Evening star., 1933-04-04
Victim Is Believed to Have
Been Beaten on Head
With Hammer.
CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS
OF ACTIVITIES ARE GIVEN
Acting Coroner Rules Out Theories
That Injuries Were Caused by
Fall or Car Accident.

A woman and three men were held
by police today in connection with the
mysterious death of Mrs. Eva Cumber-
land, so, who is believed to have been
beaten into Inconsistencies and left
to die in an alley in the rear of the
700 block of Ninth street southeast
She was found there shortly after
am. yesterday and died in Gallinger
Hospital about II hours later.
Apparently the woman had been
struck on the head with a hammer,
according to Acting Coroner Christie
pher j. Murphy, who performed an
autopsy She died of a fractured skull.
caused by what DR.. Murphy described
as "a typical hammer wound" about
inches behind her right ear.
Those under arrest are:
Fred M Ward, 81. laborer, 1900
block of E street southeast; Edward
Taylor, 80, paperhanger, 900 block of
Potomac avenue southeast; his wife,
Mrs. Dorothy Jane Taylor, %, same
address. and Wilbur Allen, "a, trucker,
Camp Springs, Md.
Depressed" Fracture in Skull.
In addition to having depressed"
fracture of the skull, Mrs. Cumberland,
according to Dr. Murphy. was badly
bruised about the body, and the right
side of her face was scratched.
The nature and location of the head
wound were such, DR.. Murphy declared,
that Mrs. Cumberland could have re-
ceived the injury in only two ways:
Either she fell from an elevation, land
ing on sharp stone, he said, or else
she was hit with hammer.
The fall theory would not account
for the body bruises, however, in the
opinion of DR.. Murphy, nor would the
tectives assigned to the case-that she
was struck by an automobile.
When found, Mrs. Cumberland, who
lived few doors away. was lying on
her back, with her coat thrown over
the lower part of her body. Her hat
was at her feet, and one Of her shoes
was near her head. The other slipper
could not be found.
She was in the hospital five hours
before she was identified by her son,
william Cumberland, 702 street
northeast. She died without regafning
consciousness.
Those held were questioned when
detectives, working under the direction
Ol LCut. SlcllcIlI SOh, OUIdAlCQ Ill1O1
nation indicating they were frequent
visitors to Mrs. Cumberland's home
They were held, the Investigators ex-
planned, because they gave conflicting
accounts of their activities on Sunday
Ward is said to have told detectives
he had visited Mrs. Cumberland's home
on numerous occasions during the last
two years or so. He was there Satur-
day night, he said, but had not been
back since At that time, it was pointed
out, police were summoned by other
residents Of the neighborhood, who
complained there was too much noise
In Mrs. Cumberlands house.
Modifies First Statement.
Taylor, according to the detectives,
said he and Allen went to Mrs. Cum
berland's home about 3 pm. Sunday,
but this was denied by Allen. Ques-
toned later by Detective Sergts. How
ard Ogle, T. M. McVearry and D. G..
Fletcher, Taylor is said to have modi-
fed his first statement, saying he and
his wife were at home until 6 o'clock
Sunday, when they and Allen went to
a party given by Ward.
Mrs. Taylor, however, is said to have
told the detectives she, her husband and
Allen were at their own homes until
dpOut ~ Y ClOCk OuIlOdy IllSIlC. 1IleIl,
she said, her husband and Allen left,
and she went to bed. When she awoke
yesterday morning, she added, her hus-
band also was in bed.
All four prisoners were to be taken
to police headquarters for further
questioning today. Meanwhile, Acting
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald ten
tatively ordered an inquest at 1880
O'Clock tomorrow morning.
Mrs. Cumberland is survived by an
other son, Lawrence Cumberland,
Hyattsville.