Evening star., 1950-11-30
Police Seek Reason
For Auto Blast That
Killed Man and Girl

The romance of a 26-year-old
war veteran and his 17-year -old
sweetheart was being explored to-
day by Homicide Squad detectives
searching for an explanation of
the dynamite blast that killed the
two in an automobile in the 500
block of Tenth street Sc, last
night.
Detectives said preliminary in
vestigation indicated the deaths
were murder and suicide. Issuance
of coroner's certificate was with
held, however, pending further in
vestigation.
Those killed were James William
Woodward. a World War II veter-
an and manager of the Thomas
Hewes Farm near Hume, Va, and
Mary Fay Combs. II, of SIT Tenth
street Sc, an employe of a drug
store at Fourteenth and H streets
NV. She came here last June
from Kentucky.
Police Supt. Robert j. BarrettI
and Detective Chief Robert vi
Murray said the case apparently
was murder and suicide, caused
by the youths rejected efforts
at reconciliation. Corner A.
Magruder Macdonald also is in
vestigating.
Laboratory Tests Underway.
1t. Sheldon r. Mckee, police
armament and bomb expert, is
conducting laboratory tests on
little pieces of metal which may
have been part of an object which
was used as a detonator. They
were found at the car after it
mysteriously blew up while parked
shortly after pm.
In describing Woodward as
"insanely jealous" Inspector Mur-
ray underscored the fact that the
youth. being a farmer. probably
was familiar with dynamite and
its use for stump blasting.
Maj. Barrett expressed the
opinion dynamite was used be-
cause the only clues recovered
were the small pieces of metal.
These may show that a flash
light battery was used as a de-
tonator," he declared.
Minutes after the blast rocked
the neighborhood, a dozen squad
cars of detectives arrived at the
scene and started an investiga-
ton.
Questioning of the girls family
revealed that she had been going
with Woodward since last sum-
mer but for the last month she
had been trying to break off with
him.
Visits Are Described.
Inspector Murray said Wood
ward called to see Miss Combs
last night. after having failed to |
see her Tuesday night when he
went to her home. Although PLAN
ming to go bowling with another
boy later, Miss Combs agreed to
go out to the car to talk with
Woodward but left her coat and
hat in the house, the officer said.
A few minutes later, the car
was shattered by an explosion.
Woodward's body was found
among the remains of the front
seat. The blast threw the girl on
the sidewalk.
Police said the explosive prob
ably was between the youth and ,
the girl as they sat on the seat.
When the reconciliation failed, b
they said he apparently joined
contracting wires on the explosive,
which could have been a single |
stick of dynamite. |
= Miss Combs lived with a sister
and brother-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. {
Allen Budd; another twin sister.
Francis, who also is employed in
the drug store, and a brother, Ed
gar, according to Inspector Muir
ray. He said she was one of 10
children, and her parents have a
farm in Kentucky.
Woodward was the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Lambert E. Woodward,
of near Marshall. His mother
said at her home last night that
the youth left for Washington
early in the afternoon. She said
he had told the family he knew
several girls in Southeast Wash
ington.
Was Combat Veteran.
A combat veteran, Woodward
helped operate the family farm in
addition to the Hewes property.
He also is survived by a brother,
John, a lieutenant in the Navy.
The tremendous force of the