Evening star., 1936-03-09
AUTOPSY AWAITED
|. IN RANDALL DEATH
Society Woman Believed
Carbon Monoxide or
Heart Victim.

Autopsy findings were awaited by
homicide squad detectives today as
they prepared to wind up their investi-
CATION into the death of Mrs. Char
lotte Bryson Randall, IS, wealthy Sc
ciety woman and World War nurse,
whose body was found last night in
garage In the rear of her home at
3707 Ingomar street.
Pending completion Of the post
mortem, which was to be performed
at the District Morgue today, Cor
oner A. Magruder Macdonald with
held his verdict, explaining there was
some question as to whether Mrs.
Randall was the victim of carbon
monoxide gas or heart attack.
Mrs. Randall, whose many kind
nesses during the last several years
won her the devotion of hundreds of
firemen In both the District and near
by Maryland, was discovered by her
brother, Bernard Cassell, lying be-
tween her automobile and truck she
had fitted up as an emergency car.
News of her death caused Com
missioner Melvin C.. Hazen to order
flags half-staffed on all Washington
fire houses.
Had Heart AiIment.
Coroner Macdonald said Mrs. Ran
dali had been suffering from heart
ailment. and had contracted a Sc
we're cold during q rescue mission
to Smiths Island a few weeks ago.
Against the advice of physicians, she
had gone to the fire at Eleventh
and M streets southeast Saturday
night to serve coffee and sandwiches
to the men who fought the blaze
for several hours.
She was last seen alive by friend.
Miss Virginia Taylor, who was a
member of the Emergency First Aid
Corps Mrs. Randall organized Miss
Taylor left the Randall home at about
3 pm. yesterday. Mr.. CaSsell re-
turned later in the afternoon from
Baltimore and when his sister had
not appeared several hours later, he
went out into the garage 20 inveSti-
gate.
Mrs. Randall had been checking up
on the condition of her car. The
hood was up and on the running
board was pad of paper on which
she had noted several needed repairs.
The ignition switch was on, but the
engine was cold. The gasoline tank
was half full.
Until few days ago, Mrs. Randall
had been confined to her home with
an attack of grip, resulting from her
visit to Smiths Island. where she
stayed several days to aid the inhab-
itants cut of from the mainland by
ice.
Instructed in First Aid.
For the last IL years, since her
brother Joined the Chevy Chase Vol
unteer Fire Department, Mrs. Randall
had taken an interest in rescue work
at fires. She had participated in
activities of the American Red Cross
in Washington and neighboring
Maryland communities since the war.
One of her voluntary tasks was in
Struction in first aid to members of
several volunteer fire companies.
Members of the District Fire De-
partment were shocked to learn of the
death of Mrs. Randall. who was a
familiar figure at practically all the
larger fires. She treated several minor
injuries suffered by firemen in the
Saturday night blaze.
To the members of Engine Company
No. 81 on Connecticut avenue near
Everett street, near her home. she
was like a godmother." as one of
them expressed it, She frequently
stopped to chat with the men on her
way downtown.
Funeral arrangements were being
delayed pending the autopsy and read
ing of her will, in which she is be-
lieved to have given instructions re-
garding holding of the services.