Evening star., 1945-07-21
ISL. Elizabeth S Aides
Charged With Murder
In Death Of Seaman


st. Elizabeth'S Hospital attend
ants in the death of Seaman 2/t
Clark ]. Leeper, %, of Richmond
Calf, will be presented to tht
grand jury "a week or 10 day.
from now," Assistant United
States Attorney Joseph Lawles'
said today.
The men, who moved Seaman
Leeper a block from one ward tt
another shortly before his death
were held for the grand jury undel
$500 bond each. approved by Chic
. Justice Bolitha j. Laws of Distric
Court. They Gre:
Fred A. Brown, 40, of the 70t
block of East Capitol street, an EN-.
ploye Of the hospital for II years
Lloyd L. Lacey, so, of the 170t
block of Minnesota avenue, witt
% years service at the institution
and Samuel H. Seigel, 38, Of the 60t
block of Fifth street Sc.
The charges followed an inquest
yesterday at which hospital physi-
clan said the sailor had died oi
internal injuries possibly resulting
from violence" Before the hear
ing was completed, a tempest wa.
stirred that reached the House oi
Representatives and promised tc
precipitate a general investigation
Meantime, the investigation was
continued in the case of another pa
tient, Howard J. Crandall, 81, of San
Diego, Calf, a discharged sailor,
who died at the hospital July from
complications induced by an injury.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
said last night his Office was con-
tinuing an investigation into this
case and a temporary death certifi-
cate had been issued pending its
completion. He said an autopsy
showed Mr.. Crandall died of peri
tonitis brought about by an injury
to the lower intestines.
"Unprovoked" Blows.
The inquest jury returned YER
dict of responsibility" against the
three after another attendant, Cecil
G. Morris, testified how he had seen
each administer an "unprovoked'
blow on the sailors body.
Even before the verdict was re-
turned, Representative Grant, Re-
publican, of Indiana demanded in
the House that the Naval Affairs
Committee investigate the deaths OF
Seaman Leeper and Mr.. Crandan
A naval board of inquiry was called
in both cases, and in that Of Sea-
man Leeper referred the matter to
the Judge Advocate Generals Office.
Mr.. Morris testified how he was
assigned by DR.. Charles Raymond
Headlee Of the hospital staff to
help take Seaman Leeper from one
ward to another to place the sailor
in Strong room"
He said when they entered the
second ward the patient was just
a little stubborn" and refused to
move. Lacey took him by the
feet and hit him in the stomach
"or some place, he couldn't just
tell" the witness said. He also ac-
cused Brown of striking the sailor
in the hall.
After they had placed Seaman
Leeper on the floor of the strong
room" Seigel kicked him once
in the side, Mr.. Morris continued.
Under questioning by Defense At
torney Charles j. Ford, Mr.. Morris
admitted he had at first been de-
tanned by the police, and like the
other attendants involved. denied
anything untoward happened. ,s,j
he later decided to "ten the truth
about the incident because Seigel
had changed his story and charged
Brown had struck the sailor in the
stomach, Mr.: Morris said.
"I couldn't stand seeing the bur-
den placed on one man." the wit
ness said.
DIR. Headlee Testifies.
DR.. Headlee testified how he ord
cred the sailors removal to the Sc
clusion room because he had been
abusive" since last Monday when
his freedom to the hospital grounds
was revoked.
DR.. Headlee said he and James
Carter, supervisor, inspected the
patient in his new quarters a few
minutes later and found him sitting
on the floor in his underwear.
The physician said he ordered the
underwear removed and continued
on his rounds. A short while later
Lacey came to him and said :
Doctor, you had better come to see
Mr.. Leeper. He doesn't look too
good to me"
He found the sailor in a coma,
pale and sweating and his pulse
weak, DR.. Headlee said. Despite
artificial respiration and stimu-
lants, the patient was pronounced
dead three minutes later.
Result of Violence.
DR.. Karl Langenstrass, hospital
pathologist who conducted an au-
topsy, testified the examination
showed the sailors liver was "prac-
tically divided in two" Both lungs
were collapsed, he added.
In his opinion, the physician said
the rupture was result of violence
Asked by the defense counsel If the
word violence" necessary meant at
the hands of some one else, DR..
Langenstrass replied: In my opin-
ion any other possibility may be
reasonably excluded"
DR.. Edmund Ziman, senior medi-
cal officer at the hospital, testified
at the inquest that Seaman Leeper
said several weeks ago his father
had died in Denver and he wished
to attend the funeral. Efforts of
the Red Cross to substantiate the
fathers death failed and the sailor
became respondent after refusal
of his request, the witness said.
In San Pablo, Calf, the sailors
mother, Mrs. Ivy Leeper, told the
Associated Press her husband hao
died three weeks ago in Phoenix
Ariz., where he had gone in hope
of recovering his health. She said
she received telegram three days
ago notifying her of her sons death
but that no details were given.
Seaman Leeper entered the Navy
In 1912, made four Atlantic cross