The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-27
PASTORCERTA|N
WIFE CREPT
INTO FIRE
Sticks to Belief Despite Evl-
dence Produced-Day
Sad One at Home
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page
ing to their earlier theory that
Mrs. Sheatsley met death either
through suffocation or strangula-
ton, the officers, possibly, leaning
strangulation. On this subject
however, the officials are silent.
Mindu Incident Recalled.
The officials, seemingly, place II
credence in the theory that Mrs.
Sheatsley may have been murdered
by some man or boy who had
grudge against the Reverend M
Sheatsley.
This so-called vengeance theory
was built up on rumors that Mr..
Sheatsiey punished an orphan some
years ago while the pastor was
Identified with a Pittsburgh orphan
age and that the disciplined young.
ster had threatened to 'get" the
pastor; also, that Hindu became
angered because of an address de.
hyered by him number OF years
ago at Detroit after the pastor re
turned from India.
Although admitting he engaged in
an argument, following the Detroit
speech, with an unknown HINDU
the Reverend Mr.. Sheatsley toda,
was disposed to regard 1t as "a heat
ed, but abstract discussion. rattle.
than a personal argument liable to
instil a vindictive desire for re-
venge."
Family Protected.
A guard, detailed by Bexley MUM
cipal officials, for the purpose of
protecting the family against curios-
ity seekers and to otherwise safe
guard the pastor and his children
against unnecessary embarrassment,
was on hand when the Sheatsleys
reached their home about p. M, ac-
companied by Paris relatives. An
escort for the family was made up
of members of the Reverend Mr..
| Sheatsley's congregation.
To newspaper men, Mr.. Sheatsley
stated the willingness of himself and
all his children to cooperate with
the prosecutor and other investigat-
ing authorities in the effort to
solve the mystery surrounding Mrs.
Sheatsleys death. They would con-
/ fer with the prosecutor any time if
he desires to question them again,
| he said.
Concerning the failure of his six
teen-year-old son, Clarence, to tell
anyone that he had seen what ne
thought was the body of his mother
| in the basement furnace, Mr.. Sheats-
ley said:
'"The boy probably saw the
form in the furnace. but his heart
said: 1t can't be mother. There
| is a possibility that he was excited
when he made the statement, due
to his age. You know how boy
| is"
Find Poison In Cabinet.
During conference with Prosecu-
| tor King last week, Mr.. Sheatsley
stated that, as he was nearing ms
| home, on the day of the tragedy,
he sn1elled an odor which he
thought was from carbolic acid,
and that a carbolic acid bottle was
missing, he later found, from the
| family medicine chest. Probing
| officials this week found the bottle
| with it's contents intact in the
medicine chest.
When questioned by newspaper
men, Reverend Mr.. Sheatsley chung
| to his declaration that the first
| odor he detected, issuing from the
furnace chimney smelled like car
Il
bolic acid. Soon afterward, he
stated, he detected the odor of
burning flash.
Bring Food to House.
Persons today approaching the
Sheatsley home are halted by
guard and questioned. Decision ~
then made by the guard as to
whether entrance to the parsonage
viii be permitted. Stephen Ludwig.
mayor of Bexley, issued orders de-
failing the guards and instructing
them to bar all persons, with few
exceptions. from the premises sur
rounding the Sheatsley home.
| In their efforts to ease the sorrow
of the bereaved family, Pensioners
carried baskets laden with Thanks
giving Day eats to the Sheatsley
home. The officials Of his church
have authorized Mr.. Sheatsley to
take a vacation of month or
| longer. II he desires.