Evening star., 1945-02-26
Police Continue
Hunt for Clue in
TraiIerMurders
Commissioner Young
Receives Report
From Maj. Kelly

FOuce To-Day ADMITTED they were
no closer to a solution of the double
Staying on a parking lot at Four
teenth and N streets NV. than they
were when the bodies of Edward F,
Barker, IS, and Pany Casbarian, 50,
were found in trailer on Friday
night.
Questioning of acquaintances of
both victims was being broadened
IN the hope of finding some clue that
would lead to the slayers. Mean
while, additional detectives were
given specific assignments in the
case, although the entire force has
theoretically been working on the
murder since Friday night.
Maj. Edward j. Kelly, superin-
tendent of police, reported to Com
missioner John Russell Young
shortly before noon on efforts made
by the police thus far to solve the
crime. He showed Mr.. Young
photographs made at the scene OF
the murder and at the District
Morgue. On emerging from the
conference, the police head told re-
porters:
"All we have is two dead men,"
Firms Books Studied.
Meanwhile, homicide squad de-
tectives questioned nearly a score
of persons this morning, some oi
whom had criminal records, but
none of them were booked. Some
of the persons interrogated were
summoned to detective headquarters
by telephone and were never placed
under arrest.
Detectives are poring over the
books of Mr.. Barker and his part
ner to obtain the names of out-of-
town automobile dealers who came
to Washington to purchase cars
from them. Police said they hoped
to question these men, although
arrangements to that end have not
been made.
The bodies were found in the
trailer by Miss Adelaide Sturgis, 1850
Rhode Island avenue NV, friend
OF MIR. Barker. The trailer was used
as an office for the Barnes Auto Loan
Co., of which Mr.. Barker was a part
ner with John Barnes, 1926 Cathe-
dral avenue NV. Mr.. Casbarian
owner of a rooming house next to
the used car lot and loan agency
was friend of Mr.. Barker:
The bodies were found bound in
side the trailer. Each man had two
.25-caliber bullets in his head. Mr.
Barker was gagged with absorbent
cotton and his mouth was sealed
with 1-inch adhesive tape. Earlier
police had said both men were
gagged. Mr.. Barker's pockets had
been rif1ed, but Mr.. Casbarian's ap-
parently were untouched. 80
Victims Ring Missing.
Definite indication that Mr.
Barker was wearing ring which
had been taken from his finger was
disclosed by Coroner A. Magruder
Macdonald, although police previ-
ously had denied that the victim
wore q ring: Pawn shops in nearby
o1Soo WSiC bCAlAS WdtIllCd tOudy dIlQ
confidential warnings went. out to
secondhand dealers in the District
to be on the lookout for the ring.
DR.. Macdonald said there were no
marks to indicate the man also wore
a wrist watch.
A search Of drugstores in the Vi
cinity In an effort to trace the source
Of the cotton used to gag Mr.. Barker
was unproductive. Both the cotton
and the tape, according to the cor
oner, were such as might have been
purchased in any drugstore.
Meanwhile, funeral services for
Mr.. Barker were to be held at
pm. today at the Hines funeral
home, 2901 Fourteenth street NV
Burial will be in Rock Creek Gem
etery.
Services for Mr.. Casbarian will be
held at pm. tomorrow at Hysongs S
funeral home, 1900 N street NV
with burial in Glenwood Cemetery.