Evening star., 1945-08-31
Navy Officer, Ordered
To West Coast, Dies
In Plunge From Bridge

Shortly after telling a taxicab
driver he liked Washington and
hated to leave for the West
Coast, John Alpheus Wilson, 90
naval warrant officer of the 2l0C
block of Nichols avenue Sc,
early today plunged to his death
from the John Philip Sousa
Bridge over the Anacostia River
police reported.
The body was recovered shortly
before dawn by the harbor police
and was taken to District Morgue
Deputy Coroner Richard Rosenberg
is investigating.
Johnny Corbett. colored, of the
400 block First street S.W., the
taxicab driver, told Detective Sergts
r. E. Talbot and j. K. Baker, homi-
eide squad, of the conversation he
had with Wilson shortly before the
tragedy, In which the warrant OFF,
Ger told of his intention to jump.
Went TO Hillside First.
AT 2 am. he hailed my cab at
Nichols avenue and Chicago street
Sc. and told me he wanted to go
to Maryland After, I dropped a
passenger in the 1700 block of I
street NV, we went to 1910 Sixty
first place. Hillside. I learned that
Mr.. and Mrs. James A. Bradley lived
there and Wilson knew them
slightly"
Mr.. Corbett said when they got
to the address he was told to wait.
Wilson knocked on the door. Mrs
Theda Henning. who also lives in
the house, told The Star that when
she answered. Wilson wanted to
know if everybody was in bed, and
she replied "yes."
Wake them up" she said Wilson
told her.
Mrs. Henning said she woke the
Bradleys and the four of them talked
for an hour, during which Wilson
mentioned he was going to the West
Coast today.
He acted like he had something
on his mind" Mrs. Henning said.
Fight in Car.
Mr.. Corbett said Wilson then re-
entered the cab, and returned by
way of Pennsylvania avenue Sc.
II sure hate to leave this towr
and go back to the West Coast,
the hacker said his passenger tolc
him. according to police. "I think
III end it all In Washington"
Mr.. Corbett said he tried to per.
suade the officer to forget such
thoughts, but as the cab approached
the bridge Wilson gave him SIS ano
told him to stop in the center OF
the span.
II want to Jump off," the driver
quoted him as saying.
Il wouldn't stop" Mr.. Corbett told
the police. He then reached over
the drivers seat and grabbed the
steering wheel. I grabbed him
around the head with one hand, and
drove with the other. We reached a
hamburger shop at the other end
of the bridge. apd I stopped the
cab and ran out and told two sailors
about what was happening.
Seen Jumping.
THE. sailors went over to talk to
Wilson, and I drove to No. II Pre-
cinct. They told me it was a fifth
precinct case, so went to that sta
ton and a scout car was ordered to
the scene.
When I got back to the ham
burger stand. I found out that Will
son had broken away from the
sailors and gone to the middle of the
bridge"
The detectives said Wilson was
seen climbing over the railing by
James H. Elliott, 1892 Alden place
NE. Mr.. Elliott told the police he
saw Wilson throw his hat away
and dive into the water. He
started swimming in the direction
OF the Navy Yard, and then sud-
denly disappeared" Mr.. Elliott told
the police. :.
The detectives said they learned
Wilson had been drinking. In the
Navy II years he had just completed
a radar course at the Naval Research
Laboratory. Wilson was from Ar
kansas, the police said.