The Washington times., 1937-02-11
FIGHT NEARS
ON EXHUMING
BODY AGAIN
Third Autopsy Asked
But Refused BY
States S Attorney


I.NSD.-The shadow of the
thin man" hung heavily today
over the forthcoming murder trial
Of Mrs. jeanette Trader.
The tall. thin man. who was
seen entering the home Of Clar-
enCe Trader utilities maCnate.
shortly before his body was found,
has been located by investigators
for defense attorneys it was
learned today One of them, John
l.. Sanford, said:
"Yes, we have located the thin
man who entered the home of
Clarence Trader the night that
he was killed. For obvious rea-
sons, l can't tell you his name
or where he is located, but this
can say, he probably will be
called as witness in the trial
and his testimony will be highly
important"
Sanford refused to answer fur
ther questions about the myster-
ious witness.
II
In the meantime a bitter legal
battle impended here tomorrow
afternoon in the circuit court,
when defense attorneys will file a
bill of complaint before Judge
James Crockett appealing the re
fusal today Of States Attorney
Thomas johnson to have the body
of Trader exhumed for a third
autopsy.
The shadow of the thin man
first entered the Trader murder
case after the visit of Samuel
Leibowltz. New York attorney, to
Snow Hill. to confer with Mrs.
Trader. Yesterday, LelboWitz Of
ficially entered the case as the
chief of defense staff, when John
L. Sanford, filed his notice OF ap-
pearanCe with the county clerk.
Leibowitz told reporters that a
new and important witness" had
entered the picture for the first
time. Shortly after that state
nent. State police searched the
countryside for tall, thin man
who was seen entering the house
while Trader and his wife were
visiting several night clubs in an
effort to come to reconciliation.
Seen by NeighbOr
A nelghbor, Mrs. Russell Mar
rlner. was questioned by police
and told him she noticed a tall,
thin man" enter the front door OF
the Trader home.
StreSsing the Importance of the
thin man" entrance in the case
Sanford and Godfrey Childs de-
fense counsel, will leave today for
New York. to confer with LelboWltz
and map out Mrs. Traders de-
fense.
In the meantime, Mrs. Trader
was reported to be on a verge OF
collapse" in her cell. Her son,
Richard. told reporters his mother
was weeping bitterly. and crying:
I'm sick and can't stand all
this much longer"
Sanford told States Attorney
johnson Mrs. Trader was "on the
verge of a nervous collapse" and
should be removed to hospital.
johnson. however, told reporters
:. he would fight any move on the
= part of defense attorneys to have
Mrs. Trader removed from the
Worcester County jail.
Appeal to Governor
Action by Governor Harry w.
Nice was demanded as two Of the
coroner's jury that held Harry
Samuel Massey a suicide four
years ago declared they believed
he was shot and killed by Clarence
j. Trader.
Deepening the connection be-
tween the Massey case and the
killing of Trader which caused his
vivacious widow to be held on
murder charges. two brothers of
"Nettie" Traders youthful ad
mirer went to the Governor with
new evidence tending to clear his
name.
The brothers. Paul R. Massey,
jr.. %, and Wilson Massey, II, told
the Governor that the % Caliber
gun belonging to Trader which was
used in the Massey killing has
been missing since the tragedy.
The jury reached its verdict, they
added. without seeing the weapon
and that no fingerprints ever were
taken from it.
Records Missing
Presenting the statements Of the
two jurors. the brothers also de
clared a full account Of the in
quest here was sent to the Wor-
cester county courthouse by
Magistrate John T. Riley, sitting
as coroner. but that these records
now are missing.