Evening star., 1938-06-26
DOCTOR |SL|NKED
To CREEK DEATH
Officers Review Evidence
Pointing to D. c. Physician
as Suspect in Case.
'pecial Dispatch to The Star.

special DispAtch TO the star.
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. June
IS. - Evidence pointing toward 4
Washington physician as a suspect in
the supposed staying of Mrs. Esther
Lewis. expectant mother whose body
was found Monday floating in nearby
Lyons Creek. was reviewed by Mary
land authorities and Washington de-
tectives in . strategy conference here
today.
States Attorney Arthur w. Dowell
said after the conference that the
case appeared to be At standstill
until Investigators succeeded in trac-
ing Mrs. Lewis movements between
Thursday Of last week and Sunday
night. when her body apparently was
tossed into the creek, at the Calvert
Anne Arundel County line on the
Southern Maryland boulevard.
1t. George Z. Darnall and Sergt.
jeremiah Flaherty of the Metropoli-
tan Police Homicide Squad, who have
been cooperating with the Maryland
officers in questioning friends of the
3l-year-old Bureau of Engraving and
Printing charwoman and checking
other clues In the District, returned
to Washington after studying records
Of the case and comforting with Mr.
Dowell for several hours here.
Investigators Theory.
Investigators are virtually convinced
that Mrs. Lewis was killed, apparently
by suffocation such rs might result
from an overdose OF chloroform or
ether preparatory to an illegal opera
tion, Mr.. Dowell said. although the
possibility of suicide cannot be ruled
out pending completion of q chemical
analysis Of her stomach.
The investigation has begged down
principally because Of delay in this
examination, which is not expected to
be completed for three or four days
yet. the States attorney added.
An autopsy performed . few hours
after the woman's body was removed
from the creek disclosed she had not
drowned because there was no water
IN her lungs and that her body bore
no fatal wounds or organic disorders
leaving suffocation or poisoning a.
practically the only possible causes OF
death. She had been dead less than
"a hours the autopsy showed.
Conductor Questioned.
The theory that Mrs. Lewis died At
the start Of an attempted illegal
operation developed principally from
questioning Of a middle-aged Wash
ington street car conductor, who has
been held in jail here for investiga ton
since Wednesday night
Officers said he admitted giving Mrs
Lewis. whose war veteran husband
died two years ago. the money for an
illegal operation because he thought
he was the father OF the child she
normally would have given birth to
next fall. ,...
Information obtained partly from
the man in Jail and partly from other
investigation duplicates Washing
ton doctor In the case. Mr.. Dowell
said. although the evidence Is not
conclusive enough As yet to justify an
arrest.
The man held here contends that
he did not see Mrs. Lewis alive after
Thursday afternoon. Interviews with
several of her friends and fellow work.
ers have revealed no definite trace Of
her movements over the week end
Seeks to Trace Steps.
"Our task now" Mr.. Dowell said.
lis to hnd some one who can testify
definitely where Mrs Lewis was after
Thursday and who was with her"
sergt. John Kries and Corpl. Charles
Magaha Of the Maryland State police
carried forward this phase Of the IN
vestieation in Washington today,
questioning more Of Mrs. Lewis Ac-
quaintances and drivers Of buses be-
tween Washington and the Southern
Maryland beaches. They carried pic
lures Of the dead woman with them.