Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-26
Police Find Minor Conflicts
In Stories of Death of
irwin w. Zepp.
FRIEND, CYRIL B. SMITH,
INTERFERES TOO LATE
Affair Takes Place in Driveway on
Connecticut Avenue After
Country Club Dance.

Because Of minor conflicts in the
accounts Of eyewitness and the "un-
usual" nature Of the wound. an in
quest has been ordered in the death
early yesterday Of 25-year- Irwin
w. Zepp, q salesman, who fell in the
driveway of an apartment at 1850 Con-
necticut avenue, pierced by q bullet,
which police say he fired himself. The
shooting occurred in the presence Of
Eepp's wife and q man friend of the
couple.
Police learned from the wife, Mrs.
Matte Lou Zepp, who had been en-
ployed as a telephone operator at the
Connecticut avenue apartment, that
Zepp turned the gun upon himself just
as the friend, Cyril B. Smith, reached
his side and tried to take the weapon.
Smith. o radio dealer Of 2710 Ontario
road, explained that he ran up when
he saw zepp produce the gun, but was
unable to reach his side before the shot
was fired. Investigators were informed
that the Zepps had quarreled at dance
earlier in the evening, and that Zepp
had limited that he intended to kill
himself.
Inquest Tomorrow.
After an investigation by Lieut.. Ed
ward ]. Kelly, chief of the homicide
squad, Inspector Albert j. Headley and
Lieut.. w e. Holmes, Coroner j. RAM
say hewitt called the inquest for 1880
tomorrow morning and ordered the body
removed to the morgue.
An autopsy, DR.. hewitt said, disclosed
that the heavy-caliber bullet which
killed zepp entered below the right col
lar bone and ranged upward through
the top Of the lung. He described the
wound as unusual in suicide cases,
but said it could have been self-infiicted
by a person in haste.
There were powder burns about the
wound, and police learned that the gun
was one which zepp procured some
months ago and left in a room which
his wife used to change in while at
work in the Connecticut avenue apart
ment, which was managed by Zepp'S
father, T. Raymond zepp.
Returning From Dance.
The zepps and Smith had attended
. dance at Argyle Country Club near
Silver Spring, Nd. They drove out In
Smiths car and returned with him, re-
questing that he drop them by their
residence at 1903 Biltmore street, where
zepp had left his machine parked.
The couple then drove of In their
car with the intention, Mrs. Zepp said,
OF getting something to eat Smith,
she explained, knew Of their plans and
was asked to follow in his machine
Mrs. Zepp said her husband drove reck-
lessly. She recalled he remarked, I'll
show you something you've never seen
Approaching the Connecticut avenue
apartment, Zepp turned into the Eight
Senth street driveway and Smith fol-
Owed by another entrance zepp went
$r%tde, Smith said, informing him he
EsS going to the wash room.
Gepp. according to q colored bellboy,
graham Brown, asked for the KEY to
HS wtfe's room, obtained it and went
inside, coming out in q few minutes.
which Smith spent in the hallway out
Ride.
Smith Tries to Interfere.
Zepp walked toward his wife. seated
pa the car outside. AS he approached,
kfrs. Zepp said, he raised the gun,
snapped It once and fired an instant
efter Smith arrived. at his side.
Smith carried Zepp into the office Of
pr. Sterling Rufnn, inside the apart
nent building, who pronounced him
eead.
The shooting occurred shortly after .
o'clock and also was witnessed by a
PULLMAN, Albert Z. Sawyer, Of 1871
Ehtrty-ffth street, who told officers he
pes standing across the street and
beard q commotion before the shot.
The couple had been married about
bur years. Zepp was a travelling sales
han for q Philadelphia tapestry and
fabric hrm.