San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-08

known, owing to the condition of the
body when il was found. A small
hole in the skull, a.Jve the right ear
was believed at first to have been q
bullet hole. On this theory, DR.. ID.
Berry, county health officer, was re-
auested by the district attorneys Of
flee Saturday TO condunct an autopsy.
Relatives of the dead man also were
anxious that this be done.
DIR. Berry, pursuant to this request.
went to the Shelly Undertaking par
lors and viewed the body. When
asked if he had been able to determine
the manner in which Routon had come
to his death, however, DIR. Berry said
that he had not.
due to the fact that the man has
been dead probably two months" DIR.
Berry said, Il was unable to make any
sort of an examination. The body has
become decomposed to such an extent
that there is nothing but a putrid
mass. An autopsy would be a very
difficult task and unless 1 am further
requested to do so by the district at
torney or county authorities. will
pursue my investigation no further"
Was Robbery Motive?
The fact that Routon, just prior to
his disappearance, had received his
salary check and that a valuable ring
and watch which he wore were not
found on the body, strengthens the be-
lief of those conducting the inyestiga
ton that the man was murdered with
robbery as the motive. 1t is also be-
lieved that he was killed at some point
near San Antonio and taken to the
cave near Camp Bulls by some one
familiar with the terrain. The cave
in which the body was found is at an
isolated spot and it is not believed
that anyone not knowing of its exist
ence could have found it. Although
the condition of the body prevents the
of this fact, it is be-
lieyed that Routon, after he had been
was dropped headlong into.
the cave. the bottom of which is fully
40 feet below. ground level.
The army investigation into Rou-'
toms death, it is expected, will center
around Camp Bulls and vicinity while
officers will confine their IN
to efforts to run down the
murderers in San Antonio.
Although they are at present working
on the theory that robbery was the
motive. they will endeavor to ascertain
if Routon had any enemies who could
possibly have been connected with his
murder.
A Captain in World War.
Funeral services for Routon will be
held from the residence, 1926 Nolan
street, at 4 o'clock Monday with full
military honors. Interment will be
in the Hermann Sons Cemetery I'M
der the direction of the Shelley Under
taking Company.
Routon had risen from the ranks to
his position as warrant officer. he
first enlisted in the regular service in
1902, and continued in the army with
out intermission. When the war with
Germany started in 1917 he was COM
missioned a second lieutenant in the
Corps of Engineers. He was soon
made a first lieutenant, and was fur
Their promoted to the rank of captain
in July, 1918. At the close of the war
be was returned to his previous rank
Of technical sergeant, and became
warrant officer in the Corps of Engl-
neers during the last months of 1870,
being stationed in the Engineers office
at Eighth Corps Area headquarters.
Routon was technical sergeant In
the Ninth Engineers. Camp Travis, at
he time of his appointment as war
rant officer. Maj. r. F. Fowler of the
Ninth Engineers, in writing a recon-.
mendation for Routon, stated that
there was no man in the regiment bet
Ter prepared to serve as warrant Of
ficer in the Corps of Engineers; that
his services had always been valued
and that he was highly capable man.
The warrant officer enlisted five
times in the regular service,
and at the conclusion of each term ne
was discharged with the rating, CHAR