Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-21
UNKNOWN VICTIM
Of RIVER BURIED
Man Found on Lonely Beach
Carries Secret of Death
to Potter'S Grave.

With the manner Of his death still
an ullSelveG nayster,. his name un'
known and only the most nleager o.
clues available upon which even an UNI
certain identification may be estab'
lisned. the body of the man founC
THURSDAY ON the wild arid lonely beach
of Sycamore Point. Va. today was con-
signed 70 an unmarked grave in Penn
Hin the Potter's field of Alexandria
Va,
Police authorities of the District and
Fairfax County today were inclined tc
believe that solution of the mystery. II
1t ever is reached. will be found merely
by chance In the absence Of anything
like a definite clue upon which to worK'
they confessed themselves baff1ed as to
where to begin the work of solving TIC
case.
Fan 10 Find Wounds.
The unknown carried the secret Of
his death To the grave, an examination
of the body made yesterday afternoon
BIZ DR. Ford Swetnam, acting coroner OF
Fairfax County. failing 10 reveal wheth-
81 the man had been shot, as was at flrst
reuorted, before his body was tossed into
the Potomac River. The body was III
such 9 condition that DR.. Swetnam
v,s unable 10 determine whether there
were any wounds.
In bis certificate of death, Dr.. SWEET
nam reported Definite cause OF ceatn
unknown. probably drowned q week or
10 DAYS agc Body found floating With
tide near Sycamore Point. Name uia-
known.
DR.. Swetnam's examination, however
did reveal that the man YVES a giant III
ta-9t
height He aDparently HAD been vel
built. powerful man. His chest was
broad and we'll dsveloped and ms waist
as revealed by the size Of his belt sug-
rested a trim. athletic build. His
nrecise weight and other physical
characteristics could not be determined.
Eliminates Veteran.
Police authorities believe the man was
drowned or his body was thrown INTO
The river not far from where ne was
found II probably had not been foat-
ing more than three or four days BEFORE
It was found and could not have been
carried far during that time by the
river current because OF the eb0 ana
flow of the tade. which rises and faiis
nearly three feet at Sycamore Point
As a result of the coroner's findings.
Detective Lieut.. Edward Kelly OF this
city declared definitely that the body
was not that of Joseph NJ. Vallin,
World War veteran, who has been miss
ing from his home in this city since
MAY s. although their descriptions
tailed III many respects.
Lieut.. Kelly is checking over the list
of men reported missing for several
wears PAST. but so far has discovered
meme of them answering the description
Of the dead man.
MAJ Be III. NJ. Russell.
Belief that the body may be that Of
Homer Moore Russell. IS years old.
who disappeared from his home, 100
Twenty-f0ureh street. in August last
year. was expressed today by Russell's
wife.
Russell was six feet one inch tail
ara weighed 2i9 pounds. He was
former soldier at Fort Mver and was
married about three years ago. He
was arrested last year for rlon-support
and vas released on probation shortly
before he disappeared.
Russell usually wore belt buckle
marked with the initial NJ. correspond
ing to the description Of the buckle en-
the body found TlauTsday.