Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-12
'CANOE SEEN CLUE
IN YACHT MYSTERY
Drifting Craft Is Searched.
Wealthy Mans Body
Still Missing.

STAMFORD, Conn. September
IL tF,.-Dr H. P. Ceilings. father of
Benjamin P. Ceilings, today said
his daughter-in-la had furnished
an important clue which was ex-
pected TO result in arrests of the
assa ilants.
The Stamford Advocate says 1t
has learned Ceilings recognized the
older of the vaders and unfortu-
nately made his recognition known,
which resulted in his being thrown
overheard. The Advocates infcrma-
ton indicated the two suspects are
fishermen.
BY the Associated Press.
MINEOLA. N. Y, September 12-Ar
abandoned canoe was found drifting II
Oyster Bay this morning not far from
where Benjamin P. Ceilings was saic
by his wife to have been tossed over.
board by two aSsailants who boarded
his cabin cruiser. the Penguin. Becaus:
canoe figured prominently in the
story OF the incident told by Mrs. Col
lings, police left Immediately in auto
mobiles to take charge Of the craft anc
search it for possible clues.
Pirate Story Doubted.
While search is being made for the
wealthy mans BODY and for the two
men who. according to the account Civ
en- by his wife. later attacked her, tbs
police said they would again summon
Mrs Ceilings for questioning this after
neon.
After re-enacting the incident yester-
day in the manner in which she SAID
II took place. Mrs. Ceilings was per-
mitted to return to her home in STAN
ford. Conn. and District Attorney Elvir
N. Edwards of Nassau County issued
a statement that he believed her story
fantastic as it may SEEM"
But other Nassau authorities. in the
investigation, notably Inspector Harold
King. chief OF detectives, said today
that in the absence Ct proof or motive
they would not accept the explanation
of Ceilings disappearance until hi.
body or some other conclusive evidence
is discovered.
Some investigators even went so fan
as to suggest that perhaps, unknown tc
Mrs. Ceilings herself. the entire Incl.
dent may have been carefully pre-
meditated drama staged for some mys-
FERROUS purpose not yet brought tt
light.
Point Out Paradoxes.
Retracing Mrs Ceilings story of how
her husband was bound and thrcwr
from his cruiser, and she was kid.
mapped in a canoe and compelled tt
leave her 5-year-old child. Barbara
alone in the cruiser. the police said the!
were confronted with a number o.
paradoxes.
For example. they pointed out, Mrs
Ceilings told of hearing one of hel
husbands assailants say: Don't Tie
his hands too tight"-an odd instruc-
ton. they concluded. if the men REALLY
intended to drown Ceilings.
Mrs. Ceilings also asserted she heart
her husband cry TO her: They're tyini
my hands" This, the police said, hac
a stacy sound since it was difficult 4
imagine a man in real danger of hi
life shouting bulletins Of that sort t
his wife, who was in the cabin of thu
boat at the time.
The police also pointed to the con
trast between the behavior of tn
visitors in throwing Mrs. Ceilings hus
band overheard and in carefully Civ
ing her four blankets 10 keep warn
when they transferred her to the canoe
Il have an open mind in the case,
Inspector King said today when aSket
his opinion of Mrs. Ceilings account
IF Ceilings body is found, it will hell
to verify her story. At the present time
however, I cannot believe the explana
ton of Ceilings disappearance in it
entirety