Evening star., 1939-03-01
Unhappy Love Affair
Is Blamed in Death
OF Woman by Gas
Victim Leaves Four
Notes, Two Letters
And q Will
(Picture on Page Az

An unhappy love affair was
blamed today in the death of Miss
Annie F. Moffat. 81, daughter of
former Justice of the Peace Moffat
OF Hyattsville. Md. whose body was
found this morning in her gas-filled
apartment on the sixth floor at 1888
Thirteenth street NV.
In a note she explained she rent
ed the apartment month ago with
Alvin E. Pacheo. an automobile
salesman. of the 1900 block of
Fourth street NV, under an as
sumed name because she did not
want her people to know of her
marriage.
Interviewed at headquarters this
morning, Mr.. Pacheo denied to In
spector Bernard w. Thompson that
he and Miss Moffat were married.
He said he had been going with
her for some time and that they
were in love with each other. He
explained he was divorced several
years ago.
One of several notes left by Miss
Moffat was addressed to her father,
who lives at l6 Schley avenue,
Hyattsville. Miss Moffat, a for
mer bookeeper of the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co., who left the COM
pany several weeks ago, Mr.. Pacheo
said, after II years in its service,
left four notes, two letters and
will directing the disposal of her
clothing and personal effects.
Note Left to Manager.
One of the notes was addressed
Ito the manager of the apartment
house in which the body was found.
The note said:
Dear sir:
1--WE came here and registered as
Mr.. and Mrs. A. Pateson. the real
name is Pacheo: we registered this
way due to the fact that we did
not want my people to know of
our marriage until We were settled
in our apartment. but many things
have happened since then. I'm sorry
this had to take place in your ho-
tel-but please notify my husband
YOU will find him at the Mash
Motor Co., 2156 Champlain street
NV, or 1923 Fourth street NV
&c. 429O. The account with this
hotel will be taken care of.
"Good-by."
The note was signed by the wom-
an, Mrs. A. E. Pacheo."
Gilbert S. Keckley, assistant man
ager of the apartment, discovered
the tragedy this morning. He
smelled escaping gas and obtained
entry to the locked apartment with
pass key. Miss Moffat lay in bed
in her small apartment not far from
the kitchen stove, three jets of
which were open. All the doors and
windows were closed An ambulance
was summoned from Emergency
Hospital and Miss Moffat was pro-
nounced dead by the doctor in
charge. She apparently had been
dead for at least IL hours.
Parents Are Notified.
Police from the homicide squad
notified the woman's parents at Hy-
attsville.
The coroner's Office issued a GER
tiflcate of suicide this afternoon.
Miss Moffat rented the apartment
on February 3. Tenants at the
apartment said Mr.. Pacheo had been
there of and on since that time.
Inspector Thompson would not re-
veal the contents of the other notes
and letters, which were personal, but
said he had information Miss Moi
fat had been unhappy about her
love affair and her financial condi-
ton.
Mr.. Pacheo said he met Miss Moi
fat in 1886. He said she was en-
ployed at the power company until
q few weeks ago. One of the notes
Miss Moffat addressed to her former
employers. The body was removed
to the Morgue pending completion
of the coroner's inquiry. Miss Mof-
fats father identified the body this
n ftAraNo,,