The Washington times., 1920-08-10
ON TRAIL Of TRUNK
SUSPECT IN CAPITAL
Detroit Police officer Inyesti-
gates Visit of Leroy, Wanted
As Slayer of Wife.

Investigation OF the visit made to
this city by Eugene Leroy, who was
known here as Ernesto Fernandez.
wanted as the slayer in the Detroit
trunk murder case, is being conducted
here today by Detective Lieut. Frank
Haig. OF the Detroit homicide squad.
While in Washington Lieutenant
Haig will secure his passport to leave
this country on, the trail OF the muir
derer, who is thought to be IN Mexico
or on his way to South Ar<rica.
The frst clue TO the visit OF Leroy
to this city was discovered on July
20 by The Washington Times. 1t was
learned that Leroy. under the alias
of Ernesto Fernandez. had been pa
tron OF the Photographic shop OF A.
NJ. McAllister, under the National
Theater.
To McAllster the supposed slayer
revealed the fact that he was on his
way to Texas The man was ftrst
definitely known to have been in this
city on June IS and was last seen
here on July S.
IRRITABLE. SAYS McALIIsTER.
Fernandez" at the time gave NC
Allister the impression of being ncrv-
Gus and irritable and on July 8, when
he last entered the shop, seemed ap-
prehensive and worried.
81 gathered from the mans talk
that he was conducting some business
with one of the Government depart
ments," stated McAllister.
1t is thought by Lieutenant Hsig
that Leroy ceme TO this city TO secure
a passport, with which he could read
lily escape to some Central nr South
American country with which the
United States has no extradition
treaty.
In Lieutenant Haig's possession is
a picture of Leroy. bearing the stamp
OF a Washington photographer, which
is thought to have been taken here
recently.
The Detroit detective believes that
Leroy. while in this city waiting for
his passport, visited several Wash
ington women with whom he is
known to have been acquainted. This
also is directly in accord with the |
information obtained by McAllister.
when Fernandez or Leroy was liz
my place on July s, just before leav- |
ing for the last time, he said some |
thing about being accompanied by a
woman" stated McAllister. Il have
a definite impression also that in some |
of his films which l handled there
were photographs of a young woman
taken in this city and in Norfolk"
Lieutenant Haig today declared he |
had conclusive proof that the woman
whose mutilated body was found in
a trunk left in an express room in
New York city was the wife of Leroy
and is equally positive that the hus-
band was the slayer.
He explained the mystery OF the
missing portions of the young wom-
ans body by declaring they were dis
posed of by burning in the Detroit
building where she was slain.
"HAvE PROOF SAYS HAIG.
I'VE also have proof that before the
murder Leroy had threatened to XIII
his wife" stated Lieutenant HaiS.
Before her death Mrs. Ledoy con-
fded to a neighbor that her husband
had become dangerous and had sew
eral times threatened to kill her, and
that on one occasion he had gone so
far as to pursue her with a dirk"
Lieutenant Haig was confident the
slayer would be in custody within a
week. A Detroit detective is now
working on the Mexican border clue.
According to one source of informa-
tlon, Leroy, after leaving this city,
went to Texas, according to his plans
revealed here, then, under the name
Of Woods, succeeded in crossing the
border in company with a friend.
Another clue indicates he left this
country aboard a British steamer
bound for South America, and is now
about three days out OF port. 1t is
this trail Haig is following.
Wireless messages have been sent
to all ports where such a steamer
would touch, requesting harbor
authorities to be on the watch for
Leroy.