The Washington times., 1925-09-29
HUSBAND,
SHOT,|S
HELD
Coroner, However, Finds No
Evidence of VioIence-Pofice
Clues All Fail

RICHMOND, Va, Sept. 29.-
Death from unknown causes, with
no evidence of violence is the
finding of the coroner's inquest
jury that has been probing the
strange case of Mrs. Herbert E.
Richardson, jr., whose naked body
was found by police in her West
Grace street apartment a week
ago.
Sole witnesses at the inquest
were Coroner J. M. Whitfield,
who examined the body Of the
dead woman, and Detective Ser
geant John NJ. Duffy, who ques-
toned Herbert Richardson after
he attempted suicide by firing a
bullet into his abdomen.
Detective Quotes Husband
Duffy went into details as to
what Richardson. who stands
charged with murder, told him
when questioned at Retreat Hos
pital. He said the wounded hus-
band requested him to go to his
apartment at 1925 West Grace
street and look around.
When you come back, I'll talk
to you," said Richardson.
Duffy said he and headquarters
Detective I. G. Cousins went to
the address, entered by the back
do n he
nude body OF Mrs. Richardson, al
ready in advanced stages of de-
composition.
Coroner Whitfield called atten-
ton to the fact that Richardson
had a note to Undertaken Bennett
On his person when carried to the
hospital. In the note were direc-
tions for disposal Of the bodies OF
himself and Mrs. Richardson. Thus
proving the latter knew his wife
was dead before he sent detectives
to his home.
Duffy had testified Richardson
intimated to him he was in doubt
as to his wife's condition.
Along a road of tragedy, marked
by blasted love and the loss of two
wives by violence after he had de- |
tected them enmeshed in love tri-
angles, Richardson, war hero, has
approached deaths door in sthe
local hospital.
The death of Richardson's first
wife occurred less than three years
ago.
She was shot to death in a strug-
gle with Thomas Pollard, wealthy
real estate operator, with whom
she was declared to have been in
innate.
TooIIor5 x.r.. ooO,,Tffad IF a oboroa
of numbering her after a trial
which developed into one of the
greatest sensations In local court
history. Richardson's testimony in
this case was of the most sensa-
tional character.
Found Man in Home
A week ago last. Saturday night
the second Mrs. Richardson, who
was Miss Della Clarke, beautiful
manicurist, met her death after her
husband found her with another
man in a bedroom Of their home.
In the ensuing struggle Richard
son, it is alleged, threw his wife
violently to the floor and pursued
his love rival from the house, only
TO lose him in the darkness.
When Richardson returned to up
braid his wife, he said, he found
her dead. Later he shot himself.
Richardson returned from France
hero at the close of the war. He
was holder of the Croix de Guerre.
Soon after his return he married
pretty Thelma Hamm, a typist.
The marriage, however, proved
the first of Richardson s misfortunes
with love and he divorced his bride.
For the two years before final
papers were granted in the divorce
case, it is alleged, Richardson was
a constant caller at the home of
Miss Ruth Clements, 1928 Floyd ave-
nue., though he denied that he had
at any time been engaged to marry
her.
Mrs. Richardson was shot on the
night of December II, 1922, in
front of the home of Pollard, by
whom she had formerly been en-
ployed as a stenographer.
The testimony showed that Pol
lard and Mrs. Richardson had long
been intimate and that they had
made a number of trips together to
Washington and Baltimore.
Pollard testified that his life had
been threatened several times by
Mrs Richardson and that she was
shot with her own revolver in a
struggle following her attempt to
shoot him.
He was exonerated by q jury.
Following the tragedy, it is stated,
Richardson's friendship for Miss
Clements went on. the rocks and soon
afrerward he met Miss Clarke, who
became the second Mrs. Richardson.
EARTHQUAKES DRIVE