Evening star., 1927-03-25
SUICIDE VERDICT
IN MRS. HOUCK'S
DEATH EXPECTED
Pathological Examination In
GicateS She Was Alive When
She Entered Water.
NO TRACES OF VIOLENCE
OR POISON ARE FOUND
Release of Psychiatrist, Held in
Oregon Town, Probably Will
Follow Decision.

COlIOW ucClSlOus
The pathological and microscopical
examinations of tissues taken from
the body of Mrs. Gladys w. Houck
have failed to disclose any evidence
OF violence. On the other hand, all
indications point to the probability
that she was alive when she entered
the waters OF the Eastern Branch.
DIR. Oscar B. Hunter. noted pa
thologist and bacteriologist of George
Washington University, who has been
making the examinations, will so re-
port to DIR. Herbert T.. Martyr, the
deputy coroner, this afternoon. This.
1t is expected, will close the famous
"Houck case" that had absorbed the
interest of the entire country at fire.
quent intervals since last December
No Poison Traces Found.
Chemical tests, it was learned, failed
to reveal the slightest traces OF poison
in Mrs. Houck's organs. Nor were
there any indications whatever of
hemorrhage or other violent reactions
in the tissues. DIR. Hunter found only
the conditions that might be expected
to result from death by drowning.
1t was feared at first that the con-
dition of what remained Of Mrs.
Houck's brain would preclude a deci-
sion as to whether she received
severe blow on the head. DIR. Hunter
found, however, that the membranes
were remarkably preserved. and 1t is
these filaments that would have con-
tanned certain evidences Of a hemor-
rhage had one occurred.
One of the most definite proofs that
Mrs. Houck was not dead when she
entered the water was the presence
of small quantities of sand and gravel
in her stomach and lungs. These
were carried there, the supposition is,
by her inhaling water in her strug-
giles before she died. Specimens of
the river bottom where the body was
found have been obtained for COM
parison.
Begins OficiaI Report.
DR.. Hunter completed his examina-
ton this morning and began the
preparation of his report to DR.. Mar
tyn Immediately. After the report
AAeAS OCCA SIuAAC0 Oy GAs &AdA ~ tlh0
DIR. j. Ramsay hewitt, the coroner,
the jury which was sworn in over the
body two days ago will be summoned
to an inquest early next week.
Unless some unexpected and highly
important additional information is
discovered in the meantime. to lend
support to the collapsing theory that
Mrs. Houck was murdered. it was
predicted today that the jury would
Il -l~- kL.o& &I.A
DIR. Knutt Houck. former st. Eliza
beth's Hospital psychiatrist, com
mitted suicide.
May Free Psychiatrist.
This will automatically release DIR.
Houck from custody in Albany, Greg,
where he was arrested upon orders
from United States District Attorney
Peyton Gordon Wednesday immedi-
ately after Mrs. Houck's body was
found floating in the Eastern Branch
of the Potomac River beneath the An
acostia Bridge. DR.. Houck was pre-
pared to return TO Washington II
questionable evidence had been found
by DR.. Hunter.
Maj. Gordon originally ordered the
immediate return here of the young
pSychiatriSt, who was at the home OF
relatives, fighting to recuperate from
the mental collapse that overlook him
the same night his wife disappeared.
The prosecutor rescinded this order.
however. and is now ready to let the
case rest upon the findings OF the
expert medical examination.
Mrs. Houck was known to be de-
spondent over her husbands mental
condition. For three weeks before the
collapse came she had known that he
was losing his reason. The last night
they were together they quarreled
bitterly. DR.. Houck admitted having
beaten her and torn her night clothes
from her in shreds. When she
thought he was asleep she slipped out,
leaving her 2-year-old son behind.
Found Two Miles From Home.
The spot where Mrs. Houck's body
was found is only about two miles
from their former home, in Congress
Heights. 1t is believed that she set
out for a walk to rid her mind OF her
troubles. She reached the river and
the thought of suicide must have over
taken her suddenly, doctors declared.
Before she could conquer it she had
leaped from the bridge and the waters
had closed over her.
Other psychiatrists at st. Eliza
beth's. who had been trying to help
both DIR. and Mrs. Houck overcome
their trouble, Salu tniS Is the only way
the tragedy could have occurred. The
young mother, they said, had an even.
happy temperament, with no suicidal
phases under normal conditions. The
stress of her worry, with her hus-
bands assault on her providing the
final impetus. it was held, was the
cause of her act.
Suicide Verdict Expected.
Doctors at st. Elizabeth's Hospital
no doubts that q suicide
verdict would be found. Besides DIR.
Hunters report, they said that it
would have been humanity impossible
for DIR. Houck to have carried Mrs.
Houck's body from their home to the
bridge and cast 1T overheard without
being detected. He had no automo-
bile.
Whether Mrs. Houck's relatives in
Canton, Ohio. would fight this verdict
to be seen. Earl v. Walter
and Paul l.. Walter, brothers, who
came here to claim the body, told Mai.
Gordon before leaving Washington
yesterday that they would never be
satisfied to have the case closed as a
suicide until the most convincing
proof toward that end had been sub
mitted.
Mrs. Houck's body was back at her
Did home ir Canton today. It Is prob
ahla that an Immediate ftt0avoY x.,lll l,a