Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-31
POWERS DECLARED
SANE AS HUNT FOR
BODIES CONTINUES
University of Pittsburgh Ex-
pert Says Slayer of Five Is
Fit to Stand Trial.
CLUES TO ADDITIONAL
MURDERS ARE PROBED
Clarksburg Police Chief Says He Is
Not Through With" Blue
boards Wife.

By the Associated Press.
HARRISBURG, w. Va, August 81
DIR. Edwin E. Mayer, psychiatrist and
member of the faculty OF the Univer-
sity OF Pittsburgh, said today that in
his opinion Harry F. Powers is legal
ly sane"
DR.. Mayer talked with the man, who
confeSses killing five persons, for two
hours yesterday after being granted
permission by Sheriff w. B. Grimm. The
purpose Of DR.. Mayors examination
was not explained.
j. E, Law, Powers attorney, said
insanity will be the plea in all prob
ability"
Officers said Powers today called their
attention to the shape Of his head and
showed them deep crevice in the skull
which he said he received while in mill
tary training during the World War.
He complained, they said, that he
saw visions and that he had uncon-
trolable impulses"
DR.. Mayer told Will z. Morris, Har-
riSon County prosecutor, he would re-
turn here as a witness at Powers trial
If his testimony was desired. but he
wished to talk with the prisoner again
before his trial.
Calls Slayer a Sadist.
DIR. Mayer said Powers was of sadis-
tic nature. He added that, having in
terviewed many criminals, he would say
from observation that Powers was OF
"a shut-in personality he summed s1ci-
ETY. and was suffering from q superiority
complex"
The psychiatrist said Powers told him
he was born in Cedar Rapids. Iowa
and his family came to Clarksbufg
that he lad a sister in Cedar Rapids
and two uncles in Upshur County.
w. Va. and that he was graduated
from Cedar Rapids High School and
attended Ames College.
Called Pastor As Ruse.
II never have confessed and III tell
my story at the trial" DR.. Mayer quoted
Powers as saying. Il have no interest
in religion and only called the minister
to get out Of the agony which officers
were putting me in"
see Powers at the prisoners request
Saturday.
When he was asked concerning q
statement that officers alleged he sign
ed Dr. Mayer said. Powers replied that
he signed a piece of paper, but did
not know what 1t was"
other Bodies Sought.
Convict road gangs today began dig
ging through the debris littering an cid
we'll near Powers garage, seeking more
victims besides the five he has con-
fessed he killed in his quest Of the prop
erty of matrimony-seeking women.
They dug. despite the smiling state
ment from Powers concerning the five
that that's all there are" Digging
progressed because officials still believed
more of the hundreds Of women with
whom Powers correspondent might have
died by his hand in the bloody garage,
and been buried nearby.
Formal confession of the killings Of
Mrs. Asia Eicher and her three chill
dren. all of Chicago. and Of Mrs.
Dorothea Lempke of Worcester, Mass,
was expected from Powers today, with
the possibility of arraignment to receive
his plea later in the day.
Carl Southern. Clarksburg city de-
tective, said he had received long
distance telephone cali from man who
said he was Detective Norton Of tie
Chicago police. asking him to assist au-
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