Evening star., 1936-07-26
UNCLE RELEASED
IN COED Staying,
BUT STAYS IN JAIL
Remains Voluntarily After
HabeaS Corpus Writ
Is Signed.
PROFESSOR is WORKING
WITH U.S. SAYS SHERIFF
Night Watchman and Elevator
Boy Remain in Custody as
Five Are Freed.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Helen CleDenger, pretty 1S-yedr-
old Nep York University student,
was slain 10 days ago in her Ashe-
Uille, N. c., hotel uhile on her first
uacation trip to the South. She
tDds the guest OF her uncle, W. L.
Clepenger, 81, North Carolina State
College professor, uhose hotel room
1Dds IN same floor as hers.
The girl Uas crimindlly assaulted
and her face mutilated before she
was shot. Hotel guests told OF hear
ing screams. Several suspects hare
been questioned to no auaI.
b. me Associated Press.
ASHEVILLE, N. c.. July 25.-
Sheriff Laurence E. Brown announced
tonight he had released Prof. w. l.
Clevenger, uncle of Helen Clevenger,
slain in her hotel room here, but that
the 54-year -old bachelor chose" ta
remain in jail.
The sheriff told newspaper men:
prof. Clevenger was released By
me this afternoon, but he is volun-
tarily remaining in jail to co-operat1
with us in solving the murder OF hh
niece"
That's rather unusual, isn't it?'
the sheriff was asked.
Yes, it is"
"You mean to say Prof. Clevengei
Is of more value to you in the jail
than in the city?"
"I did not say that" the sheriff re-
torted.
Admits Newspaper Men.
The sheriff admitted newspapc:
men to his office about 80 minut-
after Superior Court Judge F. Donai
Phillips of Rockingham announce
receipt of a message from Brown say
ing Prof. Clevenger had been re-
leased.
Judge Phillips disclosed he hao
signed a writ of habeas corpus foz
the professors release and made il
returnable at $50 pm.
The jurist added he sent Sheriff
Brown q message stating that unless
Clevenger were given his freedom By
that time, the habeas corpus hearing
would be held.
Clevenger. dairy specialist at North
Carolina State College, was taken into
custody at pm. yesterday on his
return from Ohio, where he attended
the funeral of his 18-year niece.
He was the seventh person to be
detained in the investigation of ths
murder of the blond young honor
student, found shot and stabbed in her
room at a fashionable hotel 10 days
ago.
Two Still in Custody.
His technical release leaves only
two persons, Daniel H. Gaddy. the
hotel night watchman, and L. D.
Roddy, colored elevator boy, in Gus
tody.
No charges were filed against any
of the persons detained in the case,
They were held simply "for ques.
tioning.'
The sheriff fatty refused to elab.
crate on the portly, gray-haired pro-
fessor's status.
IF Prof. Clevenger tried TO walk
out of the JAIL" Sheriff Brown was
asked, would you try to stop him?'
I've given you enough, boys" Sher-
If Brown replied, and then added: i
don't think he'll try. He's working
with US"
The sheriff said he understood" a
writ of habeas corpus for Prof. Clev-
enger's release was drawn this after.
noon.
"Staying Voluntarily"
"When Prof. Clevenger found the
writ had been drawn" Brown related
"he told his brother, C. B. Clevenger;
that he did not want any outside in.
reference, that he was going to stay
in jail until this thing is cleared up
He's staying with us voluntarily"
The sheriff disclosed that the col
lege professor, with whom his meet
was spending a vacation. was study.
ing the evidence in the mysteriom
case.
"Clevenger," Sheriff Brown said
'is going through all the statements
we obtained this week from employees
at the hotel, and also the testimony
at the coroner's inquest, to see If hi
can cast any new light on the crime
Clevenger occupied room about
(See CLEVENGER, Page AID