Evening star., 1947-07-09
Address Found.
In Plank k'sCoat
Studied for
Search Turns to D. c.
In Effort to Fix Cause
OfCourt Clerks Deuth

Police investigating the fatal
shooting of Norman lie Roy Plank
turned to Washington today for a
clue that might definitely fix the
death as murder or suicide.
1t. H. T. Magarity, Fairfax County
detective chief, was running down
a new" address found In a coat
pocket of the Small Claims Court
deputy clerk whose body was dis
covered in his sisters home near
Falls Church, Va, early Monday.
"It's case that could turn either
way" the detective said, pointing to
the unusual aspects.
Most Important of these was an
automobile missing from the home
OF Mrs. Nellie L. Burrer, Mr.. Plank's
sister. since the body was discovered
In the cellar of the home at 4108
Forest lane, Chesterbrook Woods.
Salesman Still Sought.
Another missing link was "walkie
talkie salesman" believed to have
come to the Burner home Friday
night after Mr.. Plank had driven
party guests home to Washington.
The stranger was reported in ths
home as late as 8 pm. Saturday. At
that time Mrs. Burner, visiting in
Maryland, had called her home and
talked to Mr.. Plank. He introduced
her to the salesman" and she spoke
to him briefly.
Other developments hinged on
resuHs of Federal Bureau of In
vestigation ballistics test being
made on a 20 caliber revolver found
flve steps up on the cellar stairs.
Mr.. Plank's feet rested on the first
step and his body and head were
on the floor. He had been shot
once in the right temple, at range
close enough to fracture the left side
of the skull
LIT. Magarity also awaited the OUT
come OF paraffin test made on the
hand of the dead man to determine
If he recently had fired a gun.
Hopes to Trace Week End Actions,
The detective chief said he hoped
to trace Mr.. Planks actions in
Washington over the week end and
also run routine check on his bank
affairs.
war veteran, the 29-year-old
victim had suffered recurrent at
tacks OF undulant fever, but Daniel
Pyne, his immediate superior at
Small Claims Court, said he never
complained of the illness.
Walter Bramhall, chief clerk, said
Mr. Plank was we'll liked at the
office and had a good record. He
quit his job March 13, 1914, to work
at the War Department, but re-
turned two weeks later becausehhe
liked the work better. The court
veered from usual policy to rehire
Mr. Plank because. of his popularity.
He attended a Rock Creek Park
picnic with other employees last
Thursday and seemed in excellent
spirits.
The last person known to have
seen Mr.. Plank alive was a neigh
Dor who said she saw him and heard
him moving dishes just before noon
oNAAaoy. 44lC llltlC VI uCdUIl WH6
fixed at 10 or II pm. Sunday.
Suicide Certificate Withdrawn
A certificate of suicide issued
Monday by Coroner Nelson Podol-
nick was withdrawn later in the day
when the car was revealed to be mis-
sing from the Burner garage.
The amount of blood found by the
body indicated the shooting had oc-
CURED there-probably while Mr..
Plank stood on the first step-and
that the body had not been carried
to that spot, Dr. Podolnick said.
The body was discovered by Mrs.
Burrer's son, Donald, at about 1890
am. Monday. There were signs Of
ransacking in the house, a pair Of
trousers blonging to Mr.. Burner
were missing and dirty clothes, ap-
parently blonging to stranger who
had slept there, were found.