Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-15
Husband Declines to Admit
He QuarreIed With Wife
About Slain Girl.
OFFICER SAYS LANGD0N
VOL UNTEERED AS GUARD
Released Witness Testifes Rela-
tives Mentioned Gun in the
Stove" and Asked Silence.

George H. Bargfrede and his wife.
Mrs. Martha Bargfrede, close friend
OF Beulah Limerick. were released by
the police today after Prosecutor VIII
liam H. Collins had failed in his ef-
forts to wiring an admission from
Bargfrede that he quarreled with his
wife because of her friendship with
the slain girl
Bargfredes testimony concerning
'the gun in the stove" was the high
point Of the fifth day of the coroner's
inquest into the death of the Limerick
girl, who died Of bullet wound at her
home, 10 Nineteenth street southeast,
December 81.
The gun In the stove" was first
brought into the case by Mrs. Bargfrede
several days ago. The disclosure was
followed by the arrest of the Bargfredes
and the seizure by the police of a niece
OF melted metal in stove in the room
where Beulah died. Investigators since
believe that the piece of metal they
found was not gun.
Says Langdon Volunteered.
odISlTeueS testimony followed evil
oence by Sergt Robert G. Pierce of the
NTH precinct that Policeman Robert r.
Langdon, held for Investigation in the
case, had volunteered to stand guard in
the house following the discovery of
the bullet IN the girls head.
Mr. Collins spent IS minutes irving
to wiring from Bargfrede some kind Of
admission that he had become angered
al ms Wlfe Martha because Of the lat
ters friendship for the slain girl.
Bargfrede steadfastly denied that anv
such thing took place. His wife al
ways told him where she was going
and with whom, except on one occa-
sion, and he had no reason to be angry
at either her or the dead girl because
OF their friendship, he maintained. He
said that when he went TO the house
where Beulah was killed, he heard Of
the nnding OF gun in the stove. This
Mrs. Ethel Limerick, sister-in-law Of
the dead girl, and Mrs. Dora Limerick,
the dead girls mother.
Moved So He Could Hear.
He said he had not asked what kind
OF gun 1t was, although mention of the
gun aroused his curiosity so that he
changed his position from the recep-
ton hail to Mrs. Dora Linerick,s bed
room SO that he could hear the con-
verSation better.
He said Mrs. Ethel Limerick told him
OF the finding Of the gun and had told
MIN not to say anything about it. Mrs.
Dora Limerick was anxious that moth
ing should be said about the gun, he
quo1eo the woman as saying, because
Il would spoil the chances Of cashine
Beulah's insurance policy.
Later, he stated that he was not curl
Gus about the gun and asked no cues
tlons about 1t and did not discuss the
matter In any way with his wife after
they left the Limerick home.
Inc next witness was Mrs. Ethel Linz
erlck, wlfe OF William Limerick and
sister-in-law of the dead girl.
Collins sought by numerous questions
to draw confirmation from the witness
OF reports that she had made any state
mentS about gun in a stove He was
unsuccessful. The girl also denied she
ever had discussed life insurance poll
cy carried by Beulah in conversations
with Mrs. Limerick or other relatives.
Don't Want Him in It."
Relating the high points of a CONVEX
found dead, with Mrs. Dora Limerick
and the Bargffede girl, she said that
when Mrs. Bargfrede learned Beulah
had died from pistol wound, she had
warned the others not to mention Rob-
ert Merchant, an Alexandria radio en-
tertainer and an admirer of Beulah.
Mrs. Limerick quoted Mrs. Bargfrede
as having declared, I'VE don't want him
in it,"
William Limerick, Beulah's brother,
who testified several days ago, was re-
called for examination in connection
with his conversations in arranging for
the funeral and burial
He declared he had paid these ex-
penses himself. He said they totaled
1920
did you," Collins demanded, ego UP
to Redding Virginia undertaker) with
lot OF money on you and say, Come
and get the body quickly?"
mo, sir" Limerick responded. He
then was excused. An hour-and-a-half
recess was taken at this point for lunch.
Testimony given by Sergt. Pierce
of the fifth precinct also brought
out the fact that Langdon had been
instructed not to touch anything in the
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