Evening star., 1950-05-29

Police Pvts. B. A. Mattingly ane
j. L. Acree found him there.
50 Investigators Begin
Fu|I-Time Search for
Murderer al Boiling
Fifty Investigators undertook {
methodical, around the CLOCK
questioning of Boiling Air Force
Base personnel today in a search
for the murderer of Gordon c
Brown, jr., 24-year-old Post Office
Department employe.
Five hundred men quartered or
the south end of the base were
questioned yesterday and as many
more were to undergo examina-
ton today.
1t was in this area, about half q
mile from the main gate and zoe
feet from the Potomac River, that
Mr.. Brown was found dying Sat-
urday morning near the taxicat
he was driving part time.
Comparing the case to the April
murder of two Lansburgh g. Bro
department store watchmen
Capt. jeremiah Flaherty of the
homicide squad anticipated long
hours Of tedious interviews to fer.
ret out a likely suspect.
Military Agents Take Part.
He appointed Its. Richard Eel.
ber and John K. Baker to heae
the investigation at Boiling. II
addition to large details of homi,
eide and metropolitan police, the,
were assisted by 1t. Col. Kirb,
M. Gillette of the Office of Spe,
cial Investigations at Boiling, ant
Is OSI investigators.
Scores of airmen away from tn,
base on weekend passes were t,
be interrogated today, anon,
them a 28-year-old sergeant TO
whom a lookout was broadcas
Saturday. Detectives have sal,
they do not regard him more sus
piciously than they do a half
dozen others known to have Ief
the base about the time Mr.. Brown
was found at 2:30 am.
The sergeant showed UP for for.
nation as usual this morning
further allaying suspicion in hi.
direction.
Motive Proves Battling,
Why a cab passenger woulc
shoot Mr.. Brown in the back OF
the head. after apparently pistol.
whipping him, still plagued inves.
tlgators. They weighed the mo.
tives of robbery, argument anc
vengeance. and rated them in thai
order.
Robbery was not counted out
even though Mr.. Browns wallet
containing $6 and his change
nolder. with $3.50, were found in.
TACT. 1t was pointed out that the
wallet was clutched in MIR. Brown,
nand. when an airman found him
lying in a shallow culvert, abou,
% feet from the taxicab. One
theory was that a passenger in.
tended to rob the driver, but be.
came frightened after the shoot
ing.
The argument motive appeared
lnsubStantial, because Mr.. Brown,
was a mild-mannered man, not
likely to become embroiled with
a passenger who refused to pay
his fare.
Vengeance Idea Discounted.
AS for vengeance, Mr.. Brown
friends were certain that he had
no enemies.
For five hours yesterday two
Navy divers searched the Potomac
Tor the death weapon. They
worked out from the bank as ia,
as a person logically could throw
a pistol and came up with moth
ing. The presence of tin cans
and other metal objects prevented
use of magnets.
Mr.. Brown, who lived at 224
Carmody Hills drive, Carmody
Hills, Md, was driving the cab to
help support his wife Audrey and
their 4-year-old son Bobby and to
help pay for the home he built
two years ago.
Three guards at Bolling's main
gate, who saw the cab enter at
1:50 am. Saturday, failed to no.
tlce whether any one was seated
IN the rear seat. Police also have
failed to find any one who heard
the shot which ended Mr.. Browns
life.
Masonic rites will be held fol-
Mr.. Brown, with services at 2 pm
Thursday at the Lee funeral home
Fourth street and Massachusett.
avenue NE. Burial will be in For
Lincoln Cemetery.