Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-20
DEAD IN A TUNNEL
Body of William Leo Discovered Early
This Morning.
MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE AFFAIR
The Mans Father Believes He Was
Murdered.
WAS A DISTRICT EMPLOYE

Michael William Leo, twenty-nine years
old. who lived at No. 1872 North Carolina
avenue southeast, and was employed by
the District water department. was killed
in some way, as yet not definitely explain
ed. last night or this morning, and his dead
body was found in the navy yard tunnel
about one hundred feet from the east end
OF the tunnel. The police feel certain that
his death resulted from MS being struck by
a railroad engine, but his father, Thomas
Leo, Is of a different opinion. He believes
his son was murdered and robbed. In sup
port of this theory he says that his son had
his pay, So, in his pocket when he left
home, and not a cent was found on the
body today.
THE cut on his head" said the father,
was inflicted with club, and was not
made by an engine"
1t was about $3.50 o'clock this morning
when w. K. Mangum, a track walker on
the Baltimore and Potomac railroad, en-
tered the west end of the tunnel. The way
was dark, and he carried a lantern with
him. AS he walked slowly along and ex-
amined the tracks the light of his lantern
shone far enough ahead to light the way
for several feet. About a hundred feet
from the east end of the tunnel he dis
covered an object lying beside the track
He hesitated moment. but seeing it was
human form he advanced, thinking the
man might possibly be alive, in which
event he would lead him to a place of
safety. But instead of finding this condi-
ton OF affairs he saw blood on the mans
face. and an investigation showed that life
was extinct. Placing the body far enough
from the track to avoid the possibility of
Its being further mutilated by train he
returned to the west end Of the tunnel and
mad the police notified of the finding of the
body.
Patrol Wagon summonded.
Pohceman Vanzant in charge of the fifth
precinct patrol wagon, responded to the
call, but was unable to get the body from
the tunnel. An engine from the New Jer-
sey avenue yard afterwards went to the
scene. ard railroad men removed the body
to South Capitol and G street, from where
IL was afterwards removed to the morgue
The Identity Disclosed.
Superintendent Schoenberger of the morgle
searched the body for evidences of identi-
fication, and found book on which the
Dame of the dead man appeared. This
showed that he was a member in good
standing of the Ancient Order of Hiber-
mans. being member of Branch No. g.
connected with ST. Peters Church He
was vice president of the organization In
his pockets were also found slips showing
he was ember of the Apostleship of
Prayer a church organization. None of the
railroad men who the body was able
to identity the man, but an hour after the
body was found John Leo. brother of the
deceased, who works on the railroad. heard
OF the occurrence and went to the morgue
where he recognized the body as that of his
brother. Later the dead mans father and
other relatives and friends called at the
morgue and saw the remains.
casual examination of the body show
ed that there was an ugly cut on the head
and the skull was probably fractured. One
leg, and possibly both, were broken.
The deceased, as already stated, was
employed as laborer in the District water
department. and was paid off Tuesday af-
ternoon. Since the death of his mother
two months ago, he had been in the habit
of turning his earnings over to his sister
but he usually waited two or three days
until his father got his money. and then
the store bills were paid. He had not thus
disposed of his funds this week, and the
father thinks it rather strange that the
money was not found in his pockets He
was a steadygoing man. who seldom in
dulged in strong drink and never to excess.
Was Unusually Quiet.
Young Leo returned home from work
about the usual hour yesterday and was
1T supper last night. Usually he was talk
ative. while at the supper table, but last
night he was very quiet, it is alleged, and
hardly exchanged word with the men,
bers of the family. He remained about the
house until about o'clock and then went
out saying he would return in about an
hour. His failure to return early caused
no alarm to his sister; although he had
been in the habit of coming home before 8
o'clock. About midnight his father, Thorn
as Leo. returned home and noticed the alb
sence of his son: but knowing he in
terested in meeting of the Hibernians to
be held tonight he supposed he was out
giving notice of the meeting to the mem
bers.
Brothers, Snd Story.
The father retired and thought nothing
more of the son until this morning, when
one of the daughters discovered that her
brother was not in his room.
William has not been home" she told
the father. and then inquiries were made
concerning him, but nothing was learned
until his brother John returned home from
the morgue and told the news of his sad
ending. Where he had been all night, or
before he was killed, his relatives have not
learned. Because of the temperature of the
body when found, the railroad men and the
police were certain that the unfortunate
man had been killed early this morning.
Yard engine No. 101, in charge of Engineer
w. H. Bailey, had passed through the tun-
mel a short time before the body was
found. and it was believed this engine had
inflicted the fatal injuries. The engineer,
however, had not noticed any jar that
might have been caused by the engine
striking an object of any kind
Mr.. Leo, father of the deceased, said to
Star reporter that he thought his son
had been killed and the body thrown in
the tunnel. He had no business so far
from home. he said, and he knew he would
not walk in so dangerous a place, for he
was always an extremely careful man.
Its my belief, he said, that somebody
saw him with the money and killed him
for it,
This afternoon a brother and friend of
the deceased are visiting friends in South
east Washington. endevoring to learn some
thing of Williams movements last night.
Coroner Carr viewed the body at the
morgue and had jury of inquest sum-
moned. The taking of testimony was be-
gun at 3 O'Clock. The deceased, who was
not married, was born in Ireland, and had
lived in this city for about seven years.
His funeral will probably take place from
ST. Peters Church Monday morning.
Reception to n New Pastor.
large company gathered at the Church
of Our Father last night. the occasion be-
ing a reception to the pastor and his wife,
the Rev. and Mrs. Leslie Moore. Addresses
of welcome were made by Rev. w. w.