Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-24
RETURN OF H0UCK
TO AWAIT AUTOPSY
Authorities Seek to Decide it
Wife Is Murder Victim
or Suicide.

With the mystery over the fate OF
Mrs. Gladys Walter Houck partially
solved by the finding of her body in
the Eastern Branch. police and ply
sicians had turned their attention to-
day to determining whether she was
murdered or committed suicide.
In the meantime. United States Dis
trict Attorney Peyton Gordon with
drew his original order to have her
husband, DR. Knutt Houck, returned
to Washington Immediately from AL
bany, Oreg., where he was arrested
last night, until the results of the
autopsy are definitely settled.
DIR. Herbert L. Martyr. deputy coro-
ner. and DR.. Oscar b. Hunter, promi-
nent pathologist and bacteriologist of
George Washington University. per-
formed the autopsy yesterday after
noon. They announced, however.
that the outcome will not be known
until pathological and microscopical
examination of tissues has been COM
pleted.
No Violence Indicated.
The autopsists issued a preliminary
statement at the conclusion of the
early investigation that no indications
of violence had been found on Mrs.
Houck's body and that everything
pointed to death by drowning. If this
verdict is substantiated by the more
complete examination that is aow be-
ing made, police believe 1t will prove
Mrs. Houck killed herself.
DIR. Hunter took tissues and vital
organs from Mrs. Houck's body to
his office. If she was dead before
she entered the water, the doctors
said, the manner in which she met
death will be indicated either by the
presence Of poison in the organs or
evidence of a hemorrhage in the
tissues. it is hoped.
A number of marks on the body
were declared by the physicians to
have been caused by erosion. Mrs.
Houck had been in the water for
more than three months and her body
was in such condition that it is prob.
able that superficial marks, except
fractured bones, would have been
erased by the long submersion.
Expect Solution of Mystery.
III she was struck hard enough
blow to produce death, or IL poison
was administered, the tissues would
probably still hold the evidence of the
crime. AS result. police believe the
solution of the mystery which has
been battling since last, December, will
be made by DR.. Hunters. examination.
Maj. Gordon said this morning that
until DR.. Hunter submits his report
ne VIII be contented to know that DIR.
ftouck Is under arrest. He said he
would not go to the expense of bring.
ing the dead woman's husband. who
suffered a mental collapse the night
his wife disappeared, across the Con.
tlnent If it is proven beyond doubt
that Mrs. Houck killed herself.
Police traced the former ST. Eliza
beth's Hospital psychiatrist from the
nome of his mother, DIR. Mary Houck,
in Lacrosse, Wis, to the home of a
cousin, DR.. Dean Crowell. in Albany.
Greg. Sheriff Frank Richards and a
deputy, carrying a telegraphic war
rant from Maj. Gordon, arrested him
there.
Because of Dr. Houck's mental
condition, he was permitted to re-
main at the home of his relative. The
deputy sheriff was left to guard him
closely. however, until detectives ar
rive from Washington to bring him
back here. or until Maj Gordon au-
thorizes his release upon evidence
proving Mrs. Houck a suicide.
Not Opposed to Returning.
Newspaper men were told that Dr.
nervous condition prohibited
them interviewing him. DIR. Crowell
added, however. that DR.. Houck would
offer no objection TO returning to
to assist the police to the |
best of his ability in completing their |
solution of Mrs. Houck'S fate
"Dr. Houck is anxious that all mys. |
cry in connection with the death of |
MS wife shall be cleared up as quickly |
Is possible" DR.. Crowell was quoted |
Is telling an Associated Press CORE |
'pondent. "The local authorities have
wired to Washington expressing his /
to return.
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