Evening star., 1938-03-26
BEATING INJURIES
RESULT IN DEATH
Of MRS. lands
Blood Given by Fireman in
Vain-HuSband Accused
Before She Dies.
SUSPECT QUIzZED MORE;
TOBE HELD FOR CORONER
Police Not to Place Charge Of
Murder-Victim Expires
at 4:30 AM. Today.

Mrs. Blanche Gertrude Lands, %,
died in Casualty Hospital at 4:3O am.
today after duplicating her estranged
husband. James L. Lands, %, a
rookie fireman, in the furious beat
ing she suffered on lonely stretch of
Twenty-fourth street NE. early Thurs
day.
A TRANSMISSION for which firemen
volunteered blood late yesterday failed
to bolster the ebbing strength OF the
attractive young woman, whose skull
had been fractured with stones and an
lmprov1sed sandbag. She also received
deep cuts about the face and body, and
except for brief intervals, remained in
coma until the time Of her death.
Lands, who insists his wife was
hurt in fall from his automobile
during an early morning ride, is
being held for coroners inquest
Tuesday. The prisoner was returned
to headquarters today for further
questioning.
Booked for Assault.
The fireman had not been told of
his wife'S death before he was brought
to headquarters. Meanwhile, Mrs.
lands body had been removed to
the morgue for an autopsy.
Before his wife died, the rookie fire.
man was to have been arraigned in
Police Court this morning on charge
OF assault with intent to kill.
He was booked on that charge yes
terday afternoon when his attorneys,
Jean M. Boardman and T. Edward
OConnell, sought his release on a
habeas corpus writ. The attorneys
argued that Lands was held illegally
since no charge was lodged against him.
Justice Jennings Bailey informed
Assistant United States Attorney j. j.
Wilson that the writ would be granted
unless some charge was brought. De-
tectives then booked Lands for assault.
Attorney Ordered Out.
Defense Attorney Boardman walked
into the Homicide Squad room at
headquarters this morning when Lam
dis was led in by detectives. He was
ordered from the room, and as he
left called to Lands, Don't say any,
thing and don't sign anything!"
Mr.. Boardman then held to the
knob Of the locked door from the out
side and tried to listen to what went
on within. He told reporters they're
giving Lands the third degree in an
effort to make him sign confessionr'
This was denied by Capt Ira Keck.
acting chief of detectives. He said
Lands was questioned briefly and re-
turned to No. 9 precinct after he re-
fused to enlarge on his previous state
ment. The prisoner remained in the
squadroom for about half an hour.
Attorney Protests.
Reporters outside the squadroom
while Lands was being questioned said
they failed to hear anything which
would indicate the suspect was getting
the third degree"
Mr.. Boardman later called on Po-
lice Chief Ernest w. Brown to protest
that his client is being held Illegally"
because no formal charge has been
placed against him. The attorney said
he expected to make a complaint in
writing to Maj. Brown later today.
Several firemen had volunteered
blood at the hospital yesterday, and
that Of Sergt. M. c. Mason of No. %
Engine Co. was selected for transfu-
sion.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
set the time for the inquest follow
ing conference today with detec-
tives. Police officials said Lands was
held for the coroner and not booked
on murder charge.
Wife Accuses Him.
In a death-bed statement, police
quote Mrs. Lands as having said:
Bring Jimmie in here so he can see
what he's done to mel"
The prisoner was brought to head
quarters this morning in an effort to
have him enlarge on his previous
statement, in view Of the death of
his wife.
Detective Sergt. Robert Barrett re-
mained within call of the bedside of
the dying woman all last night in
the hope she might recover con-
sciousness long enough to enlarge her
previous statement. She had no
lucid moments, however.
Lands has admitted slipping un-
observed from his station at the fire.
boat early Thursday, taking his wife
for q ride, and returning to bed in
the station, still unobserved, police
said.
The husband blew his automobile
horn outside the home where his wife
roomed, at 2014 Monroe street NE,
and she came out to his car and got
in. lands was quoted by police as
saying his wife jumped from his car
on Twenty-fourth near Shepherd street
NE, striking her head on q rear fen
der.