Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-26
RIVER SEARCH SUSPENDED
Lieutenant Said to Have Landed at
Alexandria Wharf.
LOOKING FOR WITNESSES
Police Hear Story Of Man Carrying
Bundle, Who Left Ferry Boat
Friday Night.

The work of dragging the Potomac
river for the body of Lieut.. J. w. Craw-
ford. Admiral Dewey's secretary. who is
supposed to have committed suicide by
jumping overheard from the ferry boat
Lackawanha. has been suspended tenn
porarily while the pilot of the police
boat, Sergt Dean, Is in search of wilt
nesses who. it is claimed. saw the lieu
tenant after the boat reached Alexandria
Friday night.
Miss Ella Griffin of Alexandra, former
1y resident of this city is o1a of those
who says she saw the missing man
Miss Griffin declares she saw Lieut..
Crawford ashore after the boat landed at
Alexandria. 1t now transpires that the
lieutenant had a small package at the
time he boarded the boat the police have
been informed, and it is possible that he
may have had coat and hat in the par
eel. Sergt. Dean accompanied Miss Grif-
fin to police headquarters this afternoon
and had her make a statement to Maj.
Sylvester and Inspector boardman.
II knew Lieut.. Crawford said Miss
Griffin. having made his acquaintance
several months ago. l had only been in
his company three times, however, during
the time l knew him.
Recognized the Secretary.
The young woman said she recognized
Admiral Dewey's secretary as soon as
she saw him on the boat. She said she
saw him ashore after Alexandria was
reached. and that he returned to the boat.
She thought, however, he did not remain
aboard for the return trip. The, police
Omcta1s were not surprised by the state
ments made by Miss Griffin. and addi-
ttonal efforts mill ho In foi if
the missing man was seen by other persons
In Alexandria Friday night after the boat
landed. 1t is recalled by the police that
the ferryboat Lackawanna remained at
the wharf in Alexandria only a short while
Friday night. and that the lieutenant
could not have remained ashore many
minutes if he actually returned to the
boat.
There are many friends Of the missing
man who believe he did not Jump over
board, and SOME Of the officers engaged
In the search for his body are also Of that
opinion.
This morning the police boat was out
on the river early. Sergt. Dean directing
the work of his crew. The members of
the crew dragged the river all the morn
ing. Practically every foot of the chan
mel between the wharf at the steel plant
and Alexandria and part of the river this
side the steel plant has been dragged
Crawford Visited New York.
Capt. o. H. Oldroyd has received a letter
from Mr.. J. N. Kimban of New York city
in which reference is made to the mys-
terious disappearance of Lieut.. j. w
Crawford. He said iIe was nearly "struck
dumb when he read of the matter. as
Crawford was IN to see me a: 1856
Broadway Tuesday or Wednesday oil
Thursday of last week."
Mr. Kin1ball said he could not remem.
ber just what day. He added:
Crawford was in excellent spirits; he
stayed long time. and among other
things planned out his future In fact
that was one of his reasons for calling
on me, l think, and he showed not the
slightest sign of dependency. We also
talked about you. He said he knew you
we'll. He showed no possible sign of any
arrangement of mind. and I can hardly
believe it possible that he killed himself
on that day or the next.
Crawford was an old friend of mine
I knew him we'll, and also think l had a
fair idea of his mental condition, and If
he has destroyed himself there was some
thing behind it all deeper than 1 know. u