Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-21
POLICE FAIL TO FIND MRS. HOUCK,
BUT HER RETURN IS EXPECTED
Continued from First Pagel

Continued from First Pagel
stances and impaired memories, the
police were cropping in utter darkness
TODAY for q lead" AS one detective
expressed it: First ! think she's
| dead. then I'm sure she's alive
Run Down All Clues.
The authorities. however, are run
ming down what clues they nave,
hoping DR.. Ho,ick may reach a stage
of convalescence where he could be
of more assistance TO them.
Plans to drag the Potomac River
in the vicinity of Gieshoro Point were
abandoned To-Day when a detail sent
to examine the area reported that
foe ice was still too abundant 10
permit such an expedition.
At the same time it was pointed
out that at no point is the river less
than 4 mile or more from the Houck
home and that 1t would have peen
extremely difficult for the woman 10
nave reached the water at night.
The statement issued by the friends
and relatives of DR.. Houck follows:
..Rv reason Of the baseless news
uaner reports founded on vague ru-
mors obtained third and fourth hand-
ca the relatives and friends OF III.
and Mrs. K. H. Houck desire 10 nlahe
a statement of circumstances as t4ley
know them to be true.
DIR. and Mrs. Houck We're ac.u
ally devoted and happy people, intent
on and successful in bringing up their
child well and both intensely inter
D~.o5 ~, tho doctor s work.
"a few years ago DR.. Houck had
pe,-,-o,,s. breakdown, and Mrs. Houch
during the week preceding ner uisdi'.
oaarance had become apprehenSlve oi
another attack DIR. Houck had peen
excessively active and had been STUDY
ing intensively He had been unusu.
aliv irritable and had become uulCe
argunDen.ative with ms VIE. -
;S absolutely no foundation FOR reports
- ,1I3vsic-aI abuse or destructivenesS,
rbeir ANTIQUITIES having been mostiy
verbal.
Advised to Take Rest.
.sThey both consulted a nerve spe-
cialist who told him to stop working
and advised them to separate tempo
rarilv. Preparation was being mace
for DIR. Houck to go to some relatives
in Pennsylvania About 9:45 pm:
tuesday. December IA, 1926, DR.. and
Mrs. Houck had a quarrel over an
INSIGNIFICANT occurrence earlier IN the
overing. but before retiring were on
the lest of terms. DIR. Houck, feeling
restless, took sedat1Ve ana Slept
so,,ndly until about o'clock Wednes-
dav morning. when he saw his VIE,
| fnilv clothed, take the child TO the
hathrotm, He fell asleep and getting
m about one hour later found that
! Mrs. Houck had gone.
"She left no message. He partly
dressed the baby and lay with II untli
the nurse girl, as usual, called Tor II
| Being somewhat worried about MS
wife's continued absence. knowing
that she was upset over his mental
condition, he looked for her in the
neighborhood and inquired of a few
neople IL they had seen her. No one
had He communicated with his
nbvsician who called at the apart
rnent.- There were no signs of an.
struggle, and no furniture broken, as
has been falsely reported. DIR. Houck
was not excessively disturbed and die
not at that time, and still does not.
believe that his wife committed sui
eide. considering it as only a vagut
possibility.
Thought Absence Temporary.
.orhev agreed that Mrs. Houck's alb
eance was only temporary, and 1t was
dacided that DR.. Houck later in the
Gav would leave for Pennsylvania,
taitng the boy along in case Mrs
un,ck had not returned before he
iaft During the afternoon he made
I'm r4s mind 10 leave earlier, knowing
thar the child would be well taken
care of. He went through the acute
mental episode that led to his hos
nitaIization at Hornell, n. Y. Not
until he had improved considerably
did he learn from a newspaper Of his
wife's continued absence. He was
aa ear TO return to Washington to
assist i'm locating her and related in
a rational manner all incidents both
rrior 70 and after his leaving Wash
| ington.
."The, increased worry over the sit
nation and the inconsiderate action
az some too eager reporters insisting
on interviewing a sick man caused q
na,.tial RELAPSE In his condition. How
ever. he was able to give information
that NAV prove of value in finding
Mrs. Houck and satisfy quest1on"rs
| that he has no direct part In her dis
appearance. He believes firmly that
| his wife is alive, discounting suicide
| except as a TeSull VI iAChtNHi N1SA
ment of which she had also at times
| been afraid.
Believes She Planned Trip.
Gas both had been advised to
separate temporarily, he feels that
she left. out of consideration for him
and his work, knowing that the child
| was in good hands.
His mother and her father and a
brother. who were informed by tele-
| gram on Wedne sday, have been sift-
| ny out the real facts, and now after
| DR.. Houcks return are more hopeful
Of locating Mrs. Houck, and convinced
| hat If she is dead Or. Houck Is In
no way responsible.
| "Dr. Houck's erratic behavior dur
| 'ng his wanderings was evidently a
| .esult of his mental condition. Con-
| .rary to reports. he has at no time
| made any attempts to deny or con-
| fuse his identity and was anxious to
| return when he understood the situa-
| ion.
THE relatives of Mrs. Houck have
| 'eturned home. taking the baby along,
| while DIR. Houck's mother is remain
4 Al l., r. oh v.~w