Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-15
Missing Real Estate Man Has
Sought SeCIuSion There
Frequently.
ABANDONED AUTO PROVES
SLIM CLUE TO MYSTERY
Police Discount Report Woman Saw
Body Floating in the Potomac.
Bloodhounds Held Futile.

Two civilian parties today were scour-
ing the less accessible regions of Rock
Greek Park and the Potomac River VAL
ley near Chain Bridge in search of
]. Benson Thomas, real estate oper-
ator, who disappeared Tuesday after
noon, and whose abandoned automo-
bile, located late Wednesday at the
bridge end, has proved the sole clue to
his whereabouts.
The automobile near Chain Bridge
seemed to indicate that Thomas had
fallen from the bridge into the Potomac
or had wandered into the rocky and
almost impossible valley below, almost
half mile wide at that point.
Sought SecIusion Often.
On the other hand, friends of Thomas
say he was in the habit of seeking the
seclusion of Rock Greek Park coverts on
occasion to plan or consider ways and
means of repairing the financial losses
which he.suffered recently.
One party. composed of six Of
Thomas relatives and business as
sociates. was beating through the river
valley, under leadership Of Paul Primm,
a brother-in-law of the missing man.
Two policemen from No. precinct were
assisting.
The second party, led by Dom Thomas,
brother, took up the search early to-
day in the lower part Of the park, and
expected to work upward during the
day. Police of No. IA precinct were
ordered by their commander to keep a
sharp lookout for the missing man while
passing through the park, and the
United States park police also were CO.
operating.
Although two launches from the har-
Dor precinct cruised the river below
Chain Bridge yesterday, searching
either shore for several miles, they
could find no trace of Thomas.
Woman Reports Floating Body.
A woman previously had reported
seeing a body in the river near Chain
Bridge, but police believe she must have
been fooled by log or some other OBJ
ject floating on the water.
Thomas, who is AZ years old and re-
sides at 3710 Military road, was last
seen about O'Clock Tuesday after
noon, his family learned last night. At
that time. apparently in the best Of
health and spirits, he called at the Dis
trict Title Co. to examine some papers.
Thomas, business associates said, was
well dressed and seemed to be cheerful
and normal. When he left he pre-
sumably was returning to his offices, at
No. Thomas circle.
Word also came to the family last
night that another friend had seen
Thomas in his automobile Tuesday aft
ernoon at Sixteenth and Harvard
streets, making turn as If he intended
to enter Rock Greek Park.
Attack by Thugs Held Possible.
will make a search from this point on
the theory that the missing man, as was
his wont, entered the park to seek
secluded spot. 1t is possible, they point
ed out, that he may have been attacked
by thugs while in some remote region
of the park. and his automobile might
have been stolen and later abandoned.
The keys had been removed and the
ignition locked when the car was dis
covered by Dom Thomas, who had
driven from end to end of the District
all day looking for the machine. No
gas was in the car at the time. but
whether it had run out while the car
was in operation or had been siphoned
from the tank later by thieves could not
be determined
A night watchman, stationed at the
bridgehead, a stones throw from where
the car had been parked on the side
of the road, was questioned by investi
gators, but could not recall having
seen the car there at any time. He said
he was certain the automobile was left
at some time later than daybreak We'd
nesday.
So far as his family has been able
to learn, Thomas had only pocket
change on him Tuesday and made no
preparation for going away.
BIoOdhounds Believed Futile.
Mrs. Thomas suggested last night to
Police Inspector William H. Harrison
that bloodhounds be used in an effort
to pick up Thomas trail from where
the automobile was found.
While bloodhounds have been known
TO pick up trail several days old, after
seeming clothes of the man to be
trailed, police said there was little hope
that anything could be gained from
their use. Too many people have
passed in the vicinity. they pointed out
and showers have fallen since the car
was located.
Friends and associates of Thomas
say that while he has suffered business
reverses recently. he appeared to take
them with optimism and was cheerfully
assured that they could be repaired.
Another launch was dispatched from
the harbor precinct today to search the
Potomac.