Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-25
CRUMPACKER DIES
FROM LEAP IN BAL
Suicide Note, Apparently
Written by Representative,
Shows Plot DeIuSion.

SAN FRANCISCO, July Pa sui
eide note, apparently written by Rep
resentative Maurice E. Crumpacker OF
Portland, Greg, shortly before he
laaped to his death in san Francisco
Bay Yesterday, was found today and
indicated that the Representative was
suffering under the delusion that he
was the victim of a plot.
The note, which was turned over to
the police, read, in part:
I'm sorry l can't live to help pro
tect my family that they might hear
my side of the story. Good-by Gully
this wifel, Ted and Peter. I've tried
to call you by phone, but they Will not
connect me.
.'Thev have killed me. Take good
care of our fine boys. l must get this
in some ones hands. Every en-
ploye is against me. God bless you,
Maurice"
Crumpacker, who was serving MS
second term in Congress, had been act
ing strangely since his arrival here
Friday as a member of the party OF
Representative Nicholas Longworth,
Speaker of the House, that is touring
the West.
Tells of Poisoning.
Saturday night the Oregon Repre-
sentative was found sitting on street
curbing in the downtown district. lie
was taken to a hospital. which later
produced a record showing he had
been entered there as sober, put
held for observation. Police were for
hidden to discuss his case and nos
pital attendants would not do so.
Crumpacker at that time told pc.
lice that he had been poisoned and
insisted that he wanted to die where
he was. He had to be taken to the
hospital by force. There his case final-
w was diagnosed as Inflammation or
the heart muscles. He was put 10
bed and sedatives were administered.
Hospital attaches said they also gave
the patient treatment for poisoning
because of his own statements.
When the Representative protested
remaining in the hospital he was re-
leased. He left with friends, who said
they would take him to a hotel.
Leaps Into Water.
Thomas Smart, a newspaper man,
who was with Crumpacker when ne
plunged into the bay, SAID ne iouna
him wandering about in the lobby OF
a hotel. Smart took him to the home
of a friend where he slept for several
hours, but became restless and asked
Smart to accompany him on a stroll.
Smart said that when they came to
the Golden Gate ferry slip, Crum'
packer showed him aside and after
shouting IBID every one good-by,
leaped into the water.
Witnesses said Crumpacker, who
weighed about 240 pounds. struggled
with rescuers and that rope had to
be placed about his shoulders. He
was unconscious when pulled out or
the water. Efforts to revive him with
q pullmotor failed.
LOngwOrth Discusses Case.
Speaker Lcngworth, who was
puest at the home of former Senator
James D. Phelan, at Saratoga, Calf,
said Crumpacker 'gaS to have been
member of the Phelan party, but rail-
ed to rejoin the group after separating
from them Friday.
Longworth said he supposed the
Representative had found some old
college friends Of whom he had spoken.
Longworth disclosed that Crumpacker
had complained of inability to sleep
on the trip from Portland. He declar-
ed the Representatives. home life was
ideal, and was unable to offer any rea-
son for the breakdown.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Dean
Crumpacker of Valparaiso, Ind, Repre-
sentative Crumpacker attended the
University of Michigan and completed
his law course at Harvard. His father
was also a member of Congress. repre-
senting the tenth Indiana district.