National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-25
UNDETECTED CRIME.
A GEORGETOWN Murder That Has Never Been
Fully Investigated.
Police Inquiries Carried Up 20 Certain
Point and Then Dropped.

The friends of Dennis Dunnivan, the Aque-
duct bridge watChman who was foully muir
dered and thrown into the river on the
night of March 81, 1883 one year ago yestor-
day, are actively at work In tho matter, and
have discovered several important clews.
They claim that the murderer will be
"turned up before long. On the night of
tho occurrence Dunnivan, who was very
drunk, staggered out in tho street from q
restaurant in Georgetown in company with
several other mon. His body was afterward
found in tho river. The marks of bloody
hands were seen on the bridge rail overlook.
ing tho spot where the body was recovered,
and clotted blood was found on the planks of
the bridge near by. The coroner's jury rem
dered verdict that deceased came to his
death by drowning at the hands of unknown
parties Shortly after the occurrence the
Georgetown Hibcrnian society of which
Dunnivan was an active member, offered n
reward of 500 for the apprehension of tho
murderer. The members of that organization
also constituted themselves detectives, and
commenced an active investigation of the
circumstances of the crime.
A REPUBLICAN reporter visited West
Washington las night and was informed that
the matter is not shroudcd in so much mys-
terry as some people suppose. IL was also
intimatcd that several persons know more
about the unavenged murder than they care
to tell. Tho police have certainly been in
cxcusably negligent in not pushing the
Investigation. They say, "Our hands are
tied and it would cost US our places to speak
of it," The citizens will naturally query
"Why 2"
If there are 10 underlying reasons to pre-
vent the police from acting they can with
very little trouble secure witness who is
known to have seen a certain man retreat
from the spot where the murder was sup
posed to have been committed at the time
when cries of "mercy" and "holp" were
heard.
Officer Burrows investigated the case to a
certain point, when, IL was alleged, that he
was taken off the case without reason. Since
that time the officer has persistently refrained
from speaking of the occurrence or any Of
the results of his investigation
The many friend of Dunnivan in George
town are restless and indignant at tho action
of the police authorities in not bringing the
murderer to justice. The Hibernian society
has not been asleep, and when they make the
record of their quiet, but effective work public
in few days, startling facts will be brought
out
The reporter also learned that Dunnivan
had a quarrel several months before the
murder with one of the men now under sus-
picion. In the tussle that ensued the party
referred to came out second hest,
and was heard to say, 81 will
got even with him (meaning Dunnivan)
yet" A certain lady heard the midnight
scuffie and saw two men forcing third man
down the street at the foot of which the
body Of the murdered man was found. She
also said that the trio was closely followed on
the tragic night by tall man, who appeared
to be either dogging the men or covering up
their rear. 1t is also said that one of the
suspected men is related to an officer.
These clews could all be worked up by the
police, besides several others, and the guilty
party brought to justice. The friends OF
the murdered man say that his character for
peace and good order was all that could be
asked of a law.abiding citizen.
The crime was one Of the worst on the
criminal annals of the district 1t is supposed
that Dunnivan was forced to tho bridge at
midnight, knocked senseless, and thrown
over into the river far below. He had been
drinking to an extent that rendered him
nearly helpless. During the struggle he
rrasped the rails with his bloody hands and
cried out for mercy. Just one year has
elapsed and still the crime is unavenged and
the police are looking at the matter in a
dreamy and stupid manner.