Evening star., 1900-08-13
MYSTERY TO SOLVE
The Police Investigating Circum-
stances Of Joseph Kings Death.
BELIEF THAT he WAS MURDERED
Was Found Severely Wounded
Early Yesterday Morning.
THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED

The police department has a mystery to
solve in connection with the death of Joseph
A. King of Bladensburg, Md, who died at
the Casualty Hospital yesterday afternoon.
His death was due to hemorrhage follow
ing severe fracture of the skull. 1t was
believed that he had received his fatal in
jury by stumbling over a ladder in front of
No. 513 II street northeast, at an early
hour Sunday morning but the testimony at
the inquest held today indicated that death
may have resulted from violence at the
hands OF some person.
When the witnesses who had been ex-
amined had given their testimony, the coro-
ner suggested that some points in the case
had not been fully covered by the wit
nesses. and he thought it would perhaps be
we'll to adjourn the case and give the de-
tectives time to get additional evidence.
King, who was foIty-five years old, was
found in front of 511 H street northeast
about 2:15 o'clock yesterday morning. He
was in his shirt sleeves, and his trousers
were almost off him. Some distance from
where he was found there a pool of
blood and although it was claimed he had
fallen over two ladders that had been left
on the sidewalk in front of the house
named, there We're no blood stains the
ladders.
letter carrier. who lives at 513 II street, and
to whom the ladders belonged, found d
paling from a fence that had been split and
the pieces thrown careiess.y across his
ladders. These pieces of wood contained
no blood stains.
Supposed to BE Intoxicated.
When the police patrol wagon was called
the officers in charge believed the man was
intoxicated and Were about to take him to
the police station, it is stated. when they
Were informed he had been injured Sev-
eral cuts and bruises were found the
mans face and head and there also
large bruise on his right breast.
Two small marks the chin of the vic
tim appeared if they might have been
made with teeth These MAJ ks Were more
carefully examined this afternoon. DR..
Giazebrook, who examined them, expressed
the belief that the mans chin had been
bitten.
At no time did the victim tell of how he
had been hurt, although he was conscious
part of the time. Dr. Bliss, who was
aroused by the groans Of the injured man,
was the first person TO reach him, and after
ward other citizens appeared and rendered
assistance.
Saturday afternoon King, who was a car
penter, received SO for his weeks work.
and when the police took him to the hos
pltal he did not have cent in his pockets.
His trousers pockets had been turned i'll
side out. This was the condition Of the
pital and before he had been disturbed.
The deceased formerly lived Rosary
vile, Prince Georges county, Md. Several
years ago he moved to BiaGenSburg, where
his wife and several children reside
His body was taken to Bladensburg this
afternoon by Undertaken Gasch. Detec-
tives Muller and McNamee Were detailed
on the case this afternoon by Inspector
Boardman.
Resident Physician's Testimony.
DIR w Reeves resident
the Casualty Hospital, testified that King
reached the hospital about 3:l5 o clock yes
terday morning. DR.. Warner, the assistant
physician, who was with the patient for
some time after he reached the hospital,
tod witness that the man was under the
influence OF liquor When witness saw him
he detected alcohol on his breath. There
was a cut over one eye and bruiSe on he
back of ms head. Dr. Warner the witness
sad, Is fourth-year man, and he treated
the patient for one and one-haif hours be-
fore he called witness. The patent, he SAID
was nausedted and restless. Until $50
o clock IN the morning the patient was kept
on the floor. TINS was done after he had
been restless ana could not be kept on the
table. AT !: 80 o'clock in the afternoon the
patIent died.
DR.. Powell was called about noon, witness
sad, and three-quarterS of an hour later
Dr. Elliott was called. About 10 o'clock in
the morning witness was convinced that the
mans SkulI was fractured. There was no
operation performed for Il fracture Wit
ness SAID that King was not conscious at
any time after he saw him He said it was
his opinlon that fractured skull caused
The man death
Detected Odor of Liquor
DIR. James E. Bliss, sos H street north
east. testified that when he found King he
got the odor of liquor from him. His con-
uuct, the witness said, was that of an in
toXlcated man. Witness said that the
man > mead mad been injured and he had
ioSt coilsiuvIdule blood. There We're two
Iduuers on me curb llne and before witness
"rHt out ne Hearu d NOISE sucn as would
be nade by Ian falIng geuung up.
L ne inquired man toIu witness his
name was lay yior, ana ne aIterward saIu
ile Llau cnanSeu ms name.
Witness salu he blew ms distress whistle
a nuIiluer OT times ana II was ten minutes
peIuIe d pouLeinan answered. When Wit
hess the man, before he was taken 10
the hospital, ne mad d strong pulse.
ACHING Deputy Coroner tisner explained
that 1ounu a severe fracture OF the
Skull. Deatn Resulted from nemorrhage,
toIlowng lne INJURY. Witness examined
the stomach of the deceased and Ialleu TO
any traces OF aIcohoI.
Pom, eman Gus Stavus W. kraemer of the
nInrn precinct testified tnat wnen he saw
King iylng lew feet from the lad
DER. He saw blood spots on the pave
ment. Wltness said that house No. ol3 II
street was beng painted and two long lad
light on the ladders. Witness produced a
broken paling that had evidently been
taken from fence. The piece of wood had
been split. officer Kraemer said that the
broken paling was picked up near where
King was found. Mr.. Lane. whose house is
being painted, he said, found the broken
paling and the small piece that had been
broken off was obtained of a small child.
Witness had not found from what fence
the paling taken. He did not see the
ladder previous to finding that King had
been injured. King had on no hat coat
and his clothing was not buttoned. There
was a pool of blood In front of No 517 H
street, and only few spots were found
where the man was lying. The distance
the pool of blood and where King
was picked up was fully twenty feet.
Discovery of Injury.
P w. Blazer. 854 9th street. told the jury
that he went in the patrol wagon to the
place where King was found. DIR. Bliss
was with the patient when the wagon ar
rived. The police were about to take him |
to the police station when an injury to his |
head was noticed. and he was taken to the !
hospital. Witness detected the odor of |
whisky on him. When the hospital was |
reached witness noticed that one of his
vvoc frrrn fpet5