Evening star., 1937-05-15
MYSTERY SHR0UDS
DISAPPEARANCE Of
REAL ESTATE MAN
Detectives DeIve Into Affairs
Seeking Motive for Mur-
der or Suicide.
c. F. KEENE MISSING
FROM NORFOLK BOAT
Bloodstains Are Found in State
Room and on Handrail
of Vessel.

Detectives today delved into the af-
fairs Of Charles F. Keene in an effort
to shed some light on the elderly real
estate brokers' disappearance from his
cabin on the steamer District of CO.
lumbia early yesterday under circum-
stances which indicated murder, with
robbery as motive.
Investigators also were exploring the
possibility Of suicide, while ships Of
dcers said 1t was possible Keene might
have wandered ashore unnoticed and
In = mental daze, at either Old Point
Comfort or Norfolk, prior to the time
he was missed.
The boat docked at Norfolk early
yesterday and returned here this
morning.
Unable to Locate Body.
Meanwhile. Maryland authorities
had been unable to locate Keene's
body in the mouth of the Potomac or
In Chesapeake Bay near Smiths Point,
where the passenger was believed to
have gone overheard. Shifting tides
vi tll1o al Gu llddC U1iC SCulS1l
Only scent piece was found IN
the disarrayed cabin, about which
Keene's clothing was streWn. There
were small amounts of blood on the
lower bunk, on the carpet and on the
washboWl beside an open window
which looked out directly on the water.
Keene occupied a cabin next to the
afterdeck
Blood on Handrail.
Police at Norfolk found bloody fin-
eerprints on handrail just outside
keene's window and on the afterdeck
rail, about 10 feet aft of the window.
The handrail is set in the outer wall of
the cabins above small ledge along
which a man can easily walk.
Detectives said the f1ngerprints
might have been made by Keene as ne
clung to the rail and worked his way
aft for few yards before plunging
into the water, or they might have
been made by q murderer returning
along the ledge and over the deck
rail after throwing the body of his
victim through the window
Detectives at Norfolk took the finger
prints to check them with criminal
files and with Keene's own prints
should the body be recovered.
Members of Keene's family said he
rarely discussed his personal affairs
and they had no idea how much
money he had with him when he left
Thursday night. Keene had explained
he was going to Norfolk to close a real
estate deal, but gave no details OF the
transaction.
Son Aids Investigation.
Keene's son. Charles Keene. jr, an
Annapolis graduate who recently
resigned from the Navy to 60 into
business in New York. came to Wash
ington to assist with the investigation.
He met the District Of Columbia when
she returned here this morning and,
with headquarters detectives, went
over the case with ships officers.
Keene's ticket was taken up after
the boat left Alexandria. No pas
sengers could be located who remem-
bered seeing him later in the evening.
At about / am. yesterday, when the
boat was off Smiths Point, Watchman
William Bowden thought he heard a
muffled explosion from the direction
OF Keene's cabin.
Bowden could not be certain, how
ever The boat was in motion, the
water was somewhat rough at that
point, and the radiators sometimes
banged and popped when steam was
turned off or on. Bowden heard no
further suspicious sounds and did not
try the doors of the cabins near where
he stood in the after salon.
On the following morning, a woman
who occupied an adjoining cabin re-
called hearing a muff1ed report during
the night, but she could not identify
1t as a gun shot.
Charles Osborne, in whose Office In
the Union Trust Building Keene
rented space, said he did not believe
Keene had much money or any val
uables on his person when he left
Washington. Osborne and members
of Keene's family said he was in ex-
cellent spirits and had no reason for
committing suicide
Keene's wrist watch and broken eye
glasses were found in the cabin. His
suitcase had been opened and clothing
was strewn about. The lower berth
was still made, but the top berth
looked as If someone had slept in it.
From the clothing found in the
cabin, Investigators were convinced
that Keene was dressed only in
trousers and underclothing when he
went through the window. Police
found his automobile driving license,
a receipted bill from the Fairfax
Hotel, where he lived here with his
wife, and a business letter relating
to an old Texas estate in Vice Presi-
dent Gamers family. Keenes bill
fold was missing.
Keene, who was about IS, had been
In the real estate business here for
many years.
Keene's wife is well known in social
circles here as bridge expert. She
was near prostration when notified Of
Keene's disappearance. Her husband
had expected to return to Washington
today.
In addition to his wife and son,
Keene is survived by q brother in