Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-28
Stories of New Witnesses
Ebb and Flow as Probers
Turn Back to Suspect.
CLOTH EXPRESSES DOUBT
HABEAS CORPUS PLANNED
Prosecutor Says Nothing New
and Startling" Has Developed
in Baker Murder Case.

While rumors of mystery witnesses
ebbed and flowed today in the sea OF
conflicting theories surrounding the
murder of Mary Baker, investigators
focused their attention again on Her.
bert M Campbell, Arlington County
real estate man, accused of the Staying,
Campbell was grilled for long pc
Rod today in the Office of Common
wealth's Attorney William c. Cloth in
the Arlington County Court House.
Assisting in the questioning were Sher-
if Howard 3. Fields and Headquarters
Detectives Carlton Talley and John
Flaherty.
Despite the persistent reports con-
corning new clues and new informants,
the county prosecutor today professed
to know nothing new and startling
as he launched the quizzing of the Viz
ginia Highlands real estate operator.
Cloth took occasion, however, to an
nounce his disbelief in a published re-
port that Campbell's lawyer, Charles
Henry Smith of Alexandria, planned to
seek writ of habeas corpus in behalf
in his client.
Attorney Denies Plan.
Cloth declared he talked with the
attorney over the telephone this morn
ing and that Smith denied he had any
such intention. The attorney ADVISED
the prosecutor, the latter said, he would
make no effort to gain Campbells tree-
dom until the authorities had completed
their investigation.
The defense lawyer gave the prosecu-
tor the names OF three persons, who,
it was claimed will support part OF
Campbells statement as to his move
ments on the evening of April IL, when
the Baker girl was slain. One OF these
witnesses is a grocer on Frazier avenue,
in Virginia Highlands; another Is Mrs.
Marian Stuart and the other witness
was not disclosed.
Cloth was advised that the grocer
will say that Campbell visited his store
about $50 o'clock on the fatal evening
to purchase some groceries, corroborat-
ing an assertion to this effect already
made by Campbell and his stepSon,
Edwin Callahan. There appears to be
some discrepancy as to the time OF the
visit to the grocery store, the prose-
cutor having understood the stepson
to say that Campbell arrived home with
groceries about five minutes after B
o'clock that evening.
Mrs. Stuart is a sister of Roy Smith,
whom Campbell said he visited be-
tween 7:3O and $50 o'clock on the
night in question. Smith and his wife
and Mrs. Stuart at that time were re-
siding at 100 Hamilton street. Mr..
and Mrs. Smith are now said to be in
Piggott, Clay County, Ark, and officials
there have been requested to interview
them. Cloth failed in previous effort
to locate Mrs. Stuart and he expressed
thanks to Attorney Smith for the in
formation regarding her present where
abouts. She may be questioned today
The "secret witnesses" he-alded to
appear at the Court House today failed
to materialize as the investigation pro-
ceeded this afternoon. One of the wit
nesses, said to have been located by
headquarters detectives, is Washing
ton man, said to be a friend of Camp
bell This man, a retired Army officer,
is reported to have been with Campbell
in a drug store near Dupont Circle on
or about April IL and to have tele-
phoned for the use of an apartment in
which to hold "a party"
Cloth Wants Definite Link.
Commemorative Attorney Cloth said
TO-DAY ne ndQ llJLle IalJn IN IIllS new
information, unless it could be proved
that there was a definite link between
this incident and the Baker case.
The authorities are planning to have
another talk with a man who was ques-
toned in connection with the mystery
about three weeks ago. This man said
he was a friend of Mary Baker, at the
time of his previous interview with the
investigators. Since that time, it is
said, the man has indicated he knew
of an acquaintanceship between the
Baker girl and the Arlington County
real estate agent.
So far officials have been unable to
find any one who could say that Camp
bell and the Baker girl knew each
other. Any testimony to that effect
would be regarded as of great value.
A careful probe of statements made
by an Arlington County resident con-
corning a mysterious suitcase contain
ing an Army coat and some paint
brushes, found in the vicinity of Vir-
ginia Highlands and Oak Crest, has
convinced Cloth that the supposed evil
dence is Of no importance. The coat
and brushes could not be identified as
having belong to any one so far in
volved in the investigation. At first
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