Evening star., 1933-09-11
PROBE|SREQUES7ED
AS TRUCKER DIES
Family Advances Theory C. !.
Melvin Fatally Wounded
by Ak.
BY a Staff Correspondent OF The Star

BY Staf Correspondent Of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, September Ii
Believed by relatives to have been the
victim of brutal ak attack, Charles L
Melvin, "a years old, of Gaithersburg
who was found lying unconscious in a
pool of blood on a porch in Westmore
Thursday night. died at the Montgom-
cry County General Hospital early to-
day without regaining consciousness.
States Attorney Stedman Prescott
said this morning that everything
points toward accidental DEATH" but
asserted that Montgomery County police
are investigating to determine whether
Melvin met with foul play.
Melvin was employed as a truck
driver at the nursery of A. Guide Sons
Co., near here.
Officers who took him to the hospital
reported Melvin apparently had been
injured cranking his car
William B. Melvin of 1854 Fourth
street northeast, Washington, brother,
and a patrolman in the ninth precinct
OF the metropolitan police force in that
city. said today he was of the opinion
that his brother was murdered. and
will do everything possible to aid
county authorities in their inveStiga-
ton"
Blood on AK.
The brother, explaining the murder
theory evolved by relatives, declared
blood and several strands of hair were
found on an AK which his brother had
brought home from work to sharpen for
friend. The ak was in the back of
the car
He also claimed the head wound suf
fered by his brother was too sharp and
too deep to have been inflicted with a
crank handle.
None of Melvin's family, however,
was able to advance a motive for
murder.
william Melvin asserted that he
planned to confer with county police
and States Attorney Prescott and ask
that a thorough probe be made.
The dead man, former sailor, who
was attached to the U. S. S. Arizona
during the war, left home in his auto
mobile shortly after 9 pm. Thursday
without explaining his destination, rela-
tives said.
Luther Thompson. Watchman at the
Guide nursery, saw Melvin, bleeding pro-
fusely from a head wound, wandering
around the nursery grounds shortly be-
fore midnight.
Police Called.
Thompson. who said that the truck
driver apparently was in coma and
failed to reply to questioning, told Off
GERS investigating the case that he ran
to a nearby telephone to call police but
that Melvin disappeared while ne was
gene.
The injured man was found a few
moments later by police lying uncon-
scious on the porch Of the home OF
James Reed, short distance away
Policeman Paul Watkins reported he
had found Melvin's car on road nea1
the Office on the nursery grounds with
the crank in the motor and the ignition
switch turned on.
The officer said that Melvin appar-
emily slipped in attempting to crank the
car and was struck on the head Blood
stains he said, were found on the crank
and on the front bumper
States Attorney Prescott said no
motive for murder or any clue pointing
toward foul play had been discovered
by authorities early today.
He said. however. that police would
carry on their investigation and would
attempt to determine Melvin's where
abouts between o'clock, when he left
home, and midnight, when seen by
Thompson
The body has been removed to local
undertaking establishment. Funeral ar
rangements have not been completed.