The Washington times., 1922-08-17
HOLDS KEY
IN l)EA /
Of OIL MAN
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Contlnued from flrst faSTJ
the hacker suggested that he be
taken to a hospital, he was told that
the man had been injured while
drinking and that he lived In Mead
osEs, Nd, and the hacker was In
structed to drive the party to that
community.
II was further revealed that the
man who piloted the launch on tts
return to the wharf was very deaf.
The police have established the fact
that a man slightly deaf formerly
operated a launch on the river, but
have eliminated him SO far as the
case Is concerned.
Leaving the rivers edge, the hack
or is said to have driven the three
men into Maryland. On nearing a
farmhouse in the vicinity Of Mead
ows, II is said, ONE of the injured
mans companions told the hacker
that "he Ia feeling better now; let us
out, so he can rest before going home.
He is prominent. and it-would never
do for his family to know he had
been up the river" g.
The hacker is said to have stopped
the car and one Of the men, who
was addressed by his companion as
"Slim," offered the hacker $50 IL
he would promise to forget the in
cidents. of the night. The hacker is
said to have accepted the money.
Puxxling Details.
When the hacker drove away 1t is
claimed that he saw the two strange
men seated on a culvert, with the
injured man supported between
them.
II this story is true, how did the
two men get back to Washington?
Was he murdered at that spot and
then transported two miles beyond
there to the culvert where the body
was found some hours later? These
are questions the police are trying
to answer. ~.
The fact that blood was found on
the roadside at several points going
to and coming from the spot where
the body was discovered lead TO the
belief that the body was taken there
in wagon the flooring Of which
would permit the leakage Of blood
or in a motor truck from which
some OF the flooring was missing.
Several tests have already been
made by Detectives Scrivner and
Kelly OF headquarters to determine
whether or not blood could have
dripped from the bottom Of an au:
tomobile. They have found that II
would have been so unlikely as to
be regarded as impossible. --..5,
Wrapped about the head Of the
murdered man was a heavy potato
sack, used to soak up the blood,
Investigation yesterday along the
route followed by the slayers OF
Mcbride revealed that hundreds OF
potato sacks of similar size and
texture are to be found ut farm
houses which are in the center OF
q trucking community.
There are several small wagons
that could have been used, but
none of them has so far been con-
nected with the case.
Blood spots describing a circle
800 yards above the culvert where
the body was found indicate that
the vehicle made n complete turn
in the road there. A large auto
mobile could not have made that
turn. 1t Is with difficulty that
Ford automobile can make 1t.
Couldn't Defend Self.
A country wagon, a buggy. car
riage, or Ford truck could make the
turn that the blood spots des 'ribe.
The police are proceeding on the
theory that Mcbride was in n semi
conscious condition, probably
drugged, when struck on the back
Of the head. Had he been sitting
erect, they point out, the blood
would have flowed down his back.
No blood was found on his back
and very little on the back Of his
white stiff collar.
It is believed that he was seated
with his head bowed on his chest;
that the blow on the head istrtially
cleared his wits and that he raised
his hands above his head for pro-
lection.