Evening star., 1933-10-17
LONG BOYS DEATH
ACCIDENT
Detectives Think Child Was
Drowned While Playing
With Canoe.

Discovery Of evidence tending to in
dicate Francis Long, 13-year-old news
paper carrier boy, was the victim Of an
accidental drowning. was announced
today by Homicide Squad detectives.
When the boy left his home. 1913
Tenth street, last Tuesday night, Detec-
tive Sergts. Jerry Flaherty and John
Wise said they had learned he appar-
emily had no intention Of collecting on
his newspaper route. The detectives
said a check-up revealed he did not
take his route list or receipt punch
card with him.
Investigation also disclosed, the de-
tectives continued, that the green canoe
found in Washington Channel near the
spot where the boys body came to the
surface, was discovered about $50 pm.
Tuesday. instead Of Thursday night, as
was at first reported.
Found Soon Afterward.
This means, the detectives pointed
out, that the canoe was found only q
few hours after Francis, an altar boy
at Immaculate Conception Church, left
home.
Other points presented by the de-
tectives In support of their theory that
the youngster may have drowned acci-
dentally were:
/. Francis, who would have been 13
today, spent considerable time in the
vicinity Of the Monument grounds, not
far from the foot of Twelfth street,
where his body was recovered.
hof
upward when discovered by Frank
Nightingale, owner of . houseboat
moored in the channel.
3. The canoe was taken from the
F1oodgate Boat House, near Fourteenth
and Water streets, according to its
owner, Hugh A. Scott. Mount Rain
ier, Md
Companion Is Sought
The detectives theory, based on these
points, was that Francis, probably in
the company Of another youngster, up
set the canoe, throwing Francis and
his companion-if there was one-into
the water. Francis, unable to swim,
either drowned with him, or else swan
ashore and, because of fear, has since
been maintaining a strict silence.
In line with this theory, the detec-
tives began canvass of all Francis
friends at Immaculate Conception
School. All those questioned, however,
denied having been with him.
The detectives also planned to can
vass the waterfront in the hope they
might establish contact with somebody
who saw Francis and his supposed COM
panion, either in the canoe or in the
vicinity of the boat house.
Theory Strengthened.
The accident theory was strength
ened. the detectives pointed out, by the
fact an autopsy performed yesterday
by Acting Coroner Christopher j.
Murphy revealed Francis died of as
phyxia, caused by drowning. There
were no marks of violence on the body,
the detectives said. and it is inconceiv-
140 pounds and was as tall as the aver
age youth of 16-could have been
thrown overheard without struggle.
A jury was sworn in over Francis
body this morning, but Acting Coroner
A. Magruder Macdonald said no date
would be set for an inquest until the
detectives have had time to complete
their investigation.
After requiem mass in Immaculate
Conception, the body was taken to Bal
timore for burial in Cathedral Gene
terry. Rev. John K. Cartwright, new
pastor of the church, accompanied the
body.
Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs
John j. Long Francis is survived by
two brothers and a sister-John, Is
who is studying for the priesthood; Joe
IL, and Marie, 9. Francis also had
planned to become a priest, his par
entS said.