Evening star., 1936-12-30
WATCH BELIEVED
CLUE IN Staying
Timepiece Seized in BaIti-
more Like One Owned by
Eugene Hancock.

A possible clue in the murder of
Eugene Hancock, Sc, Washington
steamfitter, was uncovered in Balti-
more this afternoon when police seized
an ornately engraved gold watch SIM
liar to one owned by the victim.
Found shot through the heart on
lonely, wooded ridge in nearby Mary
land two days ago, Hancock was
carrying his watch when he disap-
peared from his home. sos Third
street northeast, on December 13. 1t
was not in his clothing when a quartet
Of hunters discovered the body par
TALLY hidden in a clump of under
brush near Piscataway.
The watch found in Baltimore was
taken from a woman companion Of a
burglary suspect arrested yesterday
morning. According to the woman,
police said, the watch recently was
given to her by the prisoner.
Baltimore detectives notified WASH
ington police of the discovery this
afternoon. Unable to obtain the
identifying numbers of Hancocks
watch. Washington police were plan
ming to send one of the victims rela-
tives to Baltimore for look at the
timepiece.
The watch seized in Baltimore was
described as old-fashioned, with a
heavy case. q closed face and flowers
engraved on the back. Similar de-
scriptions of Hancock's timepiece were
given by his relatives to washington
police.
Trace Movements.
Virtually abandoning their theory
that the murder was committed in the
District, detectives investigating the
Hancock case today placed the actual
crime near the spot the mans body
was found, on q wooded ridge near
Piscataway.
Still seeking a definite motive for
the shooting, police continued tracing
the movements Of the man who dis
appeared from his home, SOC Third
street northeast, IS days before
quartet of hunters made the discovery
at Piscataway.
Findings of police, who questioned
relatives and friends of the dead man
yesterday, were not fully revealed.
However, Lieut.. George Darnell. head
of the local homicide squad, said Han
cock had been seen December IA by
an acquaintance here. That was on
the day after the victim left his home.
The steam filter was observed on q
Washington street, Darnen said.
Robbery Possibly Motive.
According to local detectives and
County Policeman Elon Turner, rob-
berry appears possible motive for the
murder. although the officers were not
satisfied that this was the cause Of
the crime" Hancock was carrying
500 in cash and a gold watch when
he left home, his wife, Mrs. Cora Han
cock, said. Neither the money nor the
watch was found on the body.
A Southern Maryland resident, who
said he had seen two strangers hunt
ing in the Piscataway area last week,
viewed the murder victim in Upper
Marlboro last night. Hancock was
not one of the hunters, he said.
Hancock, the father of six children,
was identified at an Upper Marlboro
undertaking establishment by his
brother several hours after the body
was found in a clump Of underbrush.
The brother, James L. Hancock Of
1886 c street northeast, railroad
engineer. last night expressed belief
that the victim had been slain by
robbers. He differed with the current
police theory placing the crime in
Maryland. He said:
MY brother was certainly not In
clined to frequent any places in Mary
land or even In the Washington
suburbs. He was murdered in the
city, I think. Although we used to
have relatives in that territory near
Piscataway. they all moved away some
time ago. I think he just got in with
some bad people who saw his money
and who decided to do away with
~,