The evening times., 1900-07-31

CENTREyILLE, Nd, July 31.-Solomon
Roberts. the trusted colored servant Of
Ctho H. Williams, who resides at the Her
mitage. on Chester River, was murdered
on the Hermitage farm last Friday night
by some unknown person. His body was
found yesterday about noon buried in a
straw stack, with the skull crushed The
scalp was cut on the left side, the wound
! being about five inches long and reaching
20 the bone This cut was evidently made
BY a sharp instrument.
Friday night Solomon Roberts left the
kitchen OF the Hermitage residence at
about o'clock and started toward his
house-about $50 yards distant. When he
reached the woodpie it was noticed that
he ceased whistling. On Saturday morn
ing, when Roberts failed to make ais ap-
pearance, search was made. He being a
favoTite servant. unusual efforts we're
made to find him.
A messenger was despatched to every
steamboat landing and railroad depot IN
the vicinity to see II he had left On sun
day the creek adjoining the farm was
dragged for the body. Every hand on the
fsrm-about twenty in number-ioined in
the search. Yesterday about noon the at
tention OF the women servants Of the house
was called TO some buzZards flying over
some old straw stacks. Search was made
in that quarter. where il was discovered
that an arm OF a man was protruding from
the straw. A messenger was at once des-
patched to Centreyille to notify the sheriff
4 jury was summoned and. with Coroner
J. W. W. Woodford and States Attorney
Harper, they proceeded TO the Hermitage
farm. A. II. Wright was selected as fore
man.
Roberts body was found lying in the side
Of the stack with the left arm protruding,
which was greatly swollen and had been
attacked by the buzZards. Charles z.
Moore, the overseeT on the farm. stated
that he was around the straw stacks sun
day and saw no evidence of the man The
negroes gathered around, but refused 20
talk or to give any opinion.
The coroner examined all Of the en-
ployes on the farm, and all stated that
Roberts never had an enemy 10 their
knowledge. The sheriff thoroughly search
ed the five tenement houses inhabited b.
cClored people IN search OF clews. bat none
was 70 be found. Dr. James BOrdley was
the first witness summoned, and he stated
that the frontal bone OF Roberts skull had
been crushed: that this wound alone was
sufficient 70 cause death: that the scalp
cut was not sufficient TO cause death, and
that this wound was made with a sharp
instrument other than razor.
Dr. BCrdley left the house after the in
quest was held and went up to the mansion
house and on his way found an ak with
blood on it. The handle had been scraped,
but a portion Of il stil contained blood
The AK was taken in charge OF by the
States attorney, VINO viii send IL tc an
expert to find out II the blood is that Of
human being Whoever committed the
crime covered his tracks well.
It is believed that there is q woman in
the &C Sc. The opinion OF many Is that Sol
oui.4 Roberts was decoyed TO this straw
stack BY woman and there murdered.
Others think that he was struck dead with
in forty yards OF Mr.. Williams door and
dragged and buried in the straw. There is
evidence that the body was dragged, the
skin being rubbed from the hips. and there
were bruises on the body. Yet there were
no traces Of blood BY the way
An old colored woman residing in the
neighborhood stated that she hearl team
coming from the direction Of the farm at
about midnight on the niEht Of the murder
going at very rapid gait. colored man
who works OF the farm stated that he cl-s-
ed the road gate on Friday night. but on
Saturday morning il was standing open. It
was usually closed.
At $50 o'clock the jury adjourned 70
meet in Centreville az $50. when they rem
/ dered a verdict that Solomon Roberts came
10 his death at the hands Of some unknown
party or parties
The murder is aTousing an unusual
amount Of interest from the fact that Rob
erts was highly respected This is the
first murder in Queen Ance's county since
Samuel Rash was shot dead in his house
by an unknown man. for which Thomas r
Brown. at present Baltimore mind read
er." was arrested. tried. and acquitted.
Roberts was thirty years OF age and well
educated. The body was taken in charge
by an undertaken aad viii receive good in
terment When Roberts was last seen
alive he had on his person gold watch
together with his pOcketbOOk
The Hermitage is one Of the oldest and
most valuable estates in Queen Annes
I county. Mr. Williams is wealthy Balti-
mOrean. who has retired from active life
! and makes this estate his home