Evening star., 1944-08-07
ThreeCIeared,
80thersQuizzed
In Park Ki||ino
Police Admit Lack
Of Clues in Stubbing
Of Frances Erickson
Pictures on Page BID

Police were without a clue to-
day to the identity of a colored
man sought as the slayer of an
attractive 30-year old woman
yesterday on a woodland path in
Rock Creek Park.
Three suspects, picked up shortly
after a single knife thrust through
the breast brought death to Miss
Frances N. Erickson, an archi-
tectural designer employed by
Saarinen & Swanson, 2O17 s street
NV, as she strolled along the
path, were released today Police
said the men had no connection
with the case.
Eight others have been taken
into custody and are being held for
questioning. Police, however, ad-
mitted they have no real evidence
against them. but merely wish to
check their movements Immediately
before and after the murder.
The stabbing took place on a
footpath leading from the Twenty
third street end of the @ Street
Bridge.
Miss Erickson, in a dying state
ment to persons who came to her
aid, described her assailant as a
dark-skinned colored man about Is
years old, who stabbed her when
she sought to prevent him from
snatching her purse
Two Rush to Her Aid.
The crime was discovered by 1t.
Leland L. Parker, "a, of the Army
Ordnance Research Center, Aber-
deem, Md, and Miss Lucy st. Law
renee, %, of 2230 Massachusetts
avenue NV.
The two were strolling through
the park when they heard Miss
Erickson scream. She collapsed in
1t. Parker's arms on the trail in the
shadow OF the @ Street Bridge. The
attack took place only about three
blocks from the rooming house at
l703 Twenty-frst street NV. where
Miss Erickson has lived since she
came to Washington from Birming-
ham, Mich, two months ago.
AS 1t. Parker sought to comfort
the wounded woman, Miss ST. Law
renee ran to her rooming house
nearby and summoned police and
medical aid.
/ Park Policeman H. Ralph Pearson
arrived few minutes after the at
tack as did an Emergency Hospital
ambulance.
Clasps Only Last Name.
Questioned by Policeman Pearson
as to her identity and address, she
gasped Erickson and then lapsed
into Inconsistencies. She was pro-
nounced dead at Emergency Hos
pital at 2:05 pm, little more than
a half hour after the stabbing.
Efforts by police to establish Miss
Erickson's identity were unsuccessful
for hours. Scout car policemen and
foot patrolmen of the third precinct
were detailed to search the area
west of Dupont Circle for clues to
her identity. Rooming and boarding
houses were Queried.
The first information leading to
her Identification came after police
OF the homicide squad appealed to
radio stations to broadcast her de-
scription.
Miss Betty Harriet Cooper. with
whom Miss Erickson shared a small
apartment at 1903 Twenty first
street N. w., heard the newscast
shortly after Z pm. yesterday and
telephoned police. She was brought
to the District Morgue and identi-
fled the body.
Barrett Heads Search.
Inspector Robert j. Barrett. chief
OF detectives, Immediately took per-
sonal charge of the case and de-
tailed the entire personnel of the
homicide squad to track down the
killer.
He said it was the opinion of
detectives after cursory examination
OF the circumstances surrounding
the killing, that Miss Erickson had
not been criminally attacked. Rob-
berry, he stated, was apparently the
sole motive
Further Identification was made
py MISS Erlckson'S employer, Zero
Saarinen, who was summoned by
Miss Cooper when she heard the
radio newscast.
Miss Erickson was a native Of
Barber, Mont, friends told police.
She had worked in Saarinen &
Swanson's Birmingham, Mich, Office
for the last six years and was trans
ferred here only recently, Mr.. Saar-
inen stated. Little else was known
of her background.
: DR.. Richard Rosenberg, deputy
District coroner, will perform an
autopsy on Miss Ericksons body
: today.