Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-27


Merson case demonstrates
clearly the practical problem
faced by the police in their
search for physical evidence
following the assault and
brutal murder Of a citizen on
the streets of washington.
The first notice Of this case
came to the attention of the
police about 1859 pm. Satur-
day, March 3, 1862, when
Scout 1O3 responded to a
radio run to investigate a
imam down" in front of 1918
Ashmead place NV. The first
notice of the assault came
from a witness walking along
the street who heard a moan
ing sound and then found
the decedent in a semicon-
scious condition bleeding
from a wound on the right
side of the head. Found at
the scene was a torn paper
bag that apparently had con-
tanned groceries. The scat
tered containers had blood on
them and what appeared to
be q large bloodstain was
observed in the tree box
space. Apparent bloodstains
were also visible on the side
walk and the steps at the
edge Of the sidewalk leading
to 1918 Ashmead place. 1t
was not possible to interview
Mr.. Merson because he had
been removed to the operat-
ing room at Georgetown
Hospital in an unconscious
condition and was pro-
nounced dead at II pm.
4 = = 4
An extensive canvass OF
the immediate area Of the
scene was made in an effort
to locate witnesses or suS-
poets. This canvass resulted
in the identity of one wit
ness who described an Incl
dent while walking through
Kalorama Park, Nineteenth
and Kalorama road NV.
about two blocks from the
scene, about 7:45 pm. Sat-
urday, March 8, 1862, when
she thought she was about
to be assaulted.
AS the interrogation of
residents and occupants in
the area developed, another
witness was identified who
stated that between 1880 and
8 pm. on Saturday, March 8,
1862, while standing in front
of the Valley Vista Apart
ments, Ashmead place and
Belmont road, he saw a man
run across Ashmead place
with something in his hand
and strike down on something
by the tree box space where
the decedent had been found.
The decedent's brother,
Sigmund Merson, had last
seen his brother near the
corner of Eighteenth street
and Columbia road after
they had dined together. At
that time, the decedent was
carrying a bag of groceries
and apparently was on his
way home. Sigmund Merson
said the decedent's wallet, an
unknown amount of money,
at least one or more checks,
a round dial, yellow metal
watch and probably personal
papers were missing.
After working through the
night and in daylight about
GAS am. Sunday, March 4,
1862, the police found a tree
limb % inches long with
what appeared to be blood
stains on it near the side
walk in the front yard be-
tween the front walks of 1912
and 2314 Ashmead place.
Later laboratory examina-
ton of this piece of evidence
determined the presence of
human blood of the same
blood type as the decedent's.
A fragment of brown hair
and q fragment OF white nalr
also were found adhering to
the tree limb. 1t was further
determined that these hairs
matched in all observable
characteristics those re-
moved from the head of the
decedent.
About 2 pm. Mond ay,
March 5, 1862, a witness told
the homicide squad office he
had found a check made out
to the decedent in the
amount of SIS on the side
walk in front of 1740 P
street NV. about 1890 am.
Sunday, March 4, 1862. This
witness had mailed the check
to the decedent's address
listed in the phone book.
Later laboratory examination