Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-22
A STRANGER SUICIDE
Dead Body Discovered Yesterday Morning
Near Cabin John Run.
Empty Lnudanum Bottle. Found Near
By-Name of c. e. Rftts
on Watch Case,

| The body of white man, supposed to be
| that of c. E Ritts of Baltimore. was found
| yesterday morning about 10 o'clock lying
on hill just east of Cabin John run and
several hundred yards north of the Conduit
| road The discovery was made by two lit
Tie children, who were collecting wild flow
| ers, and who came across the body. They
| told their father of the occurrence, and he
| investigating, found the body cold in death
| Through him Deputy Sheriff William EN-
brey was notified, and the latter took
| Charge of the remains
The body of the man was lying in nat
| ural position, with the hands crossed upon
| the breast. Near by on the ground was a
| two-ounce bottle, bearing the label of laud-
arum and the name of Quandt Bros, 124
South Howard street, Baltimore, Md A
| drop of the fluid remained in the bottle,
from which 1t appeared the contents had
| been properly labeled. The finding of the
poison Immediately led to the conclusion
pockets of the dead man was found half
pint bottle of whisky, bearing the name of
Georgetown saloon keeper. The bottle
was only about half emptied.
Inc dead man was perhaps thirty-two
years of age and rather slenderly built. The
helght was about five feet ten inches, and
the weight estimated to be about 1SO
pounds The face was of medium com
plexion, adorned with a dark mustache and
the head was covered with black hair. The
face was somewhat broad His whole APP
pearance gave the impression that he was
German or of German descent. A small
| scar was visible under the left jaw.
The Clothing.
The body clothed in a light pair of
trousers with a black coat and vest, and
pair of No. black shoes covered the feet,
and his hat was a black derby, size rs,
bearing a Baltimore trade mark. The shoes
bore the trade mark of Williams Brothers,
200 East Baltimore street, Baltimore, Md.
He also wore high turned-down collar,
and small blue and white striped club
tie.
Search for n Clue.
Deputy Embray searched the body in the
hope of finding some clue which would
lead to the identity of the deceased. The
only thing which supplied any information
was Il small imitation silver watch, inside
the cover of which were scratched some
marks from which it was inferred that
the deceased was named c. Z. Ritts In
addition to this, small red pocket book,
empty; several keys, d little book and two
81 bills were found. The coupon of q
round-trip ticket from Baltimore to Wash
ngton, bearing date of May 49, was also
found. This coupled with the fact that
the name of Baltimore business men APP
peare0 on the Iauuanum DOlIle ana SHOES,
caused the impression that the man had
COM from Baltimore.
While no one could be found who remem-
bered seeing the man, it is thought he
was a member of party of Baltimore eX
curSiOnists who came over Friday. The
remains were viewed by q number of per-
sons yesterday, but no one could identify
them.
Inquest Held.
Later in the day Squire Austin held an
inquest, and q jury was impaneled, con-
sisting of r. c. Harley foreman; c. E.
Benson, W. r. Magruder O. T. Reddin, I.
j. Nicholson, S. NJ. Ward, H. NJ. Morgal,
Richard Pyles, G.. W. Kafauver, 7. NJ.
Auterback, J. Fl Powell and Frank Ward.
Testimony was given by Dr. w. I. Pratt,
VINO gave it as his opinion that the man
had been dead from thirty-six to forty
eight hours before the discovery of the
body. Several mOtormen on the electric
railroad testified to hearing strange noises
in the woods Friday afternoon, but did not
deem it worth while investigating. Mr..
Harley gave testimony as to minute de-
scriptiOn of some of the marks on the
clothing and watch.
After short deiiberation the jury re-
turned a verdict that death was due to
an overdose of laudanum. After the YER
diet thu body was removed to building at
Glen Echo to await the appearance of some
claimant. If none show up the burial Will
be made by the authorities Of Montgomery
county.