Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-29
Special Dispatch to THE EVENING STAR

Special Dispatch to THE EVENING STAR
SILVER SPRINGS, Nd, Dec. 29.-A report that
the body Of Philip Haviland had been found
last evening in a well in the negro settlement
Off from the main road near Beams store, re-
vived interest in the strange affair which has
mystified the people of this vicinity during the
past week. Many people came 10 the neighbor-
hood. where the body was said To have been
found, this morning. only to learn that there
was no foundation for the report The story
1t appears, was carried into Rockville by two
men, in a jOcular mood, and telegraphed from
there TO the newspapers. The story was sug-
geSted probably by the examination made
yesterday OF an abandoned we'll on Admiral
Sands farm, described i'm THE STAR yesterday.
Attention was attracted to the well by a foul
odor that issued from it. The search i'm this
well was resumed yesterday. A boy named
Wilson was let down to the bottom by means
of rope attached to his body, but discovered
nothing but the decomposed remains of a coon
which had fallen into the well.
SEARCHING ROCK CREEK.
The search party then directed their steps
towards Rock creek and investigated more
carefully various deep pools in that stream, but
without result. said one of the party to THE
STAR reporter: 1--WE want to know what be-
our midst Who would kill and rob man for
money, and we will know 1t if possible"
Mr. Charles +. Nichols, of Norbeck. Mont
gomery county, Nd stated to THE STAR repor-
ter that he had known Haviand ever since he
came to the county year ago; that Haviland
was generally regarded a sober, industrious
neighborhoOd. Mr. Nichols states that IL is not
true that Mrs. Haviland is about to remove to
Charles county. Mrs. Haviland is anxious to
settle up all the Indebtedness of her husband
before she leaves her present abode.
TO ABANDON THE ORGANIZED SEARCH.
Mr. Graeves said this morning that the
search party had become weary Of searching.
They had been two three times over the
ground where it seemed probable the remains
of a man could be hidden, and most of them
had been seven days on the search continu-
ously and they Were about to abandon the
search. Captain o. HI. p. Clark, who had acted
as a leader; Or. c. Condict, the magistrate who
had taken an active part in the search and
himself and brother had conferred together
alert constantly tor any clue which might lead
to the discovery of the missing man, but to
Sheriff VIM. B. Miller, of Rockville, who has
also been almost constantly on the search, was
of the same opinion.
BUzzARDs' AND OTHER CLUES.
Detective Block, Sergeant Slattery and OFF,
Ger Fifield, of the Washington police, were in
this vicinity again to-day aiding in the search.
Sheriff Miller was at Wheaton last night and
left a secret message with Mr.. Plyer, the post
master, which has excited considerable curl
to-day to make search OF the wilderness off the he
road near Norbeck. Last night flock of
bEzzards was seen circling over the woods two
miles or more from Wheaton. The flight OF the
buZZards has been closely watched and the
places where they have been seen i'm any num-
bers have been quite thoroughly searched. The
woods where the buZZards were seen last night
are being explored to-day. Many persons still
have = strong suspicion that Havilands body
was taken TO Washington and disposed of TO
medical students. One of Havilands neigh
bors told STAR reporter to-day that Haviland
would take up any one on the road to ride with
him, and would be sure, in an argument to
take the opposite side to the person he was
with. and be very obstinate about il.
Some officers who have been engaged in the
search, are inclined to believe that the MUIR
derers were not colored people. Their expert
ence with negro criminals is that they never
hide the traces of their crime SO effectually as
has been done in this case if a murder has been