Evening star., 1927-04-20
HOPPER DROWNING
CALLED ACCIDENTAL
Verdict After Autopsy Over
Former Officers Body
Expected to Stand.

EAHCVLCu W StdiiOs
Barring unforeseen development,
Sheriff Joseph Il. Pyles of Montgom-
cry County announced today he will
recommend to States Attorney Rob-
ert Peter, jr., in whose discretion rests
the right TO convene inquests in that
county, that the finding of accidental
death by drowning reached at an
autopsy over the body of Capt. Fred
erick Hopper, jr., at Rockville. Md,
last night, stand as the final official
record in the case,
Capt. Kopper's body was found In
the Potomac, at Great Falls, Md, yes
terday afternoon, after a search of
two weeks had proved fruitless.
Montgomery County procedure
being to vest the conduct of inquests
in the discretion of the prosecuting
officer, the finding of the autopsy last
night will be final unless Mr.. Peter
decides that further investigation in
the case is necessary. Sheriff Pyles
said today that he was satisfied with
the result of the autopsy and could
see no reason for going further. MIR.
Peter, however, was before the Mary
land Court of Appeals in Annapolis
today, and would not be available for
a conference with the sheriff until
tonight.
Believe Death Accidental.
Meanwhile friends of Capt. Hopper,
who left his machine shop, at 1908 {
street, April s. were of opinion that
the former Army officer had acciden'
tally fallen into the Potomac while
attempting to douse his face with
water at the bank where he left his
folded coat and overcoat. Persons
who had been with Capt. Hopper dur
ing the afternoon preceding his dis
appearance had stated to authorities
that he had been drinking during that
time. and this aspect of the case gave
weight to the theory Of accidental
death.
William r. franklin. adjutant of
Vincent B. Costello Post, and Paul
Dumbries and r. l.. McCreery, busi-
ness associates of the deceased, today
had arranged a funeral at Arlington
Cemetery at noon tomorrow, when a
full company of infantry will meet
the eaisson bearing the body of Capt
Hopper at the Fort Myer gate and
escort the cortege to the Dewey sec
ton of the. cemetery for interment
with military honors.
Two Hours for Autopsy.
The autopsy was conducted by DIR,
BENJAMIN G. Perry, DIR. George E.
Lewis and DIR. E. G. Bannersfeed at
the Humphrey undertaking establish
ment at Rockville last night. 1t oc-
cupied more than two hours.
At the end Of the investigation the
physicians We're positive that there
had been no foul play, but were un.
certain as to whether suicide or acci-
dent was behind the demise,
A certificate of drowning by suicide
was at first prepared. Friends of
Capt. Hopper and Attorney Walter
Bruce Howe, representing the Hopper
interests; here intervened and detailed
to the physicians sufficient of the his
tory of the case to cause them to
enter as the final finding, death by
drowning; accident?" The question
mark was placed upon the official rel
port.
No Suicide Motive.
This change was made after the
physicians were acquainted with facts
regarding the movements of the de.
ceased on the night of his death. It
was pointed out that no motive for
suicide existed as far as family or
friends We're aware; that the deceased
had turned his automobile toward
Washington and was a quarter of a
mile toward the city after leaving
Great Falls when a punctured tire
stopped the journey; that he sought
a telephone to communicate with
friends thereafter, and, finally, that
he probably had more reason for con-
tinuing life with a greater enjoyment
of prospective financial accruements
in the immediate future than in the
past
The physicians examined every
point on the body, where foul play
might have left mark. The head
was found uninjured; the heart nor
NAL, and, except for a bruisa on the
left leg below the knee, the body was
without marks. No evidence of con-
cussion 'or fracture. was found.
Test Not Absolute.
The autopsy, however, was unable
to determine positively whether the
deceased was dead before entering the
river. since the portions of the lungs,
in the floating test used to determine
ante morte presence of water had
been so affected by gas as to render
the test not absolute. BY process of
elimination, however, the physicians
arrived at the conclusion that drown
ing was the only means by which
death was produced.
Attending the autopsy were ensp
ployes of the machine shop of Capt.
Hopper, Miss Carolyn Capen, his
niece, and a large delegation from
Vincent B. Costello Post of the Ameri-
can Legion, which had been active in
the two.week search for him in the
vicinity of Great Falls.
Funeral Tomorrow.
The services will take place. tonaor.
row from the residence of the de-
ceased, 4 West Irving street, Chevy
Chase, Md. Arrangements were being
made also to include the Masonic
burial service in the ceremonies. To
this end communication was being at
tempted today with Benevolent Lodge,
No. 2S, +. and A. M, in New York
City, of which Capt. Hopper was a
member.
In the official inventory of vaIua bles'
found on the person Of Capt. Hopper
Yesterday, cash amounting to S4.70, a
stick pin, a. seal ring, a card case
keys and check book were listed.
Discovered by Sullivan.
The body was taken from the river
yesterday afternoon following it's dis
covery by Charles E. Sullivan, gate.
tender at the intake of the Washing.
ton Aqueduct 1t was Sullivan, who
April Z, noticing an abandoned ex-
pensive automobile on the road, not
far from Great Falls, obtained the
license numbers and corresponding
name and communicated with Stuart
Capen, brother-in-law of the deceased.