Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
Police Are Following
Strong Lead in
Double Murder

Alexandria police today were
working on q strong lead" in
the brutal double murder of an
aged couple, found stabbed to
death yesterday in their apart
ment a few steps from the city's
busiest streets.
Mai. Russell Halves. superin-
tendent of police, said no sus-
poets had been picked up, but
he believed police had a very
good" case to work on. He
doubted there would be an ar
rest today, however.
The bodies of 8l-year-old
Ernest c. Craven an6 his 63-
year-old wife Annie were dis
covered in the kitchen of two
story brick house at 113 North
Columbus street, where they had
lived for 10 years. They were
the only full-time residents of
the house DR.. N. j. Roberts, a
dentist, who owns the building,
has Offices in the front section
of the first floor.
Man Stabbed % Times
Both bodies were on the kitchen
floor. Mr.. Craven had been
stabbed % times in the back,
throat, chest and chin. His
Wife had seven stab wounds in
the chest and abdomen.
A door leading from the back
yard into a utility room had
been smashed open. The glass
part was shattered. including the
wooden dividing strips. An iHrer
door leading from the utility
room into the kitchen where the
bodies were found also appeared
to have been forced. police said.
Police would not disclose
whether they found a murder
weapon.
Motives Sought
Several possible motives were
considered by police. They or
dered tests to determine If Mrs.
Craven had been raped. Rob-
berry was explored as alcther
possibility. An empty pocket
book was found in the kitchen.
Upstairs, however. police found
nearly $400 in bills and change
rolled up in old newspapers and
hidden beneath a mattress.
A medical examination indi-
Gated the pair probably had been
dead at least 40 days, police
said.
A late edition of The Star for
March IL was in the house. Mr..
Craven bought the paper regu-
larly from a nearby newsstand.
Last Seen on March IL
William Sheffield, of 905 South
Washington street, saw Mr.. Cra-
ven talking in the kitchen. Mr..
Sheffield's wife is a great niece
of Mr.. Craven.
Mr.. Sheffield went to the Cra-
ven house on March II to repair
the oil burner at the request of
DR.. Roberts.
Mr.. Craven came out the back
door while I was there" recalled
Mr. Sheffield. II called to him
and he said hello We didn't
talk anymore. He was hard of
hearing. Later. I could hear
him talking with Mrs. Craven
in the kitchen"
The furnace room where Mr..
Sheffield was working is just
behind the kitchen, next to the
utility room.
Police have located no witness
who saw the couple alive after
that, although the evening paper
was bought later that day. Po-
lice said the man at the paper
stand could not positively recall
which day he last saw Mr.. Cra-
ven.
blouse All Closed Up"
Mr.. Craven's daughter, Mrs.
jamie White, 200 Rhode Island |
avenue NE, went to visit her |
father and stepmother March Is.
She said she had talked with |
Mrs. Craven Wednesday, March
9. and learned that her father
was ailing, so she went over the
next Sunday to see how he was.
THE house was all closed up"
said Mrs. White. Even the
shutters were closed. I knocked
but didn't get any answer.
assumed they were out and left"
Mrs. Charles Davis, a friend |
of the Cravens, met Mrs. Craven
two weeks ago in a dress shop
in Alexandria.
1--WE talked about Charlie
passing away" said Mrs. Davis.
Her husband Charlie, Alexandria