Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-02
Cloth Declines to Reveal
Reason or Date for Re-
leasing Soldier.
COMMISSION" TURNED
SUSPICION UPON HIM
International Search for Barrere
Fails to Disclose Any Clues
as to Whereabouts.

Howard L. Brewster, Army hostler
and the fifth Of group of suspects
arrested in connection with the in
vestigation Of the murder of Mary
Baker. will be released from custody
very SOon," it was announced today
by Commonwealth Attorney William G.
Cloth of Arlington County, Va.
Since June 4, Brewster has Ian
guished in the Arlington County Jail,
while Department of Justice agents
and other investigators on the case
checked the various angles of his con-
feSSion and subsequent reputation of
having committed the crime. The
soldier was taken into custody by Ar
lington County authorities on war
rant charging him with the murder
of Miss Baker after military author!-
ties had held him prisoner for sew
!8ral weeks.
Reason Is Withheld.
Cloth did not reveal the reason for
his decision to release Brewster, but 1t
As understood that the investigators
have come to the conclusion that he
could not have had any connection with
the crime in view of the sensational de-
velopments of the last three weeks.
These included the recovery of the
murder gun and other evidence which
have pointed the finger of suspicion in
the direction of another suspect.
Cloth also declined to indicate the
date fixed for Brewster's release. 1t
will depend largely, it was intimated
on the plans of Army officials, who
have not determined whether to keep
him in the service or discharge him as
a penalty for the notoriety he at
tracted to the Army.
When Brewster was turned over to
Arlington County authorities, prelimin-
airy steps had been taken by Capt. A.
r. Boiling of the Headquarters Com
pany, to which the soldier was at
tached, to have him either discharged
or transferred from his company. Capt.
Boiling now is on leave of absence and
there has been no recent announcement
concerning the soldiers Army career in
the event of his release.
Shelby Believes He's Innocent.
Coincident with the disclosure by
Cloth of his plans to give Brewster his
freedom, Inspector William S. Shelby,
chief of the Detective Bureau of the
Washington Police Department, an
nounced that he is satisfied that the
soldier is innocent I'm view of recent
developments" he said, I'VE know that
Brewster does not fit into the picture
Of the crime"
The international search for Herman
H Barrere, itinerant painter, who is
wanted by the authorities for question:
ing in connection with the crime, has
failed to produce any information as to
his probable whereabouts, 1t was said.
The authorities, however, appear to De
confident that he will be captured.
Aside from Barrere, the investigators
also are looking for a man with war;
on his nose, who is said to have made
q mysterious visit to the real estate
Office of Herbert M. Campbell, at Oak
Crest, Va, after the murder Of Miss
Baker and inquired about the gun which
the authorities have established was the
one which killed the Navy Department
clerk Campbell turned the weapon over
TO the police when his suspicious were
aroused BY the visit of the stranger.
Barrerre had been employed by
Campbell shortly before the murder TO
paint his house. Campbell had him
arrested several days later on lar
ceny charge, but withdrew the charge
and he was released. Several weeks
afterward he disappeared.
Finding Gun Aids Inquiry.
With the recovery OF the murder
gun. some Of the myrial of mysterious
elements surrounding the case have
been cleared up, with the result that
virtually all of the stolen articles found
in the manhole sewer on the Airing
ton Experimental Farm of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, wrapped in Miss
Bakers clothing, have been identified.
The coral beads and costume Jewelry,
a novel and a pair Of women's hose
we're identified several weeks after the
murder. Campbell is said 10 have par
TALLY identified several weeks ago the
pair of mems gloves. The only remain
ing article to be identified is a Scotch
plaid scarf A most thorough search,
the police said, has failed TO yield a clue
as to the owner of this article.