John Doe Warrant Sought In Murder

John Doe Warrant Sought In Murder

Sheriff John L. Osborn said this afternoon that he will ask Justice Jay H. Payne for a John Doe warrant for the killer of Hazel Briggs, whose body was found May 10 in a farm dump near Manchester.

Prosecutor George Meader said he would approve the warrant.

Another element of mystery entered the case of the torch slaying of Miss Briggs, a 38-year-old Detroit woman, yesterday when Dr. Robert J. Parsons, University hospital pathologist, testified at a coroner's inquest in Manchester that he was unable to determine through a post-mortem examination of the body how Miss Briggs was killed.

A skull fracture, previously presumed to have been the cause of death, appeared to have resulted from the fire in which the victim's body was almost consumed, according to Dr. Parsons.

The six-man coroner’s jury brought in a verdict at 9:30 last night. It read:

“We agree that the body found on the Trolz dump on May 9 was the body of Hazel Briggs, and that she met a violent death by unknown hands in an unknown way some time between April 10 and May 9, 1941."

Sheriff Osborn, Detective - Sgt. E. C. Johnston of the state police, and the prosecutor's office are still continuing investigation of the case and their search for the murderer. Sheriff Osborn said the warrant, which probably will be issued today, is being sought in accordance with the coroner's jury’s verdict.