The Republican., 1935-01-17
CAR EXPLOSION MYSTERY
STILL REMAINS JJNSOLVED
Wallace Davis Being Held In
Jail On Forgery Charge, Until
Full Investigation Is Complete
DYNAMITE PAPER FOUND

No new developments have been an
nounced by authorities relative to the
mysterious explosion of an automobile
which killed Carl Trickett and his
housekeeper, Mrs. Martha Davis, of
near Oakland, at a point on the high
way, nine miles west of Oakland, near
Hopemont, West Va, Sunday morn
ing, January 6, and slightly injured
two of Trickett's children who were
occupying the rear seat of the Ford
V-S car.
Wallace Davis, miner of Shallmar,
husband of Mrs. Davis, is being held
in the Garrett County Jail on charge
of forgery pending completion of the
investigation. The warrant for Davis
arrest on the forgery charge was
issued by Justice Poole, of Kitzmiller,
upon information furnished by Will
liam Harvey, of Kitzmiller, brother
in-law of Davis. Harvey charges that
Davis forged his name to note to
cover the expense of the funeral of
Mrs. Davis, the paper being turned
over to Undertaken Sharpless at Kitz-
miller pending the interment of the
woman's remains.
Continuing their probe since last
Thursday morning, authorities of this
State and of West Virginia, have been
unable to report any new clues in ex-
planning the cause Of the explosion eX-
cept small piece of paper said to be
a part of the wrapping of dynamite
stick, near the scene of the tragedy.
Neil C. Fraley, States Attorney,
stated it was his conviction that
Thomas Davis, son of Wallace Davis,
who has also been held for question
ing, knows nothing of the cause of the
blast and efforts are being made to
obtain his release in order that he
may enroll I'm the Civilian Conserva-
ton Corps.
Plans To Hold Elder Davis
Mr.. Fraley stated, however, that he
is not satisfied with the story of the
elder Davis as to his whereabouts on
Friday and Saturday, January A and
5, and plans to hold him in Jail on the
forgery charge until every possible
angle concerning the explosion has
been investigated.
Junior Dixon, Shallmar youth, who
was held here last week for question
ing concerning the elder Davis story
of his movements the days immedi-
ately preceding the blast, has been re-
leased from custody and has returned
to his home at Shallmar.
Officials are authority for the state
ment that Thomas Davis was recently
paroled from the House of Correction
after serving part of his time fol-
lowing his conviction and sentence
for the unauthorized use of an auto
mobile, and the father was released
a short time ago from the Jail at Key
ser, w. Va, after serving a sentence
for operating an automobile while in
toxicated.
Dynamite Wrappings Found
An explosive expert from the Ford
works at Detroit, after examining a
part of the wrecked car at Terra Alta,
where it is stored, expressed the
opinion that the explosion was an eX-
ternal one and that a high explosive,
probably dynamite, had been used.
A further examination of the area
around where the explosion occurred
brought the discovery of part Of the
wrappings of a stick of dynamite, so
that authorities are convinced that it
is almost certain the machine was
blown up by some person who delib-
erateIy placed dynamite between the
engine cylinders.
Thus far, however, no charge has
been made against Davis in connection
with the tragic death of his wife and
her companion, and he denies having
any knowledge of the cause of the
blast.
Davis and his son were released for
a short time last Thursday morning
to attend the funeral of Mrs. Davis.
They were accompanied to Kitzmiller,
where the funeral occurred, by J. w.
Owens, deputy sheriff, and were re-
turned to jail the same afternoon.
Mrs. Lucille Trickett, of Toledo, o.,
widow of Carl Trickett, arrived here
last Thursday and announced plans to
make her home here and take care of
her children at the farm home a few
miles east of Oakland.