Evening star., 1947-02-25
Veteran Killed Himself.
lin Blast After Talking.
To Wife on Telephone.

A 25-year-old veteran, who blew
himself to bits in a Ninth street res
taurant telephone booth yesterday
had just talked over the phone with
his estranged wife and Washing
ton attorney, police disclosed today.
The dead man was identified as
Frederick j. Sauer, jr., a former
soldier, from Wukes-Barre, Pa.
A suicide note was found in a
package of clothing Mr.. Sauer had
checked at the Greyhound bus sta
ton here, police said. A key found
today was traced to the bus station
where the checked package was
discovered, it was said.
AS police reconstructed events
leading up to the blast, Sauer tele-
phoned his attorney, Harry j. Sny-
der, Ills Fifteenth street NV,
from the restaurant and said he
intended to kill himself. He then
telephoned his wife, Mary, who
police said lives here, and told her
he was going to end his life Gin an
explosions" according to detectives.
Sauer is believed to have touched
off a homemade bomb, clutched to
his body, Immediately after talking
to his wife, police said.
May Have Been Brooding.
Police indicated that Sauer may
have been brooding about marital
difficulties. 1t jeremiah Flaherty,
head of the homicide squad, said
he understood Mrs. Sauer had filed
suit for divorce. The couple had
been separated, he said.
Mr.. Snyder would not reveal Mrs.
Sauer's Washington address, but
police said she had been i'll and
under a doctors care. He denied
Mrs. Sauer had sought divorce.
Mr.. Sauer's father, Frederick j.
Sauer of 957 South Franklin street,
Wilkes-Barre, arrived in Washington
early today to claim the body. The
dead mans mother Is seriously Ill
and has not been told Of the ex-
plosion.
The veteran, identified from
draft card. and a print of his right
hand, had been working in a New
Jersey chemical plant and for the
Pennsylvania Railroad in Philadel-
phia since his discharge from the
Army, police learned.
Tn Rnofb IN NT;pufaS
He walked into the American
Restaurant, 407 Ninth street NV,
about 3 pm. and drank several
beers. Joseph Levy, an owner of
the restaurant, said Mrs. Margie
Fahey, 30, of 1922 Fifth street NV,
the waitress, noticed Mr.. Sauer was
weeping and writing a note. Mr..
Sauer then entered a telephone
booth where he remained about 10
minutes before the explosion oc-
Cured.
Police investigation indicated Mr..
Sauer used about a quarter or half
pound of blasting powder and two
dry-cen batteries. Some of the Is
persons in the restaurant at the time
said Mr.. Sauer was carrying a paper
bag. He apparently held the blast
ing device next to his chest Police
later found a small toy pistol near
the body. =
The explosion shattered the booth
and caused considerable damage to
the interior of the restaurant. No
one else was injured, although sew
eral patrons were hurled to the
floor. il v.eo~ >-~rr nnsa,er
Here Several Days. ~
1t. F1aherty said Mr.. Sauer is
known to have been in Washington
for the last three or four days He
may have obtained the. explosives
from the Pennsylvania mines or
the New Jersey plant in which he
formerly worked, 1t. Flaherty said.
Police located Mr.. Sauer's father
early last night He told them he
had not known his son was in Wash
ington.
The explosion blew out the restau-
rants front plate glass and sent
heavy smoke out into Ninth street.
Carlin S. Payne, 80, of Dunn Loring,
Va, and John Greer, 43, of 221 Third
street NV, who were in the restau-
rant, were cut slightly by flying glass,
police reported.