San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-07
NEW CLUES
IN DEATH Of
CHEMIST
Officers Follow Leads
Vainly in Effort to
Solve Mystery.
BY the Associated Press.

MARTINEZ, Cal, Aug. IA
mystery that is almost uncanny con-
tinues today to surround the explo-
sion and fire which occurred more
than a week ago at the Pacific Cellu-
loid company in which Charles Henry
Schwartz, heavily insured chemist,
disappeared Immediately after the
charred body of an unidentified man
was found in the wrecked laboratory
of the plant at Walnut Creek.
Today, as a week ago, new clues
and new evidence were brought to
light and were destined to lead to the
same result-an abrupt ending neither
indicating the whereabouts of the
missing chemist or the Identification
of the burned body which still rests
in the San Francisco morgue.
INSIST HE is DEAD.
Standing in the foreground of every
! avenue of investigation is the phantom
figure of Schwartz, German chemist
who studied at Heidelberg. In Walnut
Greek he was the central figure in
corporation which depended upon
him to perfect process for the manu-
facture of artificial silk. As hob
by he dabbled in study of the per
feet crime" and although a man of
family, he was recently made defend
ant in a $4,000 breach of promise
suit filed by an Oakland girl.
Today his wife, his family physi-
clan and his intimate friends insist
that he was blown to bits while expe-
rimenting in his laboratory.
OTHER CLUES.
The official viewpoint is represented
by a complaint charging Schwartz
with the murder of an unknown per-
son killed in the explosion, in rewards
posted for his apprehension, and in
an appeal to Governor Richardson to
increase the price on Schwartz's
head.
Each bit Of information has been
minutely investigated and several men
have been given the role as the victim
but the supposed dead man has re-
appeared or it was discovered he did
not fit into the part. Other clues are
still in hand, however, which may lead
to the apprehension of Schwartz or
the Identification Of the body, but yir-
tually all evidence is fragmentary.
H. CLUES SCARCE.
an unidentified letter found near
the body, which is the latest clue that
may lead to the identification, was
made public last night. This also
is Of mysterious nature. The letter
is apparently unfinished and contains
no signature. 1t is dated lin the big
trees, Santa Cruz, May "a, 1925" and
begins Dear friends" 1t is not in
Schwartz's handwriting.
While efforts to identify the victim
continue, the search for the chemist,
who is credited with carrying out the
plot without a single accomplice is
given added impetus. Rewards have
been posted for his apprehension and
every avenue of escape has been check
ed but information as TO his where
abouts is even more scarce than evil
dence regarding the victim.
FIND LETTER.
That Schwartz planned in advance
TO meet his family in the event it was
discovered the body was not his was
given foundation by District Attorney
i Timing. who stated that a letter was
left with Mrs. Schwartz TO be opened
in event of his death directing hel
4 to take the children to England. II
Schwartz did plan the murder as ar
insurance hoax plot, as authoritiei
H firmly believe, he presumably intended
TO Join his family in England.