Evening star., 1937-06-05
Latest "Witness" in Staying
Case Declared to Have
Offered Information.
STRANGE "CONFERENCE"
IN STATE ROOM Barred
James H. Starkey, Fellow-Pas.
senger, Relates Conversation
He Had on Deck of Boat.
BACKGROUND

Vanishing May IA from his
cabin on the steamer District of
Columbia, Nortolk-b bound, Charles
F. Keene, sr., 63-year-old Wash
ington real estate man, Was found
dead in Chesapeake Bay Of Smiths
Island Monday. He had been shot
in the throat and Deighted brief
case Dds tied to his body. Coro-
ner's jury returned perdict OF
murder, but police still are inuesti-
eating possibility OF suicide.
Desperately seeking information
which may throw light on mysterious
conference held in his state room by
Charles F. Keene, sr., only a few
hours before his body plunged into
Chesapeake Bay with bullett through
the brain and weighted brief case
around his neck, detectives today
planned to question a prominent
business man"
Investigators learned of the state
room conference yesterday from James
H. Starkey, So, civil engineer with
the Resettlement Administration. after
he was identified as the mysterious
"red-faced man" who treated Keene
70 bottle of beer shortly before he
died
The prominent business man" en-
tered the bafiling case, Inspector B. F.
Thompson, chief of detectives, re-
vealed. when he wrote letter to police
headquarters yesterday offering to di-
vulge information which he thought
might be helpful in solving the mys-
terry. Thompson said the business man
would be questioned about Keene's
financial activities.
News Vendor Seukht.
Detectives also are continuing their
search for a news vendor at Union
Station who Is supposed to have be-
come suspicious over the nervous ac-
sions OF . man who ordered IL copies
of a newspaper containing q story OF
the finding OF Keenes body.
Meanwhile, Detective Sergt. Marlin
Bruoeker OF the Maryland State police
was in Baltimore compiling a report
on the mystery for submission to
States Attorney Kirke Maddrix at
Crisfield, Md.
"All I can say is that nothing in
dictable has been found" Brubaker
told reporters in Baltimore.
Starkeys revelation that Keene held
. conference with some unknown per-
son in his state room stood out today
as the most puzzling clue in the
mystery. After he had been missing
on the boat for few hours, Starkey
told police, Keene told him I've been
IN my state room talking over a deal" 4"
Insurance Policy Void.
Another angle, confusing to pro-
ponents OF both the suicide and murder
theories in the mystery, was uncovered
when it was learned that Keene's only
insurance policy would have been void
II he met with foul play or ended
his own life.
The 81 500 travellers accident insur-
ance policy covered only accidental
death on boat, train or other public
transportation conveyance, it was said
starkey told police he was surprised
TO find Keene, friend of rs years
standing, on the District of Columbia
They chatted until the boat reached
Alexandria, Starkey said and then he
went to dinner. Keene declined an in
vitation to be his guest. After dinner
Starkey said he wandered around the
boat for hours. but did not see Keene.
Finally they met in the salon, and
keene explained he had been in his
state room
Who could have been in the state
room with Keene puzzled Investigators
almost as much as the nature of the
deal he intended to transact in
Norfolk.
Fail to Locate Client.
Keene told his family and Starkey
that he intended TO see a client in
Norfolk to arrange for the sale of
some waterfront property between
Ocean View and Virginia Beach But
investigators have been unable to find
any one in Norfolk who had an
(See KEENE, Page A-3)