The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-10
A NINE DAYS. WONDER
Skeleton in the Woods Ia Maryland Sets
a Community BY the Ears.
NORFOLK MANS POSSIBLE CONNECTION
Finding of Mark a. G. Gifts Pocket
hook Points Suspicion Toward
Him -Clift Recently LEFT Norfolk
under n CIoud-Left HIS wife In
Destitute circumstances.

The skeleton of woman found In
the woods near Laurel, Md, has proved
genuine nine days wonder to the citi-
zens OF that community, and the excite
ment has extended ito Washington and
Baltimore. The discovery was made last
Sunday, and every day since the news
papers Of those two cities have been
devoting columns to every detail, Inn
portant OF otherwise, in, the development
OF possible clues.
Yesterday a local coloring was given
to the matter by the receipt Of numerous
kilograms here making inquiries in re-
gard to one Mark A. G. Cliff who lived
In Norfolk until recently. One of the
kilograms stated that pocket book
had been found in the vicinity of the
skeleton discovery containing the name
and address of Cliff and n piece of
paper from Macdonalds pharmacy in
this city. With this clue, a reporter of
The Virginian started on the trail last
night and ascertained the following
facts:
Gift came to Norfolk from Baltimore
something more than q year ago in
search of employment as u pharmacist.
He applied at Macdonald's drug store at
the corner Of Chapel and Charlotte
streets. representing tnar he was pen
niess and that his wife and child had
nothing to eat. He was given employ
ment about the first of September last
year, and for time all went well. At
ter some weeks he went on q spree and
lost his situation. He remained unem-
ployed for some time, but upon his
solemn promise to abstain from strong
drink In the future, hc was rcinstated.
He held his position until June Of the
present year. when he was entrusted
with two dollars to buy some small ar
ticles that were needed i'm the store He
went out with the money, but before
going he helped himself to Il dollar from
the cash drawer, leaving ticket notify
Ing the proprietor of the fact He did
not return to the store, neither did he
account for the money. Some weeks Ia
ter lady customer of the store was
surprised to learn that there was an
account against her on the books, as she
had paid tn, AMOUNT TO Cliff. She pro-
duced n receipt showing that she had
paid Cliff s2.15 in settlement of her ac-
count on a day subsequent to the sever
ance of his connection with the store.
The Macdonalds did not care to
prosecute Cliff or to expose his pecu-
ha'tlons, so he was permitted to re-
main unmolested. Cliff hll no regular
employment after he left the Macdonald
pharmacy, but he was employed coca
slcSlally to relieve Mr.. James T.. Scott,
druggist, 1914 Church street. On Sun
day, August LIST. Mr.. Scott left Gift
| In charge Of the store, an1 when he
returned, In the evening" he found the
| store open with NJ one, in charge. Gift
had gone and SO hal all the mccley III
the cash drawer, Some So or Sc. This
time Cliff did not leave a ticket for
the amount of lis Withdrawal. That
evening he boarded iraTn for Ocean
View and did not return. No che knew
where he had gone, and positively
nothing was known of his movements
until the kilograms already mentioned
were received.
Cliff. with his wife and child. o. bright
little boy, occupied rooms at Mrs. Dy-
sons clearinghouse, on Main street
and when he went away he left his wife
IN destitute circumstances. People who
saw Mrs. Cliff afterwards understood
| from her that her husband had deserted
| her Rev. DR.. Mack, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church, was Informed
Of her condition. He called upon her
and later sent several members Of the
Ladies' Aid Society to see her. The
kind ladies contributed to the relief of
her necessities. The Masons also gave
her assistance, having learned that her
| father, now dead. had been member of
the order. Two weeks ago Mrs. Cliff
was provided with sufficient means to re-
turn to her people, in Baltimore, and
went at once.