San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-09
WIFE SAYS
GUN IS NOT
HUSBANDS
Suicide Theory Abandoned
by Officers and
Relatives.
ONE SHOT FIRED
Had Two Guns But Both
Are at His Home
Here.
FUNERAL IS MONDAY
Army Investigators Go to
Bulls to Examine
Cave.
ONE SHOT FIRED
FUNERAL IS MONDAY

The rusty pistol found in the cave
near the skeleton of Richard Routon,
missing warrant officer, was not his
relatives said Monday morning. MIR.
Routon had two guns, both OF which
were displayed by Mrs. Routon VINO
trsss them at her home, 1f26 Nolan
street.
According TO information furnished
Deputy Sheriff John subira, who is
c,ntiuet;ng The sFiuvpstigation out Oh
TIE sheriff's office. the pistol had one
emptv shell in It, giving evidence tnat
only one shot had been fired. Inc
weapon was badly rusted.
Relatives said Monday morning thai
in their opinion, Routon was kiiied
and the pistol thrown in the cave WIN
the hodv to lend color to n suicide
theory. The officer had no cause 70
take his own life, they said. and they
are firmly convinced that he was
murdered. a.
Mr.. Routon had an army type 40
pistol, and another gun, both OF when
Mrs Routon now has in her posses
Not An Army Gun.
Although relatives were inclined TO
doubt that the tar pool trap was
laid for Mr.. Routon the Sunday pre-
cedinp the disappearance, yet the TACT
that the tar was covered with fresh
Garth when the trap failed to hold
the car. is taken as evidence that
the unknown person on the trestle
was really trying to "get' Routon.
The funeral will be held at 4
o'clock Monday afternoon with fuil
military hohors. Interment VIII De
| in the National Cemetery.
Captain +. V. Edgerton, provost
marshall reported Monday morning
that the gun found in the cave was
small % caliber automatic. IL
was not an army gun he said, but
the type more commonly known as u
pocket gun. In the magazine were
five unfired cartridges while in the
barrel was the shell of one cartridge
that had been fired.
Investigation Goes On.
Finding OF the weapon was report
ed to DEPUTY Subira Monday by the
toyost marshal who is conducting the
- ossiqation for the army. ii was
tbe ,{rxvost marshal who first visited
the cave after the report of the find
ing of Routon's body was communl-
Gated to army headquarters.
He was asked BY Deputy Subira If.
in view of the finding of the pistol
with one empty shell. the murder
theory which has been followed in
the investigation would be abandoned
and the theory of suicide accepted. TO
which he replied that the question is
as vet undecided. He requested the
,Ieputy sheriff to keep him advised.
however. of any Developments in his
Investigation.
No Verdict Given.
Justice of the Peace Ben s. Fisk.
who held an inquest Saturday morn
Ing. stated Monday that he has not
rendered a verdict in the case and
probably will not do so. From testi-
nonv brought out at the inquest.
Justice Fisk said, it was impossible
10 determine the manner in (which
he man came to his death. Because
BIZ the condition of the body. County
Health Officer DR.. ID. Berry was I'M
sble to make an examination Satur-
lay. so he could not advise Justice
Fisk as 10 his opinion in the mat
er. 1t Is probable now. Justice Fisk
laid. that verdict. if one is rendered
n the case, will, be given BY army
authorities who are now conducting
N investigation.
Follow Murder Theory. Il
Deputy Sheriff Subira was follows
ng the clue of the 25-caliber pistol
Ionday afternoon and hopes when he
Establishes its ownership, TO throw
urther light on the manner in
rhich Routon came to his death. He
oes not believe that the man could
ave committed suicide, as there was
% evidence that he had left himself
own into the cave. feat which
Feuh have required a rope. He still
.azS tn the theory that the man was
rstymurdcred and then thrown into
be cave and that the pistol was pos
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