Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-27
MYSTERY IN TRIPLE
Staying DEEPEN'|S; !
POLICE SEEK CLUES
Authorities at Loss to Find
Motive for 9th Street
Tragedy.

Every member of the detective force
who answered roll call. at police
headquarters this morning was told
to do his. best to solve the mystery
of the killing of Theodore Opostolus
Koukos, Jean Odiscus and Katherine
Odiscus in a rooming house at 500
9Th street. early Sunday night. In
spector Grant, chief of detectives. out
lined the triple Staying to members
of his command and impressed upon
them the Importance of working day
and night to solve the mystery.
1t was admitted by police officials
today that the mystery had not been
solved to their satisfaction. They ad-
mitted the circumstances suggested
the possibility of fourth person be-
ing involved in the murder, but point
ed to the fact that absolutely no per-
son had been found who claimed tc
have seen a fourth individual in COM
pany with the Greeks at the house.
Colored Porter Saw Her.
On the other hand, it is pointed out
that Katherine Odiscus managed to
enter the house without being seen.
and it was not until about o'clock
Saturday night four hours after the
men appeared and engaged rooms. that
she was seen. Then Fletcher Nance.
colored porter in the house, saw her
at the front window when he went
out to purchase tobacco. Her hair
was streaming down her back, he
said.
Mrs. Minnie King, proprietress of the
house, was satisfied the woman was
there. however. the colored porter hav-
ing told OF the arrangements the men
had made for her when they engaged
rooms. Early Saturday night Jean
Odiscus. who had roomed in the house
on prior occasion, went to the lower
floor and settled with Mrs. King for the
rooms.
81 would like to see your sister," she
remarked to Jean. wanting to display a
friendly interest in the young woman.
ut would do you no good to see her."
Jean is said to have responded. "She
does not speak a word of English
Saw No One Leave.
Mrs. King paid no further attention
to her roomers until the tragedy was
enacted, ana she was SO much alarmed
by the screams of the young woman
and reports OF four pistol shots that she
was unable to tell if fourth person left
the house at that time.
Mai Gessford. superintendent of po-
lice, says he thinks there was no fourth
person involved in the shooting. 1t is
his opinion that Jean Odicus is respop-
oApiO AOh Oil LII &C dcdtHS. lie InlnkS
Jean started the trouble in an attack
upon Koukos. who had the 81, 900 in his
belt; that Katherine got between them
and was accidentally shot and that he
ended the affair by taking his own life.
Inspector Grant IS Withholding his
version of the tragedy until he OBJ
tains additional information. He
hopes Detective Edward Kelly, on a
trip to Norfolk. Va. and Wilmineton
and other places in North Carolina.
will obtain definite information to
clear the tragedy of the mystery sur
rounding it, Practically no infor-
nation of value has been obtained
from members of the local Greek col
ony. according to the police.
See Love Affair.
Behind the triple tragedy is a love
affair between the woman and Kou-
kos. it is stated, in addition to Odis-
Gus apparent desire to get possession
of the money his prospective brother
in-law had in his belt. 1t appears
from information. said to have been
impaired in Norfolk, that Koukos and
Katherine Odiscus were childhood
lovers, but war had caused a tempo
rary separation. It also had sepa-
rated the men.
Jean Odiscus, who early cast his
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