The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-05
SLEUTH' SDEATH
HELD SUICIDE
CONTINUED from Page l9l


variably was the same as the one
in the tie found with Scrivener.
8. The loop in the tie was too small
even to fit the neck OF a child and
offers no evidence of ever having
been around the throat of q human.
In event it was being worn when
torn. the material would have had
a tendency to stretch when gripped
instead of contracting. This would
have enlarged the loop.
1. The gun found near the body
was not in perfect working ord err.
the spring ordinarily attached to the
trigger being missing entirely 1t Is
not likely that anyone would at
tempt to hold up a man or kill a
man with such gun especially
knowing that man to be well armed
as Ser ner was. An assassin would
not depend OH lone bullet as would
have been necessary with this gun.
5. Furthermore, it has been proved
that Sriyener owned a gun similar
to the one that killed him. and that
he had bullets of a German make
similar tostile one which entered his
heart in his locker
5. Upon visiting the death scene
with authorities / proved to my sat.
isfaction that IL Scrivener had stood
upon that incline and faced an {
sailant, particularly in the action Of
grabbing his tie, he would have been
compelled to stand in q forward POI
5ition.
If a shot had been fired, resulting
in instantaneous death, gravitation
would have compelled him to fall
forward. In this event he would
have fallen on his face or rolled
down to the foot of the incline.
Such was not the case. Scriyener
was found on his back. Had he
been erect or even in a sitting pos
ture, and fired the shot himself, 1t
is more than likely that the body
would have been found in position
identical with that in which it was
found.
s. 1t does not seem plausible that |
an assassin. after killing his man,
knowing the victim had grabbed his
tie. would leave further evidence by |
throwing the gun alongside the /
body. The usual psychology in |
matters of this, kind has been that |
the majority of criminals take the |
gun with them, or, in event of dis
posing of 1t, do SO at a great dis
ldIce lIOLl MuCEe rLhS GAAAAAS was /
committed.
Z. The police have evidence that |
Scrivener had often illustrated how |
suicides could have ended their lives |
without leaving evidence of their |
action.
s. A very important factor ma.
terializes with the knowledge that |
the dead man had left a watch with |
a fellow officer, who was a jeweler |
ION the side" ito be repaired for |
Miss Helen Parker, his sweetheart. |
On the day prior to his death he |
this man and requested
that the watch be mailed, taking |
care to see that a memorandum |
was made with the correct address
of the girl.
Inasmuch as he was to have mar
ried this girl, there was no fneces-
fashion. 1t would be natural for |
him TO have planned TO deliver the
watch in person. &c seems appar.
aift. then, that he had no intention /
Of being in tire company OF his sweet /
heart when the repair Of the watch /
had been completed
This completes my summary of |
reasons for concluding that this |
able detective ended his own life.
My investigation has been made |
possible through the courtesy Of
The washington Times, in CO.
operation with the police.
1 regret that my conclusion must |
be what It is, hut cannot help |
the facts which force me to reach
1t.
Should any evidence pointing to |
the cnotrary come up during my |
stay here ] win revise my con- I
clusions accordingly.
This should be mphasized-these
deductions are formulated purely
from a psychological standpoint,
and nothing of the spiritual or
psychic nature II employed.
/ thank The Washington Times /
for the opportunity it has afforded |
me to delve into this peculiar
psychological study of Arthur B.
Scrivener, a man hard to under
stand.