Evening star., 1935-03-02
Prosecutor Says Mrs. Dav-
idson's Body Was KneeI-
ing on Running Board.
MONOXIDE POISONING
THEORY is QUESTIONED
Probe Reveals Clearance at Bot.
tom of Garage Doors, County
Attorney Declares.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PINEHURST. N. c., March $50
licitor Roland Pruett, investigating the
mysterious death Of Mrs. H. Bradley
Davidson, jr., pretty 22-year-old
heiress of E. M. Statler. said this
morning he had developed information
apparently at variance with testimo-
MES at the inquest hearing.
Among other things. Solicitor Pruett
said further investigation of the
carbon monoxide death theory was
certainly necessary"
Body Not in Car.
Found slumped in her automobile
in closed garage wednesday morn
ing after spending practically all
night at a charity ball and night
club, Mrs. Davidson was first said
to have died at Moore County Hos
pital. Pruett said today. however,
that he was reliably informed rigor
mortiS had started to set in when
servants first discovered the young
woman. Also, he said, instead of be-
ing in the drivers seat of the car, the
body was in a kneeling position on
the running board, the head lying
across her arms on the floor boards.
Pruett said one of the principal
angles to be followed between now and
Tuesday, when an inquest is to be re-
sumed, would involve the original find
ing of physicians that the young
woman. wife Of 4l-year-old Wash
ington D. c.. man. died from carbon
monoXide poisoning. Pruett said in
vestigation revealed that the, doors Of
the three-car garage had considerable
clearance at the bottom, providing
ventilation which caused doubt sufi-
icent gas would have collected from
the automobile motor to cause death.
He said he and DR.. C. c. Carpenter
of Wake Forest College, who conducted
the autopsy, would undertake imme-
diately a study of the amount of gas
necessary to cause death under such
circumstances, and the possible effect
of the amount possible to collect in
the garage under the circumstances.
ut Is peculiar situation" said
Pruett, for a woman to go for an
early morning ride with only mules,
SKrt ana sweater on.
Butler Missed Car.
"Other facts include one that the
butler got up at 7:3O. looked in front
of the home for the car and discovered
that it was in the garage.
He made no investigation imme-
diately. but went to the garage to
wash the car and found the body.
The body was still warm at the time
9:05 m"
The coroner's inquest was in recess
until Tuesday, when the young wom-
ans husband, and guests and servants
at the home will be asked to testify.
Included are Mr.. and Mrs. Curtis
Campaigne of New York, the David
sons house guests.
Available evidence showed, the in
vestigating authorities said. that the
Davidsons and the Campaignes at
tended a charity ball the previous
night and arrived home in the small
hours of the morning.
Absence Not Noticed.
Davidson, member of prominent
Washington family, said he and his
wife occupied separate rooms and that
her absence was not noted until the
butler found her slurlped under the
wheel of her car in the garage.
A preliminary examination showed
Mrs. Davidsons death was caused by
carbon monoxidL poisoning.
The finding, however, of about a
dozen minute bruises on the young
woman's thighs caused DR.. Carpenter
to make further analysis. The results
of these will be put before the coro-
ner's jury next week. DR.. Carpenter
had no comment to make on any pos
sible significance attached to the
bruises.
Mrs. Davidson's body was sent last
night to Mount Kisco, N. Y, for
burial.