Show CLUE GLUE TO NAVY MYSTERY SEEN PROSSER Wash April 22 The first clue in eight years ears in the mysterIous mysterious mysterious mys mys- disappearance of James Eugene Bassett former naval navai of- of fleer and member of or a prominent Annapolis Md family led police today to the bottom of the Columbia river Mysterious lights from behind the foothills of ot the Columbia which he thought nought was Bassetts Bassett's spirit and the fear ear o of being killed kept Stephen 59 ferry boatman silent for tor ei eight ht years Last week he casually told a friend he had transported a couple in n a blue sports roadster across across' the river in the fall Call of ot 1928 and that the they hey dumped a wrapped canvas-wrapped bundle In middle identified photographs of Decastro Earl Mayer and Mrs Mary Eleanor Smith the latter's mother as the couple he transport ed across the river They dumped a wrapped canvas-wrapped tied rope package into the river I he le said I Later In 1928 said he saw I pictures of the couple in a newspaper newspaper newspaper news news- paper and recognized them as the ones he carried across the river Mayer and his mother were arrested arrested arrested ar ar- ar- ar rested in Oakland Cal with Bassett's Bassetts Bassetts Bassett's Bassetts Bassett's Bas Bas- sett's blue roadster and watch in their possession Mayer was convicted convicted convicted con con- as an habitual criminal and andIs ands Is s now serving a life liCe sentence Mrs Smith is serving 10 years for grand larceny arceny T The c couple when questioned last night by police pollee denied the they had ever crossed the river by ferry terry near here |