Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-15
THE ROSSLYN MURDER.
No Further Clews to the Perpetrator Dis
covered Today.
The Dead Man Buried at Arlineton-Soms
People Who Saw the Supposed
Murderer-Rewards offered.

The Rosslyn murder is the sensation of the
hour. 1t was a murder most foul. For heart
less fendishness it will stand out boldly in the
annals Of crime. Each new fact as it comes to
light intensifes the horror.
A decrepit veteran, trudging along q road
was enticed into q lonely thicket and butch
cred.
Around Rosslyn and Falls Church the affair
is the text for every conversation. Stories OF
crime are rife. Expressions Of sympathy for
the victim aad Of hatred for the wretch hang
on everybody's lips.
Groups Of people stand around the county
stores. smitheys and crossroads and discuss the
situation. Men talk savagely, women shudder
and children hug closer to their apron strings
Revenge, bloodhoEnds and lynching are spoken
OF. Great excitement prevails. The theory Of
accidental death has been ventured, but not
entertained.
THE INQUEST.
The inquest over the remains was held yes
terday, as reported in The STAR. by Coroner
Birch OF Virginia, and the verdict was ''that
James II. Swift was murdered by unknown
parties" The testimony elected at the inquest
was at times pitiful.
The story of the CHASTITY discovery as told by
witnesses is that two ladies, Miss Massey and
Miss Beach. we're driving along the road which
leads from the Washington end of the Aqueduct
bridge to Falls Church
While passing dreary and deathlike ravine
known as Dead Mans Gulch they heard series
OF groans. In great fright they applied the
whip to their horse and FASTENED on to the
house OF eX-Policeman David NJ Phelps. for
merly OF the Metropolitan force. They told
him OF what they had heard and that they felt
sure something serious was the matter.
PHELPS CHASTITY FIND.
Phelps went to the spot indicated BY the
ladies, pushed aside the matted mass Of yir-
ginia creepers and briars which cur
tanned the entrance to the gulch and
brush. The PROSTATE man had an air
tranquil repose. and the ex-offlcer thinking
that he was simply sleeping of jag was
loath to disturb him. The frightened girls
were satisfied and drove on. Later
Phelps, not being entirely satisfied that
he had summed up the case accurately,
returned to where the body lay. He knelt
down beside it. He reached for the pulse
The old man was dead. There was q good deal
OF froth around the mouth. tho lips were blue,
the teeth clenched and the eyes set
Phelps rolled the body over and then IL WAS
apparent that he was the victim of foul play.
The back of the head WAS crushed as il by a
heavy club. and there WAS hideous scar below
and behind the right ear. The alarm was at
once sounded and the country roundabout was
secured for the murderer or for . clew.
POSSIBLE CLUES.
A few PAGES from the body was found q
Prince Albert coat Of heavy, black goods
In the pockets were found milestone,
such as is used in sharpening sickles. and
peculiar piece OF wire. the use of
which puzzled the onlookers. Some one
volunteered the information that ii was a harp
rest, that is support for a mouth organ when
the musician uses that instrument without the
use of his hand. This directed suspicion to a
negro who had been seen around Rosslyn for
several days, and who had been PLAYING the
mouth organ and the harp simultaneously
Nothing Is known about the negro in question,
the colored folks all saying that he was a new
coon In town. Hardly complete enough de-
scription Of the man is to be had to make bis
apprehension reasonably certain.
SAW THE MURDERER
Mrs. George Wander, who is summering In
the neighborhood, saw negro with the muir
dered man the morning on which the tragedy
must have occurred. She passed them They
were walking side by side and appeared to be
friendly. The old man walked with a cane and
had a halt in his gait. The negro was strong
built. burly and carried an ugly looking club
Officer Burrows, precinct detective of No. Z,
talked with o colored man on the Nirginia side
Of the river today who saws that he saw the
dead man and negro seated on q fallen log on
the roadside not far from the scene OF the kill
ing. He could recognize him should he see him
| again.
A colored man named Peter Long was arrested
by Constable Cornell on suspicion of complicitv
in the murder, but has been released on prov
ing an alibi.
1t was brought out in the testimony that de-
| ceased was a soldier in a Connecticut regiment
during the late war and was In Washington to
secure a pension.
Milo B. Stevens 4 Co. are said to have been
his attorneys. He was on his wav, when killed.
to see DIR. Hopkins, who lives a. Falls Church,
and who had, ii is said. promised him work
Messrs. Alexander Bernard. Andrew Lipscomb,
J. F. killian and Joseph 0'Leary have offered
reward Of $50 for the apprehension Of the
culprit II is believed, also. that the Grand
Army Association will offer an additional
reward.
The remains we're buried at Arlington TODAY,
The funeral was conducted by the Grand Army
Association. The victim of the crime was in
TERED in q plain pine coffin and with G. A R
honors.
BLOODY SPOT.
The place where the old man was killed has
been the scene Of other horrors, Away back
in the memory Of the oldest inhabitant he can
recall when the body of q sui
eide dangled from the limb Of a
tree within a few feet Of where Swift's
| body was found. About two years ago a WASH
| ingtonian committed suicide near the same
spot by blowing out his brains Not very long
ago the naked body of a man was found on the
| river bank close TO where the present crime Was
unearthed. That body was never identified.
His clothes had either been stolen or washed
away. Every body can tell reporter some
| blood-curdliug happenings which are said to
have taken place near the scene Of the latest
| and most cruel murder.
Commander Lyons Fault.