Evening star., 1936-07-17
BY JOHN H. CLINE.
Stan Correspondent Of The Star

BERRYVILLE, Va, July IA
coroner's inquest into the deaths of
four members Of a nearby mountain
family took an unexpected turn here
today when two witnesses testified
that the shot-riddled body of 87-year-
old Mrs Susan Virginia Elsea, one of
the victims. was found tied to her
burning bed.
This evidence, coupled with the dis
closure that the slayer had attempted
to burn the shotgun shells used in the
tragedy, tended to cast some doubt on
the of1cially expressed belief that the
deaths were q case of triple murder
and suicide.
In addition to Mrs Elsea, the other
victims were her daughter, Mrs. May
Smallwood, IS. and the latter's two
sons, Ebert. %, and Akin, IT, All
had been killed with 12-gauge shot
gun. Their bodies, lying in separate
beds, which had been saturated with
kerosene and set afire, were found
early Monday morning in their log
cabin home 9 miles east of here in
the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The FIRST witness called at tine in
quest was Joseph Elsea, brother of
Mrs. Smallwood, who noticed smoke
curling from the cabin and broke
open the front door to discover the
bodies.
Discovers Mothers BODY,
He testified that his mother, Mrs.
Elsea, may have been alive when he
reached the scene.
When grabbed her." he SAID, TO
carry her outside, I thought 1 saw
her mouth move"
Elsea said he was unable to get his
mother out Of the bed because she was
fastened to it in some way. In his
excitement he said, he failed to notice
whether her body was tied to the
bed, but said he saw q piece of cord
under the covers.
However, Berkley Fowler, who finally
released the body Of the elderly woman,
said he was positive she had been tied
to the footboards.
when I picked her up," Fowler
testified, something caught. Then I
saw she was tied to the footboard,
although didn't notice how the cord
was attached to her body. L gave q
jerk, which broke the string"
Had Used "Sling."
Joseph Elsea testified that his moth
er had fractured her hip several years
ago and for a while kept her foot tied
to the bed to keep the leg from draw
Ing up" He added, however, he was
sure she hadn't used the cord for
this purpose for the past 1S months.
Elsea also testified it was his impress
sion the cord was tied to some other
part Of her body than the injured leg.
Testimony concerning the burning
Of the shells was given by Clifton Lee,
neighbor. He said he reached the
cabin about an hour and q half after
discovery of the bodies and found a
washstand burning in the boys bed
room on the second floor.
In addition to the brass caps of at
least two shells, Lee said, he found
the charred remnants Of q pocketbook,
pair OF trousers and rs cents in
change on the stand. He testified the
paper part Of the shells had been
burned away entirely. but that he
stin could tell they had been fred.
Shortly after the bodies had been
discovered, Acting Coroner A. A. Os-
borne told reporters he was convinced
that Mrs. Smallwood, temporarily de-
ranged, had killed her mother and two
sons, then turned the shotgun on
herself.
Dispute Suicide Theory.
This theory, however, was disputed
by neighbors Of Mrs. Smallwood, and
her brother testified ut the inquest
that he had never seen her with q gum
In her hand.
He said he owned the gun used In
the slayings, having lent it to one Of
the Smallwood boys year or two ago.
Elsea also testified the gun was lying
on table in the dining room at least
four steps from the bed where Mrs.
Smallwood's body was foyNd.