The morning times., 1896-05-05

on the upturned features of the dead girl.
Tilen some one stepped down into the little
stream, clear ami IiTnpid, gain, and picked
up some white object. Itwas porcelain
button, with small piece OF torn muslin
cIinging to il. The cloth fitted exactly
into tile place torn away from the SlflS
underclOtheS.
At $3.50 a telephone message was sent
to Coroner Hamnett. Half past four came,
AMI still those sightless blue eyes stared
up at the canopy of leaves, aui the throng
OF the curious increased. Another hour
passed. and almost another, before the
coroner finally drove up and looked at
the body. He stepped across tile tiny
stream. and pushed the girls bodice down
from her neck. disclosing more fully the
ghastliness of the wound. Nothing could
have saved her after that horrible cut lie
said.
The body. stretched out on the little bank,
had already stiffeDed aud begun to swell.
The girl wore a black calico dress, with
a red and white figure. The front Of her
bodice was literally soaked with blood.
and the skirt was bespattered with the
crimson fluid. She wore black stockings,
and heavy black shoes.
Her left hand. covered with a cloth
mitten, was folded across her breast, The
mitten was to hide slight Disagreement
of the thumb, and she alway VS. wore it. Her
sightless eyes were half closed, and the
wound in her throat looked more horrible
than ever contrasted with the whiteness OF
death.
Finally the coroner ordered the remains
taken. in the patrol wagon, to the morgue
at the Sixth precinct. stretcher was
brought out, and the words OF Thomas
Hood:
Lift her up tenderly,
Handle with care,
Fashioned so slenderly,
Young, and so fair
aptly describe the scene. She was lifted
up tenderIy as rough hands, and a rougher
stretcher could allow. and many a last
look was taken at the face that had been
so fair in life as the body was lifted into
the wagon.
The coroner then announced his intention
of holding a preliminary examination al
the Sixth precinct station-house today at
II O'Clock. William Thomas, the coloret
boy, was placed under arrest as United
States witness, and will be held in custody
| until the inquest is over. He is the most
important witness, and it is hoped that
when he RECEIVERS from his fright he may
| he able to give description of the man.
HUNTING FOR WITNESSES.
Joe Hamilton, the ploughman, and the
family of the dead girl will be present at
| the examiua ton also. An autopsy will
| be performed by Deputy Coroaer Glaze
| brook to disclose whether nr not the at
| tempted outrage was consummated. After
| these prelmiuarleS DR.. Hammett will call
| jury and hold asformal inquest
Detectives ReE. Weldon and Ed. Horne
were sent from headquarters to the scene
| Of the murder, and wentover all the ground
very carefully; Absolutely the only thing
| that could give any clue to the identity of
| the murderer was the revolver, and that
| furnished but a. very slight one. A bloody
| hat band was also found, but 1T could not
| be depended upon as clue.
| number of people are said to have seen
| the man, however, and these will be
| hunted up. Among Others two young
| friends of the daughter Of District A Attorney
| Birney were out for walk, along the
Kengle Ford road, and they saw a negro
rush across the road in front of them
and disappear into the woods in Rock
| Creek Park.
| He was evidently trying to avoid OBJ
| servation. The road runs from the enc
| of the Geological Park TO Mount Pleasant
| where it merges into Park street, and il
| driven over great deal. 1t Is very
| likely that IL he crossed the road at all, he
| was seen by some one, who will probably
turn up later.
| The family of the girl and their friends
| have absolutely no suspicion of any one.
/ Elsie had no male frie nds and never re.
ceived company. She went from home very
| rarely, and only In the daytime. She was
| quiet, well-behaved girl and bore the
best of reputation in the neighborhood.
| The most intense indignation was main.
tested by the majority of those around
| the body while it lay on the bank, and
threats Of lynching were freely INDUCED in
1T is the most frightful crime COM