Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-12
BELIEVE MAN SHOT
TODEATHAT BEACH
|. WAS WORKER HERE
Evidence of Body Being That
OF v. l. Person Is Given
D. c. Police.

That the man shot to death north of
Chesapeake Beach last Saturday
morning was John Won LEW Pierson.
formerly a clerk with the National
Capital Press is the belief of de-
tectives from police headquarters now
working on the case. Detective Kelly
LETT for Chesapeake Beach today with
former acQuaintances Of Pierson. who
disappeared from his room at los f
street week ago yesterday. The
body will be exhumed and an attempt
at Identification made this afternoon.
Inc wedge that opened the possibili-
ties for Identification came last night
when Velosco J. Knapp, a roomer at
the house where Pierson formerly
stated that he would like to give some
Information regarding the missing
man.
Laundry Mark Corresponds.
A picture Of the dead man shown to
Knapp and Prof Frank Theodore Al
len. scientific astrologer at the resi-
dence. was identified as that of Pier
SON A search was made of Persons
effects. The laundry mark RI"
found on the collar of the dead man
was upon collars left by Pierson.
Prof. Allen told Detective Kelly
that Pierson went to bank to make
deposits for him on Tuesday, Nav 4.
and never returned. According to the
astrologer. Pierson had been speak
ing Of committing suicide for some
time: and had declared that he would
Kill himself in spot where his body
would never be found A day after
the departure OF Pierson to the bank
Prof. Allen received an envelope
through the mails containing the
bank book receipted for the deposit.
With Mi. Knapp, Detective Kelly
also took B. p. Byrnes. An employe
of the National Capital Press to
Chesapeake Beach today for the ex-
huming Of the body.
Byrnes declared when seen this
morning that the picture was a like
ness Of Pierson. He said that PIER
son was employed At the National
Capital Press until q few months ago.
that he was highly educated. and was
believed to have q medical diploma
Pierson was agreeable and well liked.
according to Mr.. Byrnes, and had
never given any intimatfon of suicide
to his fellow workers.
Came From vfneIanA, n. J.
Police investigation also developed
that Pierson came to this city from
Vfneland. n. j.. and that he was an
intimate friend of Gen. Coxey. who
led an army Of protest to Washing
ton from Ohio years ago.
A policeman from the harbor pre-
cinct accompanied the party to Chesa
peake Beach today to drag the shoals
for additional evidence.
The theory of murder is. uppermost
in the minds of Investigators. 1t is
declared that the two shots fired into
the head Of the deceased could not
have been made by = suicide. since each
was an instantly fatal one
Hundreds of copies Of q photograph
OF the dead man have been mailed to
police of nearby cities for additional
information, if any is forthcoming.
In addition to mailing the copies in
quiry was made at the stores whose
tags were borne on the clothing of
the dead man.
Tell Of Purchase Of suit.
Clerks in an F. street store are
reasonably certain that the victim
was In the store during the latter
part of last summer to make a pur-
chase of suit of clothes The man
seemed a bit eccentric. it was stated.
and was nervous. purchasing a suit
years than himself
With the clearing up Of the identity
of the man. police are looking for
ward to ascertaining the exact man.
ner of death and the chances Of To-
eating those responsible for It. In
0pector Grant, who took up the case
upon learning that the clothing bore
a Washington clothes shop tag. will
follow it through. 1t was entirely
through the work of the local police.
tie work has progressed thus far.