The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-01
ANOTHER SENSATION.
THE BODY OF A. YOUNG MAN
FOUND IN ELK RIVER.
An Ugly Wound, and Speculation GEN.
enral as TO How it Was
Inflicted.

Our neighboring town Of Chesapeake City
was again the scene of considerable excite
mert on Wednesday, growing ont of the find
ing OF the dead body of young man in Elk
river, intelligence of which was brought TO
the town by the officers and crew of the
steam tug General Wistar. who discovered
the body Il short distance from Town Poil t..
at the mouth of the Bohemia river.
The Wistar is owned by the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal Company her worl; be-
ing to meet vessels on the bay and tow them
to Chesapeake City the southern terminus of
the canal. She was making her usual daily
run down the Elk river IA Wednesday, when
about noon opposite the mouth Of the Bo-
hemia, Il dark object was noticed, which
upon closer approach by the steamer proved
to hc the dead body OF a man. When taken
aboard the vessel examination showed it to
be that of Il young man aged abou. twenty
three, five feet seven inches IN height. of
sandy complexion, and Weighing about one
hundred and thirty-1ve pounds. The BODY
showed an ugly bullet wound Just back Of the
right ear, and also a large confused wound
over the right eye. In the pockets Of the
dead man We're Il number Of small articles
among them diary in which was written II
number Of names and addresses. hut that Of
John M.Wiliis more frequently than any other
the address Of Green's Hotel, Philadelphia
being also entered on il, as well us Baltimore.
On the undcrshirt Of the dead man the initial
"W. was also found although the two ad-
dresses OF Philadelphia and Baltimore left the
place of the mans residence in doubt. The
body was left by the steamer at Town Point
where Jury OF inquest was summoned by
Magistrate Thomas Nandegrift of Chesapeake
City, and II post mOrtem examination made
by DR.. Wan. G. karsner.
number of persons who first viewed the
body suggested the theory Of suicide, which
was clearly disproyed by the location and
direction of the bullet wound in the
the back of the head. The bruise over the
right eye, and the further fact that no val
uabes of any kind were found upon the body
the clothing being of good quality, justified
the more plausible theory that robbery had
been the motive Of the murder, which had
been pcrpetrated upon some passing vessel
or steamer, and the body thrown overheard.
After hearing all the available testimony as
to the finding of the body,and the testimony Of
the physician as to the wounds on 1t, the jury
rendered Il verdict that the man had come to
his death from Il pistol shot wound inflicted
by some person unknown. After the inquest
the remains of the dead man were taken to
Chesapeake City, and placed in the hands of
Mr. William b. Coleman. undertaker, where
at the time it was decided to hold the body
for identification. On Thursday, however
decomposition took place so rapidly that it
was decided after the visit of States Attorney
Evans and Sheriff Mackey on Thursday
morning to bury the body later in the day.
The Philadelphia papers Of Thursday state
that man named John W. Willis had reg
istered at Green's Hotel on Chestnut street
about one week ago and that he then gave
Baltimore as his place of residence. The de-
scription of the man so registering as given
by the employees of the hotel, tallies with
that given above, after viewing the body at
Town Point.