Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-01
THE HAVILAND MYSTERY.
Following the Supposed Clue Fur
hished by the Negro Ross.

ulSueu Dy the Negro INOSS.
DETECTIVE RAFF AND THE STAR REPORTER IN
SEARCH OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OLD
SzIGHBoRs HAVE NO DOUBT THE MISSING
MILLER WAS MURDERED.
The latest supposed clue to the fate of
Philip Haviland, the missing Montgomery
county, Nd, miller, the particulars of which
were published in Saturdays STAR, was fur
nished by Joseph Ross alias Joseph Kelly alias
Henry Mallory, negro who formerly lived on
the Brentwood road not far from the Column
bian Harmony cemetery with his parents.
Some time before the disappearance of Havi-
land, about four years ago, Ross went to live
in the country some distance above Sligo,
going from one place to another. At one time
he lived at the house of his brother, Henry
Kelly, who is a reputable colored citizen of
Montgomery county. He worked for several
other persons about the country, and at one
time he was in the employ of MIR. Window,
supervisor of county roads.
ROSS TALKED WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
LIQUOR.
As published in Saturdays STAR Ross was ar
rested on the 4th of August for assaulting
Deputy Sheriff Stallings at the Mineral Road
camp meeting and was turned over to Mr.
Albert Selby, who was deputized to take him to
Rockville. Mr.. Selby Is a highly respected
citizen, living near Rockville, and his character
Is above reproach. When arrested Ross was
under the influence of liquor and was in talk
alive mood. While on their way to Rockville
Ross told Mr.. Selby that he knew all about the
disappearance of Haviland. but when further
questioned concerning the missing miller be
declined to give any additional information. Il
was after learning this that Detective Raft de-
CfdQd n mn no ua6 OH th1,u Ob
tanned
SUSPICION STRENGTHENED.
The statement made by the negro while IN
der arrest, together with the fact that he did
not enjoy good reputation in the neighbor-
hood of Mr.. Plyer's store, gave rise to grave
suspicion that he really knew something of
Havilands disappearance. His nervous man
ner and mis- contradictory statements made to
Detective Raft and a STAR reporter, who visited
him Saturday at the house of correction, near
Jessup's. Md, made the grounds of suspicion
stronger than ever. and Detective Raft felt con-
WINGED that the prisoner had some guilty knowl-
edge OF Havilands disappearance. At the de-
tectlve's suggestion MIR. Mayfield of the house
OF correction consented to place an intelligent
prisoner in Ross cell for the purpose of pump
ing" him.
RECALLING THE PAST.
Yesterday morning in company with a STAR
reporter Detective Raft drove out to Sligo to
follow up the clue. There Mr.. Graeves, the
grocer, was seen. He remembered the night
OF December 10 four years ago, when Haviland
stopped at his store on his way home. He
thought 1t was not much later than y o'clock
when Haviland left the store to go home.
Mr.. Window, the road supervisor, was also
at the store. He lives further up the road near
PIyers store He too. remembered well the
last night that Haviland was seen. He thought
that
HAvILAND WAS UNDOUBTEDLY MURDERED.
On the night of his disappearance Mr. Window
said that there was a colored dance across tine
country. 1t was bright moonlight night and
the weather was very cold. His (Windom's)
family were at Knowles station that night, and
when they returned. about 10 or IL o'clock
they saw near the Jane leading to the house
what they supposed was empty wagon On
the road was something dark that looked to
them like dog or a mans coat The man who
was driving the team, insteadiof stopping drove
hurriedly into the gate and to the house. The
following morning the team was found some
distance up the road and Haviland's coat was
found In the woods a short distance from the
road.
FRESH BLOOD SPOTS.
Il examined the blood spots on the wagon"
said Mr.. Window, 'and l know they were
fresh spots; and from other circumstances 1
think Haviand was surely murdered. 1 think
he was killed by some one who knew he had
the money about him.
When asked about the prisoner Ross, Mr.,
Window said that he knew him to be a worth
less negro, of bad character. Ross, he said,
had worked on the road for him, and about the
time of Haviland's disappearance he CRoss)
was sleeping in his (Windom's) barn, which is
but short distance from where Hayilands
wagon was first seen.
This is
FLAT CONTRADICTION OF THE SraRo,s CT. rr,,rxr
Among Ross companions, it was learned, was
Geo. Dorsey, who has since been sent to the
penitentiary for killing a man.
From Greaves' store the detective and re-
porter continued their journey until Plyer's
store was reached. There it was learned that
Ross wife. Jane Burch. had gone to the home
of her father, near Colesville. several miles
further up the country. Mr.. PIyer corrobor-
ated the statements already made concerning
Ross character. Like Mr.. Window. he thought
that Haviland had been foully dealt with and
was hidden somewhere in the woods
Il think" said he, that Haviland was killed
with a stone by some one, who afterward robbed
him, and that his body was carried to the large
pine woods on the road toward Rockville
Those woods were never searched"
THE HUNT FOR ROSS WIFE.
After leaving there several houses were
visited on the way to Colesville. where it was
thought Jane Burch, or Joseph Ross wife, as
she was said to be, would be found At each
house visited was found copy of Saturdays
STAR, containing an account of Haviland's dis
appearance and the supposed clue. John
Burch's house was finally reached. In the
house John was found seated near a
red-hot stove, and around HIM were
grouped his wife and several children
The detective exhibited his badge which had
the effect of frightening the whole family. 1t
was thought Jane would be there, but she was
not found Her father gave the information
that she had gone TO the house of her brother
in-law, James Kelly, who lived Oh the cross
road between the 7th-street road and the
Colesville pike. His house was reached late in
the afternoon and, sure enough, Jane was there.
JANE FOUND, BUT FURNISHES NO INFORMATION.
swell. Jane" said the officer. after talking
to her awhile, tell us something about your
husband"
Deed, mister" said Jane, II don't know
nothin'."
Didn't your husband ever tell you anything
about Hayiland!'
mo indeed, sah," she replied.
Il think / know who you are" said Kelly
who is a colored man about fifty years old
'Who am T. asked the detective
You are Detective Raft" replied Kelly. Il
saw about you In The STAR paper from the
city.
Kelly denied ever having heard Joseph Ross
mention anything about Haviland. lie thought
that Joe was serving one OF his various sem
fences received FROM Judge Smell about that
time.
But" said the detective, Joe admits that he
was the country and saw the