Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05

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to spontaneous combustion and that
his investigation had not convinced him
that smoking was the cause. Moberly
himself denied that he had been smok-
ing or was under the influence of LIQUOR
He was taken to his home in Mount
Ida, Va, Friday night by David Lynn,
jr., and was at the Capitol again early
yesterday morning consulting with Mr..
Lynn. He later issued a statement.
MoberIy Gives Explanation.
Mr. Moberly has been an employe
at the Capitol for more than 80 years
and helped to decorate the Library of
Congress Building. He has done some
very important work in restoration of
art work in the Capitol and is an
artist OF recognized ability and has in
vented several special processes. He is
81 years OF age and will be eligible for
retirement within year. He explained
that he remained in his studio at the
Capitol after his days work and fell
asleep at his desk. Because of the dis
lance to his home, where he lives alone,
because 1T is lonesome there" he
preferred to while away his time sketch
ing in his studio.
After completing his Investigation of
the FIRE Mr.. Lynn said he was unable
70 determine whether the blaze had its
origin with "a careless smoker or from
spontaneous combustion"
Questioned as to whether Moberly
had been drinking. Mr.. Lynn said he
had no reason to believe that he had
been.
He told me that he had had one
or two drinks around noon, but none
after that" Mr.. Lynn said.
As the architect constructed the
scene from the stories of Moberly and
Samuel Hall. former Capitol police
man who twice called at the studio
and was there when the fire started,
been touching UP the decorations in
the halls of the Senate wing Of the
Capitol, went to the studio between 2
and 3 O'Clock and engaged In some
work and In tidying up the place.
About 4 o'clock, three hours before the
first fire alarm was given, he fell
asleep at his desk with his head on
his arm.
Found Artist Asleep.
Almost two hours later, Hall, who
occasionally visited the artist and
about whom Capitol officials said they
knew little, called at the studio, climb
ing the long, winding stairway from
the rotunda floor three flights below
He found Moberly asleep in his chair
with his head on his desk. He left
to get something to eat at nearby
restaurant and returned shortly after
o'clock.
Moberly still was asleep and Hall sat
down to read a newspaper. He as
serted that he had not been smoking
and that within half an hour or so he
smelled smoke, Investigated and found
fire in the adjoining room where
models Of the Capitol are stored.
Rushing into a nearby document
room he obtained a fire extinguisher
and sought to put out the blaze, but
was unsuccessful and notified the oper-
ator of an elevator in an adjoining
turning sometime later when he first
was questioned by officials Of the build
ing
Moberly's statement as given by Mr.
Lynn was that he was awakened by a
noise which sounded like some one try
ing to break in Opening the door to
the model room he was greeted by
smoke and flames and was overcome by
fumes He said he did not remember
anything until he recovered conscious
ness on a couch in the ONCE of Rep
resentative John Garner of Texas, TO
which he had been taken by flremen
and police.
Still Under Physicians Care.
Moberly still was under the care of
DR.. George W. Calver, who reiterated
that he had treated the artist for par
tial suffocation from smoke and paint
fumes and for cut on the side of his
| head.
Architect Lynn made a report of his
investigation to Speaker Longworth and
also will report TO Vice President Curtis
These two officials are custodians of the
Capitol.
Regarding the possibility of spon-
taneous combustion, a statement dis
tributed by Lynn said:
Mr. Moberly states that q tub of
rags was situated near a wooden table
| in the model room. These rags are
| waste and are soaked with oil. Fresh
rags had been put there in the after
noon. He does not know how long be-
/ fore this day that the tub was last
emptied. He states that it Is customary
to pour water in this tub to prevent
fire, but does not recall that water was
put In there on this particular day."