The New York herald., 1920-12-26
D. S. TO INVESTIGATE
DRY AGENTS DEATH
Tumulty's Request Wins Or
der From AttOrney-General
for Federal Inquiry.
SCOUTS SUICIDE THEORY
Police of Bayonne Cling to
Belief That McGuinness
Ended Life, However.

At the request of Joseph p. Tumulty,
secretary to President Wilson, the Bu-
reau of Investigation of the Department
of Justice was ordered last night by
Attorney General Palmer to begin an in
vestigation of the death OF James +.
McGuinness, whose body was found on
the shores of Newark Bay at Bayonne
with a bullet wound through the head.
McGuinness. who was a prohibition en-
forcement agent attached to the staff in
this city. was cousin by marriage Of Mr..
Turnulty.
The Department of Justice announced
in Washington last night that special
agents would be sent to Bayonne and
Newark to cooperate with the Local
authorities in an effort to run down
the bootleggers who are believed by
Mr. Tumulty to have murdered his
cousin. Mr.. Tumulty also sent tee
rams to the chiefs OF po ice, county
prosecutors ana Department or justice
agents in New Jersey. asking them 10
assist in the investigation.
IT am certain from the informati
now at hand said the telegram. that
McGuinness met with foul p ay. Every
fact of his home life negatives any
other idea"
Even before Secretary Tumulty asked
for an Investigation the authori-
ties OF Bayonnd had not Abandoned the
theory that MEG inness was murdered
by bootl ggers attemr ting to run liquor
into Bayonne or Newark, although they
continue to ncline toward the belief
tlrat he committed suicide. Friends and
relatives of the ad man, however, in
sisted that McGJinness was not the type
of man that commits suicide.
$50 far as could be ascertained yester-
day there was absolutely no reason for
McGuinness killing himself. He had
been cheerful during the last few days.
had h lped make Christmas preparations
for his family and had planned num-
ber of things to do yesterday and Tor
some time to come Other agents OF the
prohibition enforcement bureau said
that McGuinness was one OF the most
cheerful agents of the bureau and that
so far as he ever told them he was in
no financial or other difficulties which
might cause him &c take his own life.
Virtually every man who knew the dead
Officer refuses to believe that he COM
n mitted suicide
Chief Cady of the Bsyonne police said
last night that in his personal opinion
McGuinness killed himself, but that he
would continue TO search FOR evidence
pointing to a murder In the meantime.
however, the County Physician has or
dered the morgue not to hold the body
for an autopsy.
MoGuinness lived at 335 Summit
avenue, Jersey City. He was attached
to the staff of Dan ]. Chaplin. super
vising Federal prohibition agent.
His body was found partly submerged
100 feet from shore at low tide. A re-
volver was In his right hand and II con-
tanned one empty she'll The bullet had
passed through his soft hat. entered at
the right temple and came out near his
| left ear.
1t could not be learned nj prohibition
headquarters yesterday whether Mr.
McGuinness went to Bayonpe in con-
nection with the work of enforcement
New Jersey is outside the regular terri
tory of the New York staff, but their
work occasionally has taken them there,
and the dead man himself had done
some work across the river. He was
chief OF squad and one OF the most de-
pendalble men In the force, 1t was said
at headquarters ]. Sewell. assistant to
Mr.. Chaplin. said he knew Of no motive
for suicide, and Mrs. McGuinness was
still firm in her belief last night that
her husband was murdered by boot
leggers. They had three children.
The revolver found in the dead mans
hand was of the type with which the
men of the prohibition force are sup
plied--a 3s calibre Colt. police model.
Mr.. Sewell said. when the weapon was
shown to him at headquarters. that 1t
appeared to be McGuinness' own revol-
yer. though he was not certain. There
were powder marks about the bullet
wound. indicating that the gun had been
held close to the head. McGuinness'
watch and some money that he had
about him were untouched.