Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-22
I'd EDITION.
A MURDER MYSTERY
THE SEWER GIVES UP ITS DEAD.
The CHASTITY Sight That Startled Mr..
Thomas L0veiess.

BODY STANDING HALF OUT THE oozY WATERS
OF THE SEWER cASAL-EvIpENcEs OF FOUL
PLAY-NURDER THEORIES ADVANCED THE
POLICE INVESTIGATING.
A ghastly discovery was made Yesterday
afternoon by Thomas Loveless Of No. 2426 G
street northwest. He had been out on the fats
just south Of the White House and
Of the sewer canal about $50
O'Clock, when he saw Al object in the water
that looked like the form Of man. He walked
nearer to the bank and found that the object
was the decomposed body of a man, but it
could not be told from the shore whether the
man was white or colored.
STANDING IN THE MUD.
The tide was low at the time and there was
not more than two or three feet of water in the
canal. The body was in q standing position
with only the head and trunk out of the water.
Within less than Ave hundred feet
from where the body was, num-
Der of colored men had been working
in the sand all day, but, strange to say, had
evidently not noticed the shocking sight.
Loveless said nothing about finding the body
until he met Policemen HanIey and Holmes.
He related the story to them, and they went
found confirmation Of Mr.. Loveless statement.
REMOVING THE BODY.
The officers got two colored men, Moses Levy
and Anthony Fox, to go out in a boat and bring
in the body. They found the body SO far de-
composed that they were unable to tell whether
the man was black or white.
The body was removed to the station house
on Il street. 1t was evident from its appear
ance that death had occurred many day 8
ago. The mans clothing looked like
sho1 o, the mud l"'0s anS w msn had adj
greatly changed their appearance. The body
appeared to be that of a man between thirty
and forty years old He was apparently about
five feet six inches high and had dark hair
mixed with gray: The officers searched
his pockets to see if there was anything in
them that would Fl K the mans identity. but the
only thing found was an old purse and in it
was one cent.
EVIDENCES OF FOUL PLAY.
Late in the evening the body was removed to
the morgue and Policeman Oliver prepared it
for the coroner. The officer examined the
body closely and found what he thought were
evidences of foul play.
The top of the mans skull was smashed in
and the neck was broken. The trousers legs
were tied about the ankles with strings and in
one OF them was found piece OF brick.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
This morning Lieut.. Guy made as much of an
investigation as he could, and he thought from
the circumstances that the man had been muir
dered He detailed Officers Hanley
and Holmes to make a thorough inves-
tgation of the case and they started
out this morning for that purpose. Several
theories as to how the man met his death
have been advanced. While most of the Off
GERS are inclined to the belief that it was a case
OF murder, others think it one of suicide.
One theory Is that the man was murdered in
some part of the city and thrown in a sewer,
and that the body washed down to the mouth
of the sewer and out into the sewer canal.
thrown into the river and that his body was
washed into the canal at high tide.
ANOTHER THEORY.
trouser legs, put in the piece of brick and
jumped from either the chain or the free
bridge.
The officers kept the purse found, as it may
serve as a clew at some time to the identifca-
ton of the body.
The face is terribly swollen, but it is thought
that he could be recognized by any one who
knew the man.
THE DEPUTY coRoSER's OPINION.
Deputy Coroner Schaetfer made an autopsy
this afternoon and found a dent on the top of
the skull, but there was no fracture. The legs
of the trousers were tied with pieces Of an old
blue handkerchief.
DIR. Schaeffer was of the opinion that the de-
ceased was thrown into the river after death
and was probably victim of foul play. An in
quest will be held tomorrow.