Evening star., 1937-06-07
BY JAMES ], CULIINAEF

BY JAMES J. CULLINANE.
discovery OF the missing strand Of
marlin rope which had been tied
around the waist Of Charles F. Keene
ST.. sent Maryland State investigat tors
hurrylng back to Crisfield, Md, this
afternoon.
Capt William NICK. johnson and
Detective Sergt. Marlin Brubaker left
state police headquarters with all the
evidence in the case and a report
which they hoped would wind up their
investigation after they presented it to
States Attorney F. Kirke Maddrix Of
Somerset County.
Ihe long strand OF marlin, which is
believed to have snapped under the
strain OF holding a heavy weight to
heenes body, was recovered by fisher
men on Smith Island. who threw it
away on the beach last week.
The type Of knot tied in the marlin.
which Is obtainable only at shin
chambers, will be important in de-
termining whether Keene wa. mur.
dered or killed himself in a cunninalv.
HAAAANA ''NiSibS II lldS DNeH CO0s
tended that the knot in the cotton
rope which held weighted brief case
around keene's neck could have been
tied only by seaman or an expert
rigger.
New Clue Fails.
! A sensational" new clue in the
fantastic case collapsed TODAY after
Homicide Detectives Jeremiah Flaher-
ty and William Carver interviewed a
woman who said she heard a woman
screaming aboard the District Of Co.
lumbia on the night Keene vanished
from his cabin. The detectives dis
| covered that the woman boarded the
steamer on the trip which left WASH
lngton May Is. Keene vanished on
the trip which left May l3.
The woman had told a friend OF the
police force OF hearing the screams.
but said she had kept quiet because
she did not want to become involved
IN the case. Realizing the Importance
OF the clue, the policeman Immediately
communicated with Inspector B. w.
Thompson.
Other Glue" Telephoned.
Another woman who telephoned
police that she had information which
| may be OF value in the case will be
| interviewed by the detectives this aft.
ernoon, police said.
Theories of suicide in the baf1ira
mystery were dealt a hard blow to-
| ia urhAr lol
automobile which he sold last Feb
ruary to Edward r. Sweet, real esta te
broker with of1ices in the Bond Bu-
reau, has its tools intact
| Sweet said he knows that the lack
and other tools were in the car when
he bought it. They were under the
front seat when he checked up on
them yesterday. Sweet said.
| Broker Sold Car.
| After selling his car to sweet Keens
told his family it had been wrecked
and abandoned in garage in South.
ern Maryland. Sweet said that q,
the time he purchased the cara 1897
Nash-for 500 snd assumed unpaid
notes totaling $92, it WAS in perfect
running condition and obviously hac
never been in a wreck.
AS late as last Saturday, Charles P
Keene, jr., said he was positive hi.
father had never sold his machine anc
that it would be found in a Primo,
Georges County garage.
Part Of 1888 Car Tool Kit.
The jack. police have established
was issued as part of the STANDARD
tool kit of all 1885 Studebakers. Keen,
had never owned such a car.
The strange story fabricated b,
Keene after he sold his automobile
prompted investigators to delve NOR,
deeply into the life OF the real estat,
| broker. who dealt in works OF art ans
precious gems as well as real estate.
Is 1t possible that Keene,, unknown
to his family, came into contact witt
persons who killed him through feal
he might reveal their secrets? investi.
gators are asking.
Keene told his family and friend.
he was going to Norfolk to sell water
front property between Virginia Beach
and Ocean View for a client. H,
said he had an appointment with
= prospective purchaser in Norfoll
and that prospects of closing the dee
were bright.
Thus far, detectives say, they hav,
been unable to find any one in Nor
folk with whom Keene had business
dealings, although they have mad,
diligent search in real estate circles
| lSAe KEENE Para ALN