Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-28
Cloth Fears Baker Murder
Suspect Will Vanish if Dis
charged From Army.
STORY TOLD BY SOLDIER
STILL UNDER INQUIRY
Arlington Prosecutor Declares Ger
tain Details Justify Holding Man
for Further Scrutiny.

Disturbed over reports he said he
had gotten that Pvt. Howard L, Brew
ster, suspect in the Mary Baker murder
case, would be declared sane by an
Army medical board and probably dis
charged from the service, Common
wealth Attorney William C. Cloth OF
Arlington County today conferred with
Inspector William S. Shelby, chief OF
the Washington Detective Bureau, over
plans for detention of the soldier by
civilian authorities.
Despite Brewster's denial of his origi-
nal confession of having killed Miss
Baker, Cloth said there are certain de-
tails of the soldiers story which justify
his continued detention and examina-
tlon and he did not want him to get out
OF the jurisdiction of the authorities al
THIS time. Il am confident that If Brew
ster is released from the Army he would
disappear" Cloth declared, land I pro.
pose to take him into custody as soor
as the military authorities release him.
Plans to Arrest Him.
Cloth said he planned to arrest Brew.
Ster and hold him for Investigation i'm.
medlately upon his discharge. IL thai
procedure is followed by the Army jr
furnishing the soldier for the notoriety
ne has attracted in connection with the
Baker case.
Il will take him over in Arlington
county and put him in Jail there. >
Cloth declared, until am Completely
satisfied that he has no connection
with the crime"
While the investigators have been I'm.
able to ind any evidence to corroboratt
statements made by Brewster and latel
repudlated, Cloth said the fact that
the soldier has been identified as the
man who tried to force his attentions
on women in Potomac Park, coupled
with his admission that he struck :
woman In an automobile near Seven.
teenth and B streets and led the au.
Inorltles 10 the exact spot where Miss
BAKERS abandoned car was found ir
Arlington County, are factors which
warrant his detention while further in.
vestlgation is made of his confiictinp
stories.
While Cloth was in conference with
inspector Shelby the special ARMY
medical board appointed to inquire into
Brewster's sanity submitted a report Of
It's findings u Capt. M. S. Daniels OF
the brigade headquarters of the Army
The report was not made public, but il
is understood that the board reported
that the soldier is of sound mind and
responsible for his acts. The report
VIII go to corps headquarters.
Removed From Hospital.
Brewster was removed from Walter
Reed Hospital at 1890 o'clock thi
morning and returned to the barrack!
OF, the Headquarters Company to which
he IS attached. He had been at the hos.
pital since Monday morning. The doc,
tors gave him series of examination:
ana kept him under close observation
Army officials would not confirm o.
deny reports that Brewster is to be dis
charged from the Army, but Capt. A. r
Boiling, commander of the Headquar.
tiers Company, said the soldier coulc
not be retained in his company under
the circumstances"
Army officers pointed out that the
investigation of Brewster in connec.
ton with the Baker case had developed
circumstances under which his dis.
charge likely would be recommended
board of officers would first have t.
pass on such recommendations and ther
his dismissal would have to be an.
proved by the commandant of the
Washington Corps Area, whose head.
quarters are in Baltimore, it was said
before the soldier could be released.
washington police officials made il
clear that they would not be a party
to the action Cloth plans to take in the
event Brewster is discharged from the
Army. The detective bureau, however
1t was said, would continue its investi-
cation of the case, in cooperation with
Arlington County officials and the De-
partment of Justice