Evening star., 1933-01-17
SUICIDE IS VERDICT
IN DEATH Of GIRL
Character of Emily Toombs
Is Praised by Witnesses
at Inquest.

Despite George w. Toombs' asser-
tions he could not believe his 23-year-
cid daughter Emily killed herself. a
coroner's jury today returned a verdict
of suicide, following an inquest into the
young woman's death
The jury, presided over by Acting
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald and
Deputy Coroner Christopher j. Murphy,
deliberated only few minutes after
hearing the testimony of Mr. Toombs,
head of an accounting firm, and more
than half a dozen character witnesses.
all of whom praised the character of
the dead woman.
The verdict freed Rclfe M. Leedy. 26-
year-old taXicab driver. in whose apart
ment. at 50 M street. Miss Toombs was
found shot to death early Yesterday.
Leedy, only eyewitness to the tragedy,
had been under arrest since the shoot
ing.
Seemed Perfectly Normal"
Informed by DR.. Macdonald that he
could tell the jury whatever you like, ''
Mr.. Toombs said:
THE first thing I knew of the M
street apartment was when was called
there early yesterday. I found my
daughters body there and a policeman
told me she had committed suicide.
knowing her, couldn't see any
reason why she should have committed
suicide. She was not tenperamentaI
and I could honestly swear I don't
think she would have had the courage
to commit suicide"
Under questioning by Assistant United
States Attorney Roger Robb and Louis
Wnltestone, attorney for Leedy. Mr.
Toombs said his daughter seemed per-
fectly normal" before she left her home
at 1922 Piney Branch road to go To
the apartment Sunday night.
She and her sister and nv grand
daughter washed the dinner dishes :
Mr. Toombs testified. II afterward
learned she then went upstairs and
washed eight pairs of stockings. / don't
believe she intended to wear those eight
pairs of stockings to her own funeral "
In response to question by White
stone, Mr.. Toombs admitted his daugh-
ter drank occasionally, but its only ef-
fect on her was to make her jolly"
Mi. Toombs was followed to the stand
by L. II. Palmer, an attorney in the
general accountants office. Bureau OF
internal Revenue. Mr. Palmer, who
lVes at 1871 Taylor street. told the
i IL
years and could say nothing but good
Of her" Similar testimony was offered
by half dozen other character wit
nesses summoned ct request of Mr.
ToombS.
theodore Patterson, a former police
man. and Miss Wilma Bories, l12l New
Hampshire avenue, testified they at
tended a card party in Leedy's apart
ment Sunday night, leaving about three
hours before the shooting They agreed
Miss Toombs appeared cheerful enough
although she complained of a headache
F. Just before they left. DR.. Murphy, who
performed an autopsy, told the jury an
| analysis OF her blood by the District
chemist showed it had absorbed only
| 4 per cent alcohol. In most jurisdic-
cent is considered the intoxication
point.
| Leedy's Version Outlined
Leedy'S version of the shooting. told
| following his arrest. was outlined to the
| jury by Detective Sergt John C
Dalglish and Policeman William r
SheetZ, second precinct.
| Leedy told detectives before the in.
| quest that Miss Toombs often discussed
suicide with him, once trying to jumI
l iIOll NiAldOH VI Illo 1iIoL-llOOE
| He asserted Miss Toombs, whom h,
had been seeing nearly every night fo
| the past month, shot herself.
| After the other couple left. Iced.
said, he and Miss Toombs drank bee
and highballs for while, then decidet
:, to retire.
Emily got up and put my bathrob
on he related. "All of a sudden,
heard a shot. I jumped up and say
her standing in the dressing room
The way she was standing, I couldn'
see the gun in her right hand
looked like she was holding her hand
over her ears.
IT yelled something at her and sh
pulled the trigger again. She mus
have been holding the gun away from
her head, because / saw the fash
Then she dropped to the floor. almos
at my feet"
Funeral services for Miss Toombs vii
be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow after
noon in the S. H. Hines chapel, 290
Fourteenth street Burial will be il
Arlington National Cemetery.