The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-05
Cornelius Desmond, a
Week Missing. Discov-
cred in Georgetown
Channel.
Watch Pinned to Vest
Shows Determine
ton to End His
Life.

The mystery surrounding the disap-
pearance of Cornelius J. Desmond,
mail distributor in the washington
Postoffice, who had been missing a
week yesterday. was cleared last night,
when his body was found in what is
known as the Georgetown channel. be-
tween the highway bridge and the rail
way bridge across the Potomac. After
viewing tho body. Coroner hewitt said
that IL WAS case OF suicide.
DesmOnd's body was dragged from
the water shortly after O'Clock by two
hshermen-John II. Hollis. OF 1926 c
street southwest, and Alex Gale, who
lives in Fourteenth street southwest.
They discovered the body when It was
caught by enc of the ropes on their
seine. Fastening a rope under the
1rIns. the men managed to drag the
body tc the sea wall at the tidal basin.
Body Taken to Morgue.
Hollis notified Commodore Sutton. of
the Harbor precinct. and the body was
taken TO the morgue on the police boat
Nisilant- the body mad been in the
water about a week
Desmond is said to have been de-
spcndent for several DAYS before he
disappeared, and It is believed that he
was temporarily insane when he ended
LIS NE. = young man Of excellent /
habits he was one Of the most popu-
lar employees in the Postoffice, and
members Of his family and close friends
know or no other motive that would
have prompted him TO end his life.
Hollis, who has a boating privilege
at the bathing beach, keeps a large
rn1nnnuv gpfna IN, h.
channel He hauled in the net about
a week ago, and last evening he and
Gale went out in a small boat to see II
the guide lines were holding When he
pulled in the line nearest the Washing
ton shore. he found that there was a
heavy weight attached TO it, and thought
thst IL had caught on a stone.
Body Caught in Seine.
AS he hauled in the line II was dis
covered that a body was attached to il.
Desmond's left hand was caught by the
line 1rmly, so tightly that It did not
lose its grip as the fishermen pulled him
TO the surface
Desmond was seen last about 3 O'Clock
the afternoon Of March 2S. on the High
way bridge by Hunter Arnold, who is
employed at the Postofhce, and who
knsw him.
When the body was taken to the
morgue 1t was found that Desmond had
pinned his gold watch in the right-hand
vest pocket 50 that IL would not drop
out when he jumped in the water. His
pockets were filled with letters and
other papers. but there was no note
stating why he intended killing himself. |
The letters were Of a personal and
business nature, but none had any bear |
ing on the suicide. There was nearly 80
in his pockets.
Desmond was twenty-nine Years old /
and had been employed at the City
Postoffce for the last eight years He /
held the record as the fastest mail dis
tributer in the service He was head
financial secretary Of the United National
Association Of Postoffce Clerks. ana was /
delegate to the last national convention (
As financial secretary he attended to ali /
OF the correspondence. He was a men, /
Der Of the Knights Of Columbus and /
was prominent in many other Catholic /
organizations.
Search Follows Disappearance.
Desmond lived with his father NJ. p.
Desmond, at 1913 Ninth street northwest
On the day his disappeared ne left the
mouse about 8 O'Clock in the morning. /
and worked until o'clock IN the after |
nocn. Failing to return home that night
members OF his family became appre-
hensive for his safety. and canvass \
OF the city was made for him.
Two days later the police SEN ont /
n general alarm for the missing man. |
but members OF the family were inclined /
to believe from the first that he was /
dead.
Coroner hewitt gave the necessary
death certificate, and at late hour
last night the body was turned over to /
an undertaken
No arrangements have been made for /
the funeral but the services will prob /
ably be under the auspices Of the
Knights Of Columbus.