Evening star., 1947-07-10
Two New leads Raise
Hopes for Solution
OF Plank Staying


Two new twists in the Norman
LIE Roy Plank murder brought fresh
hope today for a solution of the case
that was once called a suicide.
Capt. Carl Mcintosh of the Fair.
fax County police said his detectives
were working on these angles:
/. A report Mr.. Plank and another
man attended a carnival Saturday
at Vienna, Va, about 7 miles west OF
the house at 4108 Forest lane, Ches-
terbrook Woods, near Falls Church
where the victim was shot to death
Sunday night.
2. A second report that Mr.. Plank
was in a Washington store Saturday
afternoon at the same time his sister
Mrs. Nen L. Burner, said she tele-
phoned him at the Chesterbrook
home and learned he was there with
another man.
Third Lead Reported.
Capt. Mcintosh had still another
lead embracing physical evidence
which he did not care to reveal at
this time.
The one point definitely cleared
up was that Mr.. Plank, 29-year-old
Small Claims Court deputy clerk
died at the foot of the stairs In the
basement recreation room of Mrs
Burrer's home from bullet fired by
another person.
Scientific tests, revealing NO
fingerprints on .22-caliber revolver
found near the body and no powder
burns on the victims head, prompted
Coroner Nelson Podolnick to reverse
an earlier certificate of suicide and
officially term the case a homicide
No. / suspect remained a man
known only as John or Don
who had described himself as a
"walkie talkie salesman" He was
missing, as was 1910 Buick be-
longing to Mrs. Burner and used by
Mr.. Plank while his sister was
spending the week end at Mary
land beach.
A Vienna carpenter told Chief
Mcintosh he was sure he saw Mr..
Plank and another man, whom he
could identify. at the Vienna Vol
unteer Fire Departments carnival
Saturday.
Stubs Thrown Away.
Mr.. Plank and his friend bought
two tickets on an automobile and
later threw the stubs on the ground
the chief was told. Capt. Mcintosh
said he was making an effort to
find the stubs.
The police regarded more seriously
other evidence that placed Mr..
Plank in a Washington store at 3
pm. Saturday, the time Mrs. Burner
said she telephoned him from the
Maryland beach.
Mrs. Burner told police her brother
introduced her to a stranger over
the phone, whose name she under
stood to be Don" or John" Mr.
Plank told her his guests car had
broken down and that he had
picked him up returning from
Washington Friday night.
Chief Mcintosh said Mrs. Burrer
and her son Donald, who found
the body, were in Ashland, Ohio
for funeral services and burial OF
Mr.. Plank
Investigators awaited . report
from the FBI to ascertain definitely
whether the 20 revolver found near
Mr.. Plank's body was the murder
weapon.
+ The fact that all fingerprints had
been wiped off, apparently with
hand towel lying nearby, indicated
the gun had been used to send a
bullet into Mr.. Plank's right temple.
Mr.. Plank had driven some
friends to Washington after, par
ty in his sisters home. 1t was after
this that he is believed to have
encountered the salesman" and re-
turned to the home with him.
A neighbor said he heard Mr.. Plank
rattling dishes in the house shortly
before noon Sunday. Mr.. Plank was
shot two or three hours before his
nephew found the body at 1890 am
Monday. Mr.. Burner had been to a
Maryland beach with his mother,
who remained there until Monday.
Home Subject Of Will Dispute.
The Chesterbrook home is the
subject OF a District Court dispute
growing out of a will left by Lewis
F. Strieter, president of the South
ern Asbestos Co.. according to At
torney P. Michael Cook.
The will 5eaueathing the home to
Nell L. Burner in apprecia-
ton of many kindnesses to me- is
being contested by the deceased S
widow, Anne L. Strieter, and two
sons, william L. and j. David
Strieter
Most of the estate, set at $4,000
in real estate and $4,000 personal
property, was left to the widow and
four sons. This included furnish
ings of home at 207 Rock Creek
Park road and a summer home in
Bay Ridge, Md.
The widow has contended the
will, dated February 10, 1916, was
not Mr.. Strieter's final testament,
that he was not of sound mind and
that 1t was obtained by fraud and
deceit"
Mr.. Strieter, who died June 13
after a long illness. left his busi-
ness to his widow and sons.