Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-12
Tells Inquest Mrs. Limerick
Told Her Not to Talk "About
Gun in Stove"
CAPT. KELLY UNABLE
TO FIND TRACE OF 1T
Miss Bargfrede Admits Seeing Re-
volver in Holster Worn by
Richard Reed at Party.

Martha Bargfrede, known as Beulah
Iimerick's best chun, today told q COR
oner's jury investigating the latteris
mysterious death that the dead girls
mother told her mot to say anything
about the gun in the stove" on the night
evidence Of Beulahs violent death was
discovered.
Miss Bargfrede said she told police
Of this request by Mrs. Dora Limerick,
the mother.
It was not brought out whether the
gun referred to was supposed to have
been in coal stove known to have
been burning in the room when the
girl was found dying.
No Trace Of Gun Found.
Capt. Edward j. Kelly, assistant chief
OF detectives, said investigators had
been unable to find this gun, or secure
additional information concerning Il.
He indicated that this hitherto undis-
closed angle Of the case was one Of It's
most bathing features.
Miss Bargfrede, who accompanied
Bsulah Limerick to a dance in Capitol
Heights the night preceding her death,
was cross-examined at length by Assist
ant Attorney william H. Collins with
regard to revolver she admitted hav-
ing sean in holster worn by Richard
Reed, who Is under arrest as a suspect.
She explained she saw this gun about
six weeks ago during party at the dead
girls home at 1S Nineteenth street
southeast, the house In which she died.
Miss Bargfrede denied she had ever
had trouble with Richard Reed.
Quarreled With Brother.
She testified, however. that she had
a slight "squabble" with David LINER.
lex, brother of the dead girl.
Collins asked her why she put uues-
ton to Mrs. Limerick as to what kind
of gun was found when told by the
elder woman not to mention the incident
of the gun in the stove. Miss Bargfrede
said she was merely curious.
Miss Bargfrede said she was the
president Of the Sky High Whoopee
Club and that Miss Limerick had been
the secretary. The club gave the dance
which the young people attended in
Capitol Heights. The witness explained
that the clubs theme song was Happy
Go Lucky Me-"
She added that Miss Limerick was
singing and apparently in the finest
health and spirits when she last saw
her early in the morning of her death.
Miss Bargfrede said she had been as
sured that Beaulah posed as Reeds wife
when she went to rent another home,
to move a day or two after the girls
death.
Complained Of LangdOn.
She said that only once during their
long acquaintanceship, which dated
from the time the two girls were usherS
at Polls Theater, did she hear Miss
Langdon, now being held. Miss Linz
erick told her friend Langdon came
into her room early one morning with
out knocking and implied that he knew
where she had secreted half gallon
of liquor. Miss Limerick was quoted as
having replied there was only cider in
the container. Miss Bargfrede said her
friend had complained that other po-
licemen in addition to Langdon "were
bothering and watching" her.
Beulah Limerick's sister, Mrs. Ethel
Annadale, an apprentice at the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing, corruborated
previous testimony by her mother and
a second sister to the effect that no one
in their presence disturbed the girls
body. Like the other two members Of
the girls family, she denied that Beu-
lah had been Laid out" on "immac-
ulate sheets and pillow slips" She saw
only sofa pillows and no sheets, she
said.
Admits "Few Drinks"
James w. Thompson, carpenter live
ing at 306 Tenth street southeast, told
the court that only few drinks" were
had by members of the party with whom
he went to the dance. He said these
were Miss Limerick, William Paddy,
Miss Bargfrede and himself. He said
that the party first drove Miss Barg-
frede home and that he then took
Paddy and Beulah to the Nineteenth
street address, leaving them at 12:45
o'clock in the morning. He said Beulah
was in high spirits when he last saw
her.
Miss Bargfrede likewise admitted that
all the members of the party had taken
few drinks" She said under cross
questioning by Attorney James A.
Limerick and William Paddy, that Reed
was planning to go hunting in Virginia
in the morning after the night on which
she saw the gun on him. She said she
understood he habitually kept the gun
for protection against bandits at FILL
ing station where he was employed.
Detective Walter Beck of the fifth
pTcC1IICb UOlu GIl6 COIOIleIS jury bLldb
he personally inspected the death bed
mattress on the day the girl died in an
effort to find a bullet hole, and that he
was not able to find such perforation.
Police have quoted Patrolman Lang
don to the effect that Langdon
himself reported he found such a
bullet hole in the mattress while
he was detailed as death house guard
early on the morning of January 2.
Beck testified today that after his ex-
animation on the night of New Year
eve he remarked to several persons In
the room, There is no hole in this
mattress" Beck said this occurred
about o'clock on the night of New
Year eve, shortly after an undertaken
found bullet in Miss Limerick's brain.
Langdon, police say. explained he
first found the perforation in the mat
tress and, scrutinizing the floor at an
angle indicated by the hole, saw where
a bullet had gone through the planking.
He recovered the slug from beneath the
flooring and turned 1t over as evidence.
Beck said he did not make an exanli.
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