn today. II intend to sift
rumors ailoat TO the bottom. I want
to be certain OF the cause OF Mr..
Mathiots death-whether it was by
fougplay or by accident. as stated BY
his wife and Others"
The internal organs of Mathiot to-
day are being examined at the
George Washington University. 1t is
expected the chemical analysis OF the
visceri will have been completed by
tonight. Mathiot was buried yester.
day after the visceri had been re-
moved and sent to the university.
While states Attorney Ryon, as
sisted by Deputy Sheriff Tobin, of
Hyattsvlle and Riverdale, is conduct
ing an investigation Of the circum-
stances surrounding the death Of the
wealthy farmer, Coroner Shipley, of
Berwyn, has given a certificate that
Mathiot died as a result of an acct
dent.
ESTATE TOTALS $4,000.
1t developed today that Mathiot's
estate and bank holdings will approxi-
mate value of $4,000. All of this
property. with the exception OF $500.
il is said. was willed two months ago
to his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Fowler
Ballard Mathiot, who is twenty years
younger than the wealthy farmer and
former Secret Service agent.
According to States Attorney Ryon,
shortly after Mathiot had the will
drawn up in favor Of his wife, the
farmer returned to the Berwyn law
yer who wrote the will and asked To
have it changed He is said TO have
The $500 in addition to the properties
left to the wife was willed to
cousin, Miss Belle Mathiot, of Balti-
more.
Not only had Mathiot been thrown
down n well recently. hut IL was
stated today that several weeks be-
fore TINT attempt u said to have bccn
made on his life he was attacked in
his home by two men. One of the
men, IL was said, was BrittOn Brown.
a young farmer, whom MnthlOt ne
cused OF throwing him into the wel!.
DIDN'T PRESS CHARGE.
At the time of tho alleged assault.
Mathiot swore out n warrant for
Brown. but the young farmer was
never arrested After he had accused
Brown of throwing him down tho
well, Mathiot directed Constable Gar
rison to swear out another warrant
for Browns arrest. The warrant,
which also has never been served,
charges Brown with assault and bat
terry and attempt to kill"
In his investigation. States At
torney Ryon has questioned Coroner
Shipley and DR.. w. Allen Griffith,
also OF Berwyn. DR.. Griffith said ii
is declared, that he was satisfied
after having been told of the circum-
stances under which Mr.. Mathoit was
found. that death had been due to
exposure and shock.
Discovery of Mr.. Mathoit, trapped
under the tractor, was made at 8
o'clock last Wednesday night by Rice
Snapp, a Sunnyside farmer, who had
been summoned to the Mathoit home
by Mrs. Mathoit.
WIFE SUMMONED AID.
Mrs. Mathoit has been employed
with the Reclamation Service Of the
Interior Department. When she
reached the Sunnyside station at 6:15
Wednesday, she did not find her hus-
band waiting with the family car
riage. She walked to the farm
house, a distance OF nearly Eve miles.
and not finding Mathoit, called for
Snapp.
Snapp went into the wheat field and
found Mathoit, his right leg caught
in the steering wheel OF the over
turned tractor. Mrs. Mathoit follow
cd, but when Snapp found the wealthy
farmer. he directed she return to the
house.
For Gods sake, get mo out OF
here" Mathoit pleaded to Snapp
Snapp ran for assistance and with
three other farmers succeeded In lift
ing tho overturned tractor sufficient
ly to Cxtricate Mathoit. The farme-