The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-24
DEATH.
TAKEN Up IN
PROBE
Senators Move to Clear Away
Mystery Still Surrounding
Shooting Here.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First PaSeJ
was a very important witness, but
now he is gone"
Smith and Roxie Stinson were
married late in 1908. In the sum.
mer of 1910, she secured a divorce
from him in Ohio courts on the
ground, it was said, of desertion.
She reassuned her maiden name
of Stinson.
"A reconciliation was later eff
fected, and during the latter years
of Smiths life he supported her
and frequently communicated with
and visited her.
Mrs. Stinson has testified they
were to have been remarked.
On the witness stand she de-
scribed their relations after the re-
Cancellation as perfectly conven-
tional" and said they were very
dear friends"
In the same testimony she fire.
quently referred to nights ] spent
with jesse" and on Saturday she
described "Jesse's fears the last
night 1 spent with him."
Coroner to Be Called.
The first witness to be called in
this inquiry will be DR.. J. Ramsey
hewitt, District coroner, wno
viewed Smiths body at the hotel
and who issued "a certificate OF
suicide.
The failure Of DR.. hewitt to holi
an inquest over the body will be in.
quired into.
DIR. hewitt, who said today he had
not yet received a call from the
committee, explained to reporter
Of The Washington Times the rea-
sons he decided not to call an in
quest or hold an autopsy.
| at appeared a plain case Of sui
eide to me-" Dr. hewitt said, "anG
the law gives me authority to issue
a suicidal certificate if the facts
warrant it. 1t was a very ordinary
suicide case, and ! saw no reason
for holding an inquest or perform.
ing an autopsy.
Denies Suspicious Circumstances.
There were no suspicious circum-
stances surrounding the death.
Everything pointed to suicide. II
there had been any suspicion, / GER
tainly would not have given sui
eide certificate but would have or
dered an autopsy"
DIR. hewitt said today that despite
Miss Stinson's testimony before the
committee, he was still convinced
that Smith was a suicide.
IT have not changed my mind
and Miss Stinson's testimony does
not affect my opinion said DIR.
hewitt. II made a personal investi-
CATION and am convinced that Mr..
Smith shot himself. 1t is plain
case of suicide"
II DIR. hewitt was then asked about
the apparent absence Of powder
marks where the bullet entered Mr..
Smiths head. Miss Stinson men
toned this before the committee.
:'That can easily be explained
said DR.. hewitt, "Mr. Smith shot
himself with a high caliber auto
matte revolver and the bullet was
made Of a powder derived from
nitrogen.
ut was a white powder which
completely explodes. The ordinary
or the black powder does not com
pletely explode and as a result
leaves marks. These marks are
made from the powder in the shell
which does not explode.
But as all Of the white powder
explodes, no mark is left. / looked
very carefully into this point when
investigated the DEATH"
DR.. hewitt pointed out that when
Smith shot himself. he held the
automatic close to his head. The
bullet entered the right temple and
bullet, continuing it's course, en-
! a bathroom door
Studied Every Detail
"Mr. Smith was probably sitting
on the bed when he shot himself"
DR.. hewitt said today. He fell
! over Immediately after the shot
was fired. His head fell in a waste
basket, which likewise fell over.
The automatic was near him. l
made very close study of the
position of the body, the location of
the gun, the entrance and exit of
the bullet, and the final lodging
place of the bullet. This close
observation convinced me it was a
case Of suicide"
DIR. hewitt said today he was not
planning to reopen his inquiry into
Smiths death.
1.-THE case is closed as far as
am concerned" DR.. hewitt said tt
Times reporter. IF / am callet
before the Senate committee. l will
tell them just what / have .tolt
you"
Laid to Ill Health.
H. l.. SCaife, a trained investiga
tor, and for several months EN-
ployed by the Department Of Jus
tice, has been engaged to check vi
on Smiths death.
oo..@oo~@o~@o~o@~ o~~~->oo~o~~@c@~,