Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-01-29
Attorney Dies
As Chevy Chase
Home Burns
Churles A. Futterer
Suffocutes in BIuze:
5 Firemen Treated


A former Government attor-
ney was suffocated and at least
five f1remen suffered slight burns
or were overcome by smoke dur
ing a stubborn fire which COM
pletely burned out an expensive
home in Chevy Chase. Md. last
night.
The dead man. whose body
was found in a hallway, was
Charles "A. Futterer. 40, of No. 4
East Irving street. where the fire
occurred. Police said he APP
parently had been smoking while
watching television and had
fallen asleep in an upholstered
chair. Only the chair springs
remained after the fire was UNI
der control.
Mr.. Futterer's wife, Mrs. Mary
Ann Futterer. was staying with
a brother, James P. Spellbring.
of 5018 Iowa avenue NV. Mr..
Spellbring identified the body at
Suburban Hospital. Mr.. Futterer
was with the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation for six
years.
Capt. Garrett Treated.
Mr.. Futterer's body was re-
moved from the house by Capt.
James Fl. Garrett Of the Chevy
Chase Fire Department. Capt.
Garrett suffered minor first and
second degree burns to his hands
and face and was treated at
Suburban Hospital.
DR.. F. j. Broschart, medical
examiner Of Montgomery County.
said Mr.. Futterer was suffocated
by the dense smoke. There were
no serious burns on the body.
DR.. BroSchart issued a certificate
of death by suffocation. Mr.. Fut-
terer's son, Charles c. Futterer.
10. told police that when he went
out shortly after S pm, he saw
his father sitting in the chair
watching television.
Made Futile Attempt.
Another fireman requiring
treatment was Assistant Chief
Paul Harding Of the Kensington
Fire Department, who made q
futile attempt to get Mr.. Futterer
out. He also was slightly burned
on the hands and face.
Also requiring treatment at the
scene for smoke inhalation was
Fireman. M. A. Click of the
Chevy Chase department, and at
least two other unidentified fire.
men required oxygen, police said.
The Bethesda Chevy Chase Res
cue Squad had its equipment at
the scene.
The fire apparently started
shortly before 1920 pm, and
quickly enveloped the first floor
and basement of the big frame
house. which contained five bed
rooms on its second floor. Fire
Marshal Charles Howe. of Mont
gomery County. estimated the
value of the house at about $45.-
900.
Pair Discovered Blaze.
Mr.. Harding said he, Chief
Harry Hawkins, Capt. Raymond
Lynch and Pvt. Charles Gregg.
all of the Kensington depart
ment. were returning in the
chiefs car from Fairfax, Va,
where they had been inspecting
a new ambulance.
They were proceeding north
on Connecticut avenue, Mr..
Harding said. He looked out Of
the car window at the inter-
section Of East Irving street and
noticed the fire "belching out"
of the front and f1rst-floor win
dows. The Futterer home Is
some distance from the avenue.
Mr.. Harding said a man came
out of a house next door and
told him some one was inside
the burning building. After
forcing the front door, Mr.. Hard
ing, equipped with a gas mask.
started down the hall. He was
forced back by flames shooting
out of a side room.
Mr.. Futterer's body was found
in the hallway with his coat
pulled up around his head as II
he had tried to protect his face
from the fire, Mr.. Harding said.
He said it appeared Mr.. Futterer
was heading for the rear door.
The Chevy Chase and Ken
sington Fire Departments and
the Bethesda Chevy Chase Res
cue Squad arrived. Hose lines
were run into the house and
Capt. Garrett pulled the body
out.
Mr.. Futterer was with the
RFC from 1882 to 1885 and from
1889 to 1941. He went with the
Army Engineers in 1941, and
after the war served as counsel
with the Congressional Com
mittee on Government Expendi-
lures under Representative
Hardy. Democrat, of Virginia.
Mr.. Futterer was with the
Charles w. Young Co., of New
York, from 1886 to 1899, as an
counsel. His spe-
cialty was railroad research. He
also was connected with the
Union Trust Co.. of Pittsburgh.
Pa.
He was graduated from Mary
land University in 1925, and took
his law degree at George Wash
Ington University Law School in
1880. Funeral arrangements are
being handled by Gawler & Sons.