Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-04
NORTHCUTT IS HELD.
CASE STILL PUZZLE.
Agents Learn Woman Aimed
to Marry Officer Who Van
iShed October %.

Officials at the Navy Department to-
day were studying the next step to be
! taken in the case of Lieut.. Harold w
Northcutt, U. s. N, missing officer who
was located yesterday by Department OF
| Justice agents at Vancouver, British
Columbia, and is now in custody at the
Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton
Wash. Lieut.. Northcutt. whose wife
and child are with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. H. E. c. Bryant, 36ll Wisconsin
avenue, left the Norfolk (Va) Navy
Yard on october % to deliver 5000 to
the extension department OF the Uni
versity of Virginia.
Later the lieutenant'S automobile was
located abandoned at Richmond Va.
while several Notwithstanding those
that he had been robbed and drowned
and his body hidden-were advanced to
account for his disappearance.
While dispatches from the Associated
Press brought the story of Lieut. North
cults apprehension to Washington, his
family and friends here were at loss
to explain why he had disappeared. His
father-in law indicated that the De-
certained that an Ottawa, Canada,
woman was In love with the naval off,
Ger and was determined to marry him.
Confined to Quarters.
The Bureau of Navigation today COM
munica ed with Rear Admiral H. j.
Ziegemeier. commandment of the 18th
Naval District, Pudget Sound, to advise
the department regarding any state
ment Lieut. Northcutt has to make
about his disappearance. It was learned
that the apprehended officer is now con-
fined to his quarters at the receiving
station at the Pudget Sound Navy
Yard. The department will draft no
charges against Lieut.. Northcutt until
1t has received the Department OF Jus
tice report and the report OF Admiral
Ziegemeier.
Announcement Of the finding of the
lieutenant was made in washington
Yesterday by Capt. r. z. Pope Of the
Bureau of Navigation, Navy Depart
ment.
Wires of the Associated Press later
added further light to the finding, when
Capt. Zeno e. Briggs, captain OF the
navy yard At Pudget Sound, explained
that Lieut.. Northcutt was brought TO
the navy ward by Department Of Justice
representatives.
Friends stated that the charge of
desertion might be lodged against the
Considered a model naval officer,
Lieut.. Northcutt was In the Construc-
ton Corps and on duty at the Norfolk
NAVY Yard. His friends pointed out
that he did not drink or smoke ana
that he was interested in education,
lending his aid to the extension depart
Ynent OF the University OF Virginia by
teaching.
News dispatches by the Associated
Press from Seattle brought tire infor-
nation that Lieut.. Northcutt was To-
Gated in a house at Vancouver, BRITISH
Columbia, where he was residing AS a
civilian. He agreed to return to Seattle,
paying his own way, 1t was said and
upon his arrival was formally arrested.
Unofficial reports from Seattle were
that Lieut.. Northcutt will be returned
to Norfolk to face a court martial Tor
leaving his post without permission.
Unable to Advance Reason.
Members OF his wifes family here
were puzzled by the disappearance OF
Lieut.. Northcutt.
Nothing ever surprised me and my
family more" Bryant said I'VE know
of no reason for such a step Lieut..
Northcutt did not drink, was devoted
to his wife and little boy, and did not
owe any debt he could not have paid.
Facts in the HANDS of the Depart
ment of Justice are that woman whom
he had met in New York, when he was
taking a course at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard about 1S months ago, left her
home in Ottawa, Canada, early last Au-
gust for the purpose of getting Lieut..
Northcutt at any cost"
Mr.. Bryant added that the father Of
the Canadian woman told Department
of Justice agents that when his daugh-
ter left she said she was going South
ito marry Harold"