Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-04
Strands Of Hair
Found in Drain
Al Corens Home
Police Reveal New
Findings in Case
Of Beheuded Women


Montgomery County police last
night added new facts to a Federal
Bureau of Investigation report that
laboratory tests of a hacksaw blade
and an andiron found in the home
Of Henry H. Corens, accused of STAY
ing his wife, Pearl, showed traces
of human blood.
Austin Voorhees,, who lives at
4511 Giadwyne drive, Bethesda, next
door to the Corens house at 4515,
said he was with police and FBI
agents yesterday when they recov-
cred several strands of human hair
from drain at the foot of the out
side basement stairs at the Corens
house.
Mr.. Voorhees, said he also helped
police dig up two 2-inch square
pieces of seat cover material from
the front yard of the Corens house
He said the material was faded
from being in the damp earth.
Mystery Woman Questioned.
"A black-haired woman was ques-
toned by Bethesda police for two
hours last night. Police, who ap-
peared angry when the mystery
woman's picture was taken leaving
the police station, denied that she
had any connection with the Corens
case.
The FBI report, it was learned
said the saw blade, found in the
basement of the Corens home,
showed traces of flesh as well as
blood, and there were indications
that an attempt had been made to
clean it,
The report. submitted to Mont
gomery County States Attorney
Joseph B. Simpson, jr., by T. Frank
Baughman, chief FBI laboratory
technician, also disclosed that an
andiron, found in the living room
fireplace in the Corens home, had
traces of blood on one of its legs
and on its top.
The report further stated that
spots of blood were discovered on
"a sheet and pillowcase found in
Coren's room and on one of his
bedroom slippers. Ashes taken from
the Corens fireplace contained rayon
and cotton yarn, thought to be
remnants of a pair of socks or stock
ings, according to the report.
Tests of hair samples taken from
Mrs. Corens' brush and comb, made
to confirm identity, showed the
same range of physical character
istics as hair from a head found
Tuesday night about IS feet from
the Seneca road in the Dranesville
section of Fairfax County. The
report said the head later was iden-
titled as that of Mrs. Corens, who
disappeared February II.
1t was understood that tests would
be made of the hair samples recov-
cred from the drain to determine
if they match the hair Of the dead
woman.
Hunt for Torso Continues.
According to the FBI report, soil
tests on a shovel taken from the
Corens home were negative. Fair
fax County police, however, said
the head had been concealed under
layer of moss and leaves, indicat-
ing that the ground had been
scooped out by hand.
Expressing satisfaction with the
progress of the case, Montgomery
County police said they feel a lot
better about it now" Detective
Corpl. John P. Leahy of the Be-
thesda substation said a search fol-
Mrs. Corens' torso was being con-
tinued Police said efforts to drag
the Potomac River will be post
poned until the high waters recede
Corens, an automobile painter
with the Barry-Pate Motor Co. here
for about % years, was taken in
custody by police shortly after the
head was discovered Tuesday and
was charged with the murder of his
wife late Thursday.
District Court records revealed
that a Henry H. Corens previousl,
had married Gertrude Van Dan
January %, 1923. His age wa.
listed as % and Miss Van DAM
as 10. Records failed to SHOW
evidence of a divorce here. Cour
records also disclosed that in {
marriage application, issued tt
Henry H. Corens and Pearl Wake
II years ago, Corens was listed a,
having no previous marriages.
Corens will be represented b,
Harold C. Smith, Rockville attorney
who announced he has been re.
tanned as counsel for the defendant
Mr.. Smith, however, declined Il
say who had retained him.