Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-08
SEVEN QUESTIONED
IN MYSTERY KILLING
Woman Says Blow Caused
Death of William Francis
Mudd.
BY LESTER N. ENSKEEP.

ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, July 8.-Through a
thorough examination of the seven per-
sons held here i'll the jail, Common
wealth's Attorney William c. Cloth
hopes today to be able to solve the mys-
terry surrounding the death Sunday
morning, following an alleged drunken
party at Arlington, Va, of William
Francis Mudd, l10l w street southeast,
Washington. Mudd died after having
been removed to his home from the
scene of the party.
According to one of the witnesses,
Mudd suffered the injuries from which
he died as a result of a fight that
brought the party to an abrupt close.
Others, however, deny that any fight
took place, claiming that Mudd must
have fallen from the truck on which he
rode back to his home.
Physician Aids Probe.
The party took place at the home OF
Grover Goode, 90 years old. Virginia
avenue and Columbia pike. Authorities
are holding, under charges of inveSti-
cation, Goode, Mrs. Marion Mudd, 20
years old, wife of the dead man; May
Carlson, % years old, Of the 700 block
Sixth street northeast, Washington;
Olin w. Chisholm, SO years old, HOO
block w street, washington; Paul w.
Gable, % years old, of the Army Air
station at Boiling Field: Spencer E.
Coxen, 81 years old, of the 1900 block
Ninth street southeast. and George W..
Crawford, 25 years old, Mulhall, Va.
Mrs. Margaret Scanlon, 18 years old, OF
the 200 block Twelfth street northeast,
Washington, was also arrested, but has
been released.
At the request of Cloth, Coroner 3.
H. Swain today enlisted the aid of Dr.
W. c. Welburn of Ballston in making
a thorough examination Of the body
The stomach will be removed and sent
to the State chemist at Richmond to
determine how much. If any, liquor
Mudd had consumed just previous to
his death.
Claims Man Clicked Her.
According to the story told to H.
Bruce Green, who was acting Common
wealths attorney during the absence OF
Cloth, who returned last night from
trip, Sheriff Howard w. Fields and
Jailer Harry woodward, by the Carlson
woman, she went out of the house
where the party was taking place short
~ after midnight Sunday morning and
sat in one of the automobiles. She was
so tired she said, that she fell asleep
but was awakaned in a short time to
find Mudd attempting to choke her.
Frightened, she screamed for assist
ance, her screams bringing other guests
to her assistance. There followed fight
of such intensity that she was unable
to learn Just what happened, she claims.
Crawford last night told investigators
that he and Gable took Mudd home,
but denied any knowledge of the fight.
They both claimed to have been sober,
but stated that Mudd was very drunk.
Wife Finds Husband Unconscious.
The wife of the dead man did not
go with them when they took her nus
band home. She arrived there about
o'clock Sunday morning, she said, and
found her husband unconscious, so
called the police, Casualty Hospital
ambulance and Fire Department
rescue squad. DR.. H. j. Konzleman Of
Casualty Hospital pronounced him dead
upon arrival
AS a result of the death. police of
the eleventh precinct, Washington, ar
rested CoXen, Chisholm, Gable, Mrs.
Mudd and Mrs. Scanlon, turning them
over to local police. Goode was arrested
at his home by County Policemen John
r. Burke and Ray Cobean, and Craw-
ford surrendered last night at the jail,
after having been sought all day. Other
county officers assisting on the case
are G.. w. Carr and Raymond Crack.
Hemmorhage Caused Death.
When questioned this morning by
Cloth, DR.. Swain said that a super
fetal examination has revealed that
Mudd died from a cerebral hemmorhage
as a result of blow on the back of
the head. He had not, however, de-
termined definitely whether the skull
was fractured but will do so today.
DR.. Swain stated that he believes the
injury could only have been inflicted
by blow of human agency. since the
body bears no other marks to indicate
that he fell or was thrown from the
truck.
Prisoners Are Separated.
Following his surrender, Crawford
was taken to the Alexandria Jail for
the night in order that he and Gable
might not have an opportunity to discuss
the case. He was returned today for
questioning.
In referring to the release Of Mrs.
Scanlon, Cloth said that he was salts
fed with her statement, but would re-
lease none of the others until the entire
affair had been thrashed out to his
satisfaction. It is as yet impossible
to tell whether there will be prelimi-
nary hearing tomorrow
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