Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-01
BAKER DEATH GUN
FINGERPRINTS ARE
FOUND VALUELESS
SmearS Indicate Weapon
CareIeSSIy Handled by
Many Persons.
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH
FOR BARRERE GOES ON
Mystery Man With Wart on
Nose" Who Inquired for Gun
After Staying, Sought.

Fingerprints galore were found on
the gun that killed Mary Baker. but
all of them were so badly Smeared that
they have been utterly valueleSs as
an aid in establishing the identity of
the slayer, it was revealed today as the
international search continued for Her
man H. Barrere, itinerant painter and
World War veteran, who is wanted by
the authorities as the latest suspect in
the murder case.
The weapon, it was said, apparently
had been picked up by a number of
persons after the slayer disposed of it,
with the result that his f1ngerprints were
marred and almost completely erased
How many hands the gun passed
through from the time of its disposal
by the murderer until the Bertillon ex-
pertS photographed it for fingerprints is
not definitely known, but the officials
said there were sufficient Smears to in
dlcate that it had been carelessly
handled.
Fingerprints Not Essential.
The investigators explained, however,
that other evidence in their possession
made 1t unnecessary for them to have
the Slaye~'s fingerprints, although these
would serve to strengthen the case that
has been developed about the person
Without any information whatever as
70 the whereabouts of Barrere the in
VeStlgatorS. 1t was said, have started
search of the records of Army recruiting
stations in various sections of the coun-
try on the theory that he may have re-
enlisted in the Army
At the same time a careful check is
being made by operatives of the Bureau
OF Investigation of the Department of
Justice of marine records at various
seaportS on the assumption that the
painter may have joined the crew of
merchant vessel.
May Be Using Assumed Name.
Barrere may now be using an assumed
name, according to the investigators,
but when he disappeared from Wash
ington he made no effort to conceal his
identity. The investigators have learned
that he "hitch-hiked" from Washington
to Philadelphia, and told the motorists
who picked him up en- route his real
name. At this time, however, the police
had not let it become known that he
was wanted as a suspect in the Baker
case.
Aside from Barrere, the investigators,
It was announced, also have been
searching for three weeks for a man
with a wart on his nose who was drawn
into the investigation by Herbert M
Campbell, real estate operator of
Arlington County, Va, who produced
is said to have visited Campbells real
estate Office shortly after the murder
and made inquiries about a .32-callber
gun.
Suspect Lacks Wart.
One man known to have been friendly
with Barrere already has been queS-
toned, and while Campbell said he
bore a striking resemblance to the one
who visited his Office, he could not
identify him. This man, however,
lacked the distinguishing wart on his
nose.
Campbell, who employed Barrere TO
paint his house, admitted yesterday that
the gun which police claim was used in
the Staying of Miss Baker was stolen
from his home and was later discovered
in desk in his real estate Office. The
story of the finding of the gun, pub
lshed exclusively in The Sunday Star,
Campbell said was correct, although he
denied at the time that he knew any
thing about the weapon because of an
agreement he had with police officials
not to discuss the case.
Stranger Asks Questions.
Campbell said he turned the gun
over 10 Arlington County authorities
the latter part of May after he had
found it in his office. The fact that
the gun was in his Office and not in
his home nearby, where he had last
seen 1t, he said, aroused his suspicious,
particularly in view of the fact that a
stranger with a Wart on his nose
had questioned him about the weapon
sometime after Miss Baker was muir
dered.
According to Campbell. Barrere had
access TO his Office as well as his home,
and on April 10, the day before the
murder, the painter had visited his
home TO estimate on a painting job
On April II, the day the woman's body
was found Barrere signed contract to
paint the Campbell home.
Four DAYS later Campbell had Ber-
rere arrested on a larceny charge, when
he discovered that certain articles oil
clothing and toilet articles had beer
stolen from his home. Campbell subSe-
quently withdrew the charge and the
painter was released. Campbell, how
ever. said he had not missed the CUR
In the meantime.
Following Barrere's release from the
Arlington County jail, Campbell sale
the painter appeared at his office one
night and talked with workmen whC
were preparing a miniature golf courst
adjoining it. The north window of thu
Office was open, he said, and the screer
was removed.
Following the visit OF the man will
the wart on his nose, Campbell said h
searched his house for the gun, bu
could not find it there, and in a sub
sequent search Of his Office he discov
cred the gun in his desk. Campbell
declared he was certain he had not re
moved the weapon from his home.
Knows Gun Had Been Handled.
Campbell explained he knew the gu
had been handled by some one be
cause he found all six chambers loaded
whereas he always left one chambe
unloaded.
Campbell has given the police goo
description OF fine stranger with III
Wart or his nose, and search has bee
made for him for the last three week
About 10 days ago the police QUESTION:
a man who lives in an apartment hous
in Potomac Park. While he Is sal
to have a striking resemblance to II
man who visited Campbell's offic
Campbell was not able to identify hi
positively as his mysterious visitor.
Colored Mans Face Cut in Row