The Washington times., 1930-07-25
OFFICIALS SPLIT
OVER BAKER
SLAI|NG
Cloth and Kelly Disagree With.
Sheriff Fields That Woman
Committed CuIvert Crime

All positive leads in the investi-
cation Of the mystery murder Of
Mary Baker April IL have been
negatived and police today we're
frankly nearing the end Of their
rope and casting about for new
clues which may. solve Arlington
COunty's most brutal crime.
This was admitted by inveSti-
gator who declared that the aIibis
Of Herbert M. Campbell, Virginia
realtor and said to be the owner
Of the murder gun, and Her
man q. Bnrrere, itinerant painter,
both Of whom are held In connec.
ton with the crime, are appar-
emily perfect.
AuthoritIes Divided
Authorities are divided IN their
belief as totiae commission Of the
crime, Commonwealth Attorney
william G. GiOth and Lieut.. I'd
Kelly being convince xsts
Mary se rerss VAS Killed by b man.
with whom she Fas acquainted,
and Sheriff Howard q. Fields still
clfraifg to the belief the RtrI was
the victim Of 3 jealous woman.
Both Kelly and Cloth yesterday
admitted that the Investigation
VIII 90 forward" hut did not seem
overly confident that the light cf
solution. Of the murder Is evident.
They are StiIl pinniHlg considerable
importance to the weapon which
Campbell admits was never out OF
his possession.
Barrere has been eliminated en-
tirely, police said.
Fields Works Alone
While clues to the identity Of
men who knew Mary Baker
shortly before her death are be-
ing run out, Fields is working to
the end Of locating the woman
that he firmly believes viii fig
ure as q principal in the murder
when q final solution is found.
The sheriff has always stated
that he believed q jealous wife
or sweetheart shot and killed
Mary Baker somewhere on the
Arlington Experimental Farm
early the evening Of April IL.
He pointed to the manner In
which the girl had been beaten
on the face. throat and breast
as outstanding evidence that such
theory is tenable.
According to the sheriff, Mary
Baker and some male companion
we're followed from Seventeenth
and B Sts. N. w, by q woman
In another car.
Infidelity Theme
The woman lis believed to have
tracked her husband and Mary
Baker to a love tryst on the ex-
perimental farm and there en-
ragged over the infidelity of her
husband to have started toward
the Navy Department worker.
a fight then enSued, the sheriff
believes. and Mary Baker was
struck several times with some
blunt instrument.
The man no doubt made an
effort to separate the woman hut
the aSsailant broke from him and
grasped Mary Baker by the. throat
choking her cruelty.
The scratches on the neck OF
the murdered girl gave evidence
Of having been made BY sharply.
Inanicured finger.aails, the au-.
topsy on the body revealed.
The enTaged woman is believed
TO have whipped 3 pistol from q
handbag and shot Mary Baker
as the latter started To run from
the scene.
Sheriff CIings 70 Idea
The man. in Fields belief,
then became panic,stricken and
IN an effort to shield the woman
placed the bleeding body sOf the
dying girl lii her automobile,
drove to the culVert near the
Sheridan gate of Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery where he placed
the body. He Is then supposed
to have driven the death car to
the point where il was aban,
&c eneianed On Paee Z, Gel 81