The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-08
OF
POL ICE
MARKS
TIME
Analysis of Dead Mans Or
gans Reveals That He Suf-
fered From tuberculosis

A thorough and minute analysis
of the contents of the stomach
Of the late Samuel p. C. Thoman.
1872 South Carolina avenue south
east, whose body was exhumed
yesterday at the request of police
on suspicion he was murdered,
being made by Doctor T. NJ. Price,
District Government chemist, and
Doctor Oscar Hunter, of George
Washington University, for the
last twenty-four hours, has not
given the least sign that Thoman
was poisoned, it was stated today.
Police Mark Time
Marking time during the progress
of what is characterized as one of
the most exhaustive post-mOrtem
analyses ever made In Washington,
Inspector Clifford L Grant today
announced that unless poison is
found to exist IN the organs Of
Thoman. the investigation Of sew
eraI months into the death WIN be
finally dropped
| One thing has been established
definitely by Doctor Hunter, that
Is, that Thoman was afflicted with
tuberculosis. This is plain mas
much as there are scores Of the
teIl-tale white spots on his lungs.
Doctor Hunter said, that from
/ the investigation he made through
| out last night and resumed early
today, there is absolutely no evil
dence Mr.. Thoman was poisoned,
but conclusive proof that he was in
a physical condition which made
death only a matter Of time was
found.
The analysis is being made along
three angles: IA chemical angle;
"A pathological angle, and "a
rabbit angle.
Doctor Price is in charge Of the
major part of the chemical analysis
while Doctor Hunter is concentrat-
ing his attention to the patholog.
ical. AS a last resort the chemical
extracted from Mr.. Thoman's stom-
ach will be fed to rabbits in order
that the effects upon the rabbits
can be watched.
Doctor Hunter says that the
excellent condition of Mr.. Thoman's
organs will facilitate his work and
that if there is any evidence OF
poison it will be found. He ex-
, poets to be able to make definite
report to Coroner hewitt tomorrow.
While the analysis is being made
the principals, Mrs. j. J. Bell, re-
married widow of Mr.. Thoman, and
her married daughter, Mrs. F1eta
Thoman Motherwell, 1905 c street
northeast, are nervously awaiting.
each hoping for different verdict.
Glad Matter Is to be Decided
Mrs. Bell declares that she is con-
fident her husband was never
noisoned and that she is glad the
matter is going to be cleared up
for all time.
Mrs. Motherwell contends that
her father never died a natural
death and frankly entertains the
hope that this fact will be estab
lished.
Police are today marking time
in their investigation, but it Is
known that if evidence Of poison
is shown to have been in Mr.. Tho.
mans stomach they are prepared
to make an immediate arrest on p
charge Of murder.
This arrest, it is learned, viii be
the person mentioned IN note
written by Mrs. Bell last Novem-
Der. when she attempted suicide
and evidently wanted to make some
alleged facts about her husbands
death known.
Now Mrs. Bell claims that the
letter is of no significance and that
she was in such a highly nervous
state that she might have written
OF said anything.
The last straw in the case, to
cause the order of Coroner j. Ram
say hewitt for the disinterment OF
Thoman's body, came last month
when unidentified persons mysterl-
ously entered the home OF Mrs.
Motherwell, gagged her and then
ransacked her house.
Mrs. Motherwell claims the asSail-
arts were trying to find the alleged
discriminating note written by her
mother.
Had Quarrel.
Mrs. Bell admitted today that
during the last two years OF her
first husbands life there was fric-
ton in the family over Bell, the
young Navy, bandsman whom shA