Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-06
HAT IS VITAL CLUE
IN BURROUGHS CASE
Mystery Clouds Death That
Followed Auto Accident
in Maryland.

A felt hat which concealed an identi-
fication tag such as Is issued to en-
ployes on construction projects, 1t was
learned last night, has been turned
over to States Attorney j. Frank Par
ran of Prince Georges County, Md, as
an important clue in the apparently
mysterious circumstances surrounding
injuries to Thomas Franklin Burroughs,
who died two weeks ago in Emergency
Hospital.
While Burroughs died of pneumonia.
the injuries which induced his death
never have been fully and satisfactorily
explained. County authorities at
tributed the injuries to an automobile
accident near Silver Hill, Md.
Hat Was Worn to Hospital.
The hat which is destined to figure
prominently in the case was worn by
Burroughs when he was brought into
the hospital September II with eight
broken ribs and numerous bruises about
his face, body and nape of his neck
Relatives to whom the hat was given
when Burroughs died, declared 1t did
not belong to him, and apparently was
put on his head by mistake after he was
injured. In turning 1t over to Parran.
they did so with the belief that he could
locate the owner who may be able TO
shed further light as to the cause OF the
injuries.
Jesse Burroughs, brother of the dead
man, who several days ago sought the
aid of the Washington police in uncov-
ering the real cause of his brothers
death, and other relatives believe that
Thomas was the victim of foul play
during a fight in a Southern Maryland
roadhouse. All of the dead mans rela-
tives, it was said, doubt that an auto
mobile accident caused the injuries.
The relatives it was declared, base
their opinion on certain statements
made by Burroughs in the hospital be-
fore his death. One of these was that
he had been hit by a truck. Later he
contradicted this statement.
Burroughs Talked But Little.
Although conscious at periods before
his death, Burroughs, according to his
relatives, never told a coherent story of
believe that he endeavored to shield
those responsible. confident that he
would recover and seek revenge.
Declaring that you cannot make a
murder of the Burroughs case" Sheriff
Charles S. Early of Prince Georges
County last night in effect reiterated
his previous announcement that the
mans death was an accident as far as
county police were concerned.
The sheriff revealed for the first time
that he had sought witnesses for ques-
tioning in the case, but stated they
will have to come to me now" imply
ing that his investigation was finished.
The witnesses sought by the sheriff
were the proprietor, or manager, of the
roadhouse which Burroughs visited the
night he was taken to Emergency Hos
pital, suffering from injuries, which the
authorities insist, were sustained in an
automobile accident.
Kelly Told of Witnesses.
Sheriff Early said he visited the road
house, but found nobody on the prem
ises and the establishment apparently
deserted.
Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly Of the Wash
ington police force, who was asked to
help investigate the case by members of
the family of the deceased, said he
turned over to the sheriff the names Of
certain witnesses for questioning.
In addition to relatives Of the dead
man and the companions in. the car
that was wrecked, Sheriff Early de-
clared he had not questioned any one