Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-14
DETECT|VESPLAN
PERSON AUTOPSY
Not Convinced Murder Was
Committed Possibility of
Suicide Considered.

| Not fully convinced that John Van
LEV Pierson, 1oo. +; street, whose
body was recovered from the shallow
| water near Holland point, two miles
north ~ Chesapeake Beach. early last
Saturday morning, was murdered IN
| Spector Clifford l.. Grant, chief OF de-
tectives. today is planning an autopsy
| 20 be performed by DR.. William b.
! Carr. deputy coroner. The inspector
! says he thinks an autopsy VIII deter :
4 mine definitely whether PlerSon couli
! have inflicted the wounds Whlch
| caused his death.
| 1t is because of reports Pierson once
! attempted suicide and also had threat
/ ened to go to a secluded spot, where ms
body would not be found. and end his
/ life, Inspector Grant said, that an
+! doubt dispelled. He fears. however,
! that the District will not pay the eX-
pense of an autopsy.
| IF he committed suicide the IN
i spector said. there will be no need
| for a further investigation.
Working on Launch Incident.
f, Inspector Grant admitted that the
mystery is puzzling one. Detec-
tives Kelly. Sandherg and Mullen. en-
ldeavoring to solve the mystery. have
F, not been able to eliminate the incl
dent of a launch which was seen IN
| the vicinity about the time the body
was found. Much reliance is placed
upon the statements of DR.. Archibald
+. HIGHWAY. the first person TO sus-
| Iect that the launch had some con-
nection with the tragedy, and Capt.
James b. Revell fisherman. and menu
| bers of his party. who saw ana heard
the mysterious craft.
These men surely cannot be mis-
taken" said Detective Kelly. and it
I seems that the men on that boat
might be able to tell of the mysteri-
Gus affair."
Capt Revell said it was unusual for
/ a strange craft not to remain at an
Choir during such weather as was ex-
perienced early Saturday morning.
| Rain was falling and it was foggy.
he said. and in addition to the APP
pearance of the boat. he added. the
speed it was making was enough to
, arouse suspicion.
Adds to Mystery.
DIR. HIGHWAY, finding the body in
the water closely following, the move
mentS of the motor boat, adds to the
my Stery.
How did Pierson reach the Chesa-
peake bay at Holland PoiRt?" is a
question that has been asked many
times since his body was found, and
what became OF his hat is another
question that has not been answered.
Detectives feel reasonably certain
that his hat would have been found
near where his body was picked up
had he shot himself at that point
while standing in the water.
Had he been murdered aboard a
boat. however. they say, his hat prob
ably would not have been thrown
away there. They realize it Is pos
sible that he would have discarded
his hat in the woods had he gone
there for the purpose of ending his
life. Another suggestion made today
was that he may have boarded a bay
steamer in Baltimore. sat on a rail
shot himself and fallen overheard
Detectives have not found single
individual who claims to have seen
Pierson after he left his home and
| went to bank for Prof. Frank Theo-
dcre Allen. at 165 E street, where he
resided and was employed.
Suicide Theory Given.
"John Van Lew Pierson, whose
body was found in Chesapeake bay