Evening star., 1948-03-05
Cause Is Sought
In Blaze kiIIinq
Mrs. Hamilton
Heat Pod Suspected;
Gen. Meyers Discovers
Fire; Fifty Routed

A short circuit in a heating
pad may have started the two
alarm Stoneleigh Court Apart
ment fire which brought death
to Mrs. Hazel Hamilton last
night, Deputy Fire Marshal Roy
Warfield said today.
Mrs. Hamilton. IS, widow of Judge
]. M. Casey Hamilton of Iowa and
mother Of Mrs. Jane Hamilton Ma
cauley, in charge of the women's
division of the Republican National
Committee, was burned beyond
recognition.
Capt. Warfield said his ONCE was
investigating today to determine If
the blaze in Mrs. Hamilton's eighth
floor suite was started by a defec-
tive heating pad or cigarette.
The fire was confined to Mrs.
Hamilton's suite, but more than so
tenants were routed from their
apartments and clustered in the
lobby. Among them were Senator
Reed, Republican, of Kansas and
Mrs. w. ]. Bulow, wife of the former
Senator from South Dakota.
Bus Passenger Aids Aunt.
Mrs. Sheridan O'Connell, 10, was
helped down the stairs from her
eighth-floor apartment by nephew,
John J. Sheridan, who was passing
the building in bus when he no.
ticed the fire equipment and rushed
to his aunt. Mrs. O'Connell's small
dog crouched on a bed in her apart
ment throughout the fire, scared but
apparently unhurt.
A fire alarm-one Of two which
summoned engines to the scene
wAs turned in by Maj. Gen. Bennett
Meyers, former Air Force purchas-
ing officer now on trial on charges
Of subornation of perjury.
Gen. Meyers said he was debating
to a secretary, Mrs. r. c. Sollen-
berger, 1905 Twenty eighth street
NV, in the eighth-f1oor Offices OF
his attorneys when Mrs. Sollen-
berger said she smelled smoke.
Franklin Branham, an elevator
operator, kicked in the door of Mrs.
Hamilton's suite. He was followed
Finto the apartment by Gen. Meyers,
armed with a fire extinguisher.
Witnesses said Mr.. Branham re-
ported seeing Mrs. Hamilton's hand
and hearing her moan, but he and
the general could go no further be-
cause of the dense smoke.
Flames Sweep Interior.
The interior of Mrs. Hamilton's
apartment was swept by the blaze.
From the springs found under the
body firemen surmised Mrs. Ham
ilton was lying in bed or on couch
when the fire started. She was
found on the floor.
Mrs. George Peck. who lives di-
rectly below the Hamilton apart
nnert, said Mrs. Hamilton called her
| shortly before the fire and said she
was ready to 60 to bed. Mrs. Peck
said she went up to Mrs. Hamilton's
apartment to pick up some mail ad-
dressed to Mrs. Hamilton's daugh-
ter.
When she left the apartment,
Mrs. Beck said. Mrs. Hamilton was
not smoking.
The first alarm was turned In at
10:07 pm. and the second alarm
was at 10:14.
Traffic was tied up at Connecti-
cut avenue and L street N. w. aS
eight engines and three truck COM
pan;es, Fire Rescue Squad No. 2 and
its ambulance, two battalion chiefs
and deputy chief responded on the
two alarms.
Firemen Go Over Roofs.
A fire ladder was put up on the
L street side Of the apartment, To-
Gated at 1925 Connecticut avenue
NV. and another ran to the top
of the Blackstone Hotel, 1915 Sew
enteenth street NV. so firemen
could reach the blaze over hotel
roofs.
According to her son-in-law, r. c.
Macauley, Mrs Hamilton was re-
lated by marriage to John D. M.
Hamilton, former national chairman
of the Republican Party.
Mrs. Hamilton was born In
Wabasha, Mimi. and came here
from Fort Madison II years ago.
Her daughter was In Louisville.
KY for q meeting Of Republican
women when she learned Of the
tragedy. Her husband said she was
flying back to Washington.