Evening star., 1935-11-28
REVOLVER TESTED
FORF|NGERPR|NTS
IN LYNCH DEATH
Phone Operator and Kappel
Reported to Have Had
Quarrel.
SCENE IN RESTAURANT
DAY BEFORE TRAGEDY
Detectives Check Movements of
Kappel and Cullen, Friends
of Bullet Victim.

A snub-nosed revolver found near
the body of Miss Elizabeth R. Lynch,
IS. Potomac Electric Power Co. switch
board operator who was discovered
shot through the head yesterday at
her home, 9l8 Fourth street northeast,
was being examined for fingerprints
today as investigators worked on
murder theory.
Detectives also checked the move
rnentS of William A. (Dutch) Kappel,
"a, close friend of the slain woman,
and Leo T. Cullen, 81, who are being
held for the coroner pending an in
quest.
Quarrel in Restaurant.
Another angle being considered was
q rumor that Miss Lynch, Kappel and
Cullen were seen in restaurant in
the 1900 block of New York avenue
about II pm. Tuesday. They were
said to have been drinking. During
the time they we're there, the woman
and Kappel are understood to have
engaged in a violent argument after
which Miss Lynch is said to have left
alone.
Kappel, a roomer at the Fourth
street residence, admitted ownership
of the .38-caliber revolver used to take
Miss Lynchs life when questioned at
police headquarters yesterday.
Both he and Cullen, who lives at
718 Fourth street northeast, declared
lyyootu nf tho NYNprof tor c
death was when they called at her
home and found her sprawled on the
kitchen floor with a bullet hole in her
cheek.
Evidence of Struggle.
A smashed chair in the kitchen gave
credence to the belief that Miss Lynch
may have engaged in a struggle before
she was killed.
Physicians revealed, however, that
the woman's body bore no marks OF
violence except few bruises on her
legs. There we're no powder burns on
Miss Lynch's face. indicating the
bullet, which entered her left cheek
and passed into her brain, must have
been fired at distance.
Both Kappel, who said he Is en-
ployed as an iceman, and Cullen,
presSman on a morning newspaper,
have been arrested number of times
since boyhood.
Kappel, who has been living at Miss
Lynch's home since her father died
about six months ago, told police he
was out with the attractive brunette
the night before she was found dead.
Left at Door of Home.
He took her home shortly before
midnight, officers quoted him as say
ing, and then left when she refused
to let him come into the house.
Kappel said he picked up Cullen
and together they visited several
"clubs," returning to Miss Lynch's
home about am. When they dis
covered the body, Kappel said they
Immediately called police and notified
them of the shooting.
When police arrived at the home
they found the woman lying on her
left side, her head pointing toward the
kitchen door. The revolver lay near
her feet and close by was the broken
chair.
Detectives pointed out the chair
was too sturdy to have been smashed
by the woman as she fell.
No Suicide Evidence.
According to friends of Miss LSach
she had been in good health and did
not appear worried when she went to
work Tuesday at the power company's
service station at Tenth street and
Florida avenue, where she had been
employed 10 years.
No notes were found in the house
after the shooting. and nothing has
been uncovered to indicate the woman
may have taken her own life.
Questioned yesterday after being
closeted with detectives for more than
an hour, Coroner A. Magruder Mac
Donald said he didn't believe it was
suicide case. The inquest will be
held probably tomorrow.