Evening star., 1947-07-14
gQuizFaces
Plank Staying
Suspect Today
Says He Took Cor
Before Murder and
Failed to Return

Alvah B. Martin, 20, who admits
he was in Norman LIE Roy Planks
home the day before he was MUIR
dered, faced a long grilling today
from detectives bent on breaking
down his alibi. i
Fairfax County police had a signed
statement obtained by Kingston
IN. " police in which Martin ad-
mitted spending July in the home
which Plank shared with his sister.
Mrs Nell L. Burner, at 410l Forest
lane, Chesterbrook Woods, near Falls
Church.
In the statement, Martin said he
took Mrs. Burrer's automobile to
Washington about 7:30 o'clock that
night and never returned to the
home, choosing instead to make off
with the car and $14 Plank had
given him for liquor.
Detective Chief H. T. Magarity Of
the Fairfax police, said, however,
Martin told him and Detective
Sergt. James M. Mahoney a con-
f11cting story about leaving the
house Sunday night, July s, the
night Plank presumably was killed,
The body was found in the base
ment early last Monday by Donald
Burrer, who like Mrs. Burner, his
mother, had been away for the
week end.
Returned From Kingston.
Martins conflicting story was told
to the Fairfax detectives while thew
were returning him yesterday from
kingston, where he was arrested
Friday.
1t. Magarity said there was "big
gap" to be filled before the police
determine, In a conference with
Commonwealth's Attorney Hugh
Marsh, whether to file murder
charges later in the day.
Martin will be arraigned In Trial
Justice Court tomorrow on a grand
larceny charge for theft of the Bur
rer automobile. He has record for
stealing another car, as we'll as
other offenses. and Is wanted by the
= "a Aoi pdI VIC flOldUlUIl.
Police Chief Carl Mcintosh said
Martin would be questioned
throughout the day and asked to
give a complete new statement.
To Face Police Lineup.
In the matter of alibi- checking
Martin will be exhibited in a police
lineup at the Fairfax Jail. One of the
witnesses will be G. w. Mcdonald.
IA Vienna (Va) carpenter who thinks
ne saw Martin and Plank together
about II pm. July at the Vienna
Volunteer Fire Department carnival.
Chief Mcintosh said Mr.. McDon.
aid recognized pictures of Plank and
Martin as two men to whom he sold
rattle tickets. Two women were with
them, police were told.
In his statement to Kingston DO
lice, Martin said Plank aroused him
from bench in Lafayette Park
about 3 am. Saturday and invited
him to spend the night at his home.
The two drank heavily Saturday,
and that evening it was decided
Martin would go to Washington for
more liquor and "a couple OF
| women the statement said.
Stayed at Hotel. He Says.
Martin said he found one woman
and then decided against returning
to the Burner home. Instead he
went to a cheap Washington hotel.
leaving the car at a parking lot
near the Greyhound bus station.
Tuesday when he read of the
murder and that police had broad
cast lookout for him and the car,
he decided to go to the Catskill
Mountains, the statement said. He
spent a night in Baltimore and an
other in New York before he was
arrested in Kingston last Friday.
Police said they learned Plank
purchased large quantity of liquor
and beer at Washington liquor
store about 3 pm. Saturday, July S.
They also reported they found a
fifth of gin and half a case of beer
in the house after the murder.
Martin said he exchanged his own
clothing for pair of trousers be-
longing to Donald Burrer before
leaving the house Saturday evening.
Although the suspect was reported
nervous in Kingston and apparently
suffering from prolonged drinking
bout. he seemed at ease on the way
to Fairfax and slept most of the time
In the black Buick he is charged
with stealing.