The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-23
SUICIDE The THEORY
Lieut.. Crawford Threatens to
End His Life.
GARMENTS FOUND ON 4 FERRY
Private Secretary 10 Rear Admiral
Dewey Had Written Letter 10 CIcSe
Purpose TO Kill HimSeIf-PoIIce
InVestiEnting, hut Have No CIew.

BY the finding Of hat and ovcrcoat on
one OF the decks Of the Alexandria ferry
boat Iackawauna, which were after
wards identified as the property of Lieut.
John W. Crawford. private secretary TO
AGmird George Dewey. and classmate
Of Postmaster Barnes, the police are led
10 believe the man committed suicide by
drowning in the Potomac River.
This theory is further substanuated by
the fact that Bennett \. Allen. chief Of
the auditing division Of the Post-oHice
Department. received a special delivery
letter from Crawford last evening. intI-
mating financial difficulties, and tclIIng Of
his intention 70 end his Ufe
The garments were found on the lower
stern deck Of the ferry about I.2l o'clock.
while the boat was en- route to this city.
The coat, which Is Of gray material. and
% medium length. was neatly folded ana
placed close 10 the edge of the deck, which
is few feet from the water. A Fedora
of the same color lay beside it, The dis
covery was made by a member Of the
crew. who reported the matter TO Capt
Frank Luckett. in command OF the ferry.
Making Investigation.
At the direction OF Capt Luckett.
canvass was made OF the passenger list
but no one claimed the garments. 1t was
also impossible TO find any one who re-
membered seeing a man wearing the
garments described.
On reaching the wharves at the foot Of
Seventh street southwest, the ferry. cap
tain turned the property over TO the
police OF the harbor precinct. When ex-
amined it was found the coat bore the
mark Of a local clothing house. In one
pocket was found a handkerchief. in the
corner of which the initial - had been
embroidered. These were the only posei-
bic marks of identification discovered.
4 report Of the find together with "A null
description Of the articles were telephoned
to the central bureau which forwarded
the message 10 all OF the precinct sta
tions.
A few minutes after the matter was
reported TO the police. Mr.. Allen called at
the Office Of Lieut.. Charles Peck to as
certain if the police knew anything OF the
whereabouts Of Lieut.. Crawford He told
Of letter he had received early in the
evening, telling Of the mans intentions 10
commit suicide. Lieut.. Crawford init
mated that he Crawford hard financial
troubles, and asked Allen 10 do every
thing possible to aid Mrs. Crawford when
the news Of his death was learned.
Lieut.. Peck said he had heard nothing
of the whereabouts Of the navy lieuten-
ant, but that he would send a description
Of the man 20 all the police stations and
request that a search be made Being
told of the kind of clothes in which the
man was last seen. he Immediately no
ticed the resemblance 10 those which had
been found on the ferryboat.
Bring the Garments.
He directed that one of the members Of
the harbor precinct force bring the hat
and coat to police headquarters. Nr. Al
len identified them as the hat and coat
which his friend was wearing when last
seen.
Lieut.. Crawford was last seen a. few
minutes after O'Clock yesterday after
noon In F street He appeared 10 be in
the best Of spirits. Mr.. Allen, who was a
close friend Of the lieutenant. was unable