Evening star., 1926-10-24
Continued from First PageD

Continued from FIRST PaSey
came up against another difficulty In
attempting to piece together the mur-
der theory.
At first observation it was taken
for granted that the necktie found in
Scrvener's hand had been pulled
from the neck of his assailant. BY
prying under the surface, however
this element became an important
consideration, since the actual break
ing of such a tie was far more diff
cult than might be supposed.
Some Facts Shielded.
Thus. two secondary facts crop up
as obstacles to investigators on a
murder theory.
In connection with the pistol and
the tie. the police are in possession of
additional important facts which they
decline to make public.
Physicians who have examined the
body of Scrivener contend that he
had death grip on the tie. This
fact makes more difficult an answer
to the question as to how Scrivener
could have fallen up grade. if he were
extended off balance and down grade
when a bullet, which physicians say
Daralyzed faculties when it entered
his heart, made, his body a literal
dead weight.
Another fact, built up from an
| examination of the pistol. is that
numerals Identifying the weapon had
been filed off, leaving the serial num-
ber indecipherable. This has pre-
vented police from tracing the course
Of that pistol from factory to last
holder, but factory experts now work
ing on this angle have not finally re-
ported on the success or failure of
| their attempts to bring out the serial
| number. This leaves one angle still a
problem. An attempt to obtain this
information before the inquest is or
dered will be made by the police.
The fact that Scrivener was in the
best of spirits when seen by news
paper friends only a few hours before
he met death is used for the basis of
the supposition that he walked to his
death unsuspecting. This presents
the strongest support to the murder
theory and the strongest obstacle to
any other repellant theory. 1t will be
another puzzle for the coroner's jury.
Fingerprints Obscure.
Fingerprints were found on the pis.
tol They were obscured. But there
were sufficient Indications left to as.
sure police they were placed there by
a person other than Scrivener. It may
| have been murderer. 1t may have
| been some careless person early on
the scene. They are strong obstacles
to any theory other than murder thus
far. Police still face the task of sur
| mounting them.
Yet swinging the pendulum Of con-
sideration, came another set Of sec
ondary facts. Scrivener, courageous
and alert, met death without a strug
gle. with his right hand, greatest
natural means OF defense. graspine
not the greatest menace. a pistol, but
the necktie. Absence Of marks or in
dications of struggle build up still
another puzzle for the coroner's jury
and 1t has seriously hindered in
yestigators working on a murder
Theory.
Investigators have been informed
however. of matters which have no
been ascertained to be facts. The!
learned Scrivener was evidently wor
ried and distraught during severa
periods Immediately preceding th'
| time Of his death. They learned o.
debts; Of other things surprising tt
them. Some Of these have been veri
fed. Others have not. They remain
more in the realm of theories thar