The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-02

A GREATNESS voice noCltleo ponce
and Headquarters men hurried
northward.
They found their grisly objective.
It was estimated tsat five days
had passed since rigor mortis set
in and decomposition had reached
such advanced stages that it was
impossible to tell wheth- the body
was that of boy or man.
The right shoe had been re-
moved and was found nearby. On
the ground beside the body were
so cents in change. An initiated
handkerchief was in coat pocket,
but no other objects or Identified.
tions were discovered.
The body was removed to the
District Morgue and with these
meagre clues, the Metropolitan
Police set about attempting to find
who the dead person was and how
and why he had met his death.
First Break"
Because Of the condition Of the
body, it was q hopeless and dan
gerous task to attempt a.. autopsy.
But here science stepped in, and
for what is believed to be the first
time in criminal annals, an X-ray
examination was utilized for the
probe.
Borrowing page from the ex-
periences of Army surgeons dur
ing the Great War, the coroner'S
staff employed a portable X-ray
machine in search Of the death
messenger.
They found the,cause. A bullet
had entered the chest of the body
and lodged in the backbone. A
second bullet was imbedded In the
skull. Both were extracted.
It was also determined that the
body was that Of a 15-year-old boy
These discoveries spurred police
to feverish activity and graphic
press reports enlisted widespread
public interest.
A day or so later. Charlie Ross,
q farm hand employed on the
Trinity College grounds, was sent
down town to purchase some agri-
cultural supplies. On his way back
to the college he bought a news
paper and read of the macabre in.
cident in Brookland.
On reporting to the Sister Su-
perior OF. the College Ross
showed her the newspaper account
and remarked:
"ThiS must be Richard"
He was referring to Richard H.
Duvall, 15-year-old boy who was
working as a general helper
around the college.
'HOw do you know it's Rich:
ard" Ross was asked.
Because Richard has been miss.
ing from work for over . week,
was the answer.
Matthew Guy, who had charge
Of all the workers at the college,
went to the Morgue. He iden-
titled tbs remains as the body
Of Richard H. Duvall, who a few
short days previous had been a
happy, carefree, albeit industrious
youth.
Richard Duvall had secured
his job at Trinity College on the
Recommendation of officials Of
st. Mary's Industrial School, Bal
timore, where he had spent some
years. AS an infant, it was ex-
planned, Duvall had been found
abandoned in a Baltimore door.
way. He was harbored in an
institution in that city and later
sent to st. Mary's.
What Motive?
After months of saving, young
Duvall had managed to accumu
late a few dollars and decided
that he would buy some clothes.
To assist him in his purchases,
Duvall wanted the advice Of his
old friend and counselor, Brother
Paul, superintendent Of st,
Mary'S. Accordingly, on Satur.
day, June 10, the boy asked and
received permission to spend the
weekend in Baltimore at st.
AKa ,s1Ysc rIaot 1xyoe Tho Lost No1v
he was ever seen alive.
Investigation revealed that the
boy never reached Baltimore.
Where had Richard gone late
. Saturday instead Of going to Bal
timore? Richard was young, he
hat no enemies, he was poor.
What motive could the slayer
possibly have had? These were
the questions that police sought
to answer.
Several days passed and the so.
luton Of the crime seemed further
away than ever. It was then that
the conversation between Ross and
the Sister Superior was reported
to police. They determined to
QuCoOAOU. tL1C farm 11dI1Q.
Ross was taken into custody
while working in a field near the
college. At No. 10 precinct,
whence he was removed, days of
questioning brought forth only re.
peated denials Of guilt or knowl.
edge Of the crime.
Finally, Ross asked for an au.
dience with Detective Sergt. Ed
ward j, Kelly. who now Is an in